I guess the real mystery here (not that it’s actually a mystery just an interesting thing) is why masonry of all the important medieval trade guilds went on to become a general membership fraternity.

Trade guilds were powerful forces in medieval economies, often countering the stagnation made probable by the feudal system and the valuing of land owning over production.

Weavers, iron workers, fullers, etc, rather paved the way to the Industrial Revolution along with masons, and they all had their trade secrets — though perhaps not as difficult to learn as some of the science behind the masonry that raised the great cathedrals of Europe and advanced the art of building beyond what even the Romans had accomplished.

Perhaps that explains the allure? Perhaps masons accomplishing such feats gave them so much prestige that others wished to be like them or thought as like them?

Or maybe it’s all just an historic accident that caught on. Lol

Interesting, though!