The Society is open only to Freemasons who are in good standing with or are members of a Craft Lodge, a Royal Arch Chapter and a Mark Master Masons' Lodge.
The regalia is minimal and consists of a blue cord or blue collarette from which is suspended the badge of the member's grade.
Badges are simply exchanged as progression is made. All members wear the distinctive Society tie.
Midnight of Monday 20th May 2013 signalled an important event in English masonic history.
It marked the completion of one hundred years of uninterrupted existence of "The Operatives".
It marked the centenary of the Society, and also that of its longest-surviving Assemblage - Channel Row Assemblage.
The Society has ordinarily generated considerable loyalty and affection among its members and, in addition to the merits of its ceremonies and practices, one reason is that the Society fills a notable gap in the masonic structure.
Speculative masons are happy to trace their origins to the practices of the ancient stone masons, but many then tend to forget all about them. The Operatives exist to ensure that we do not all forget!
