AD GLORIAM UNIVERSALIS FRATERNITATIS

Considering the universal spirit of the Modern Liberal Masonry, and with the steady purpose of contributing to the understanding and brotherhood of all the masons spread through the world, and very especially the masons of the American continent, the Signatory Powers of the present DECLARATION

S O L E M N L Y  A F F I R M:  

1. The Freemasonry is initiation based, supported by values, scientific, philosophic, philanthropic, cultural and progressive institution, that works for the coming of the justice,  the truth, the solidarity and the peace in the Humanity. It doesn't pursue utopias, but REALIZABLE IDEALS in the breast of the human society, in which it lives and works, picking up their yearnings and restlessness and sowing in it his ideas. 

2. It believes in the existence of societies or states in ways of perfection; its ideal is DYNAMIC. That is why it only seeks to be ACTIVE FACTOR OF THE PROGRESS.  

3. It understands for progress the constant overtaking of the past, to emancipate the human being from the ignorance, the pain, the slavery and all material, moral and spiritual servitude, and to make him participate in all the benefits that can provide the civilization, the culture, the technology and the scientific discoveries, by means of a positive organization of the society.

4. It has principles for which it is ruled and that contain the GERM OF ALL PROGRESS that sprouts and develops in each nation and at each time of history, depending on the environment conditions.

5. Its purposes are to work respecting its old traditions, contributing with new ideals of service to the humanity, protecting the ecological patrimony, and correspondingly, of our planetary system. 

6. It seeks to reach their goals through the diffusion of its ideals, the preach through the example, and the positive action of their members on the society, diffusing the knowledge and scientific spirit and fighting against the ignorance. It pursues the knowledge of the truth, sanctioned by the experience. It foments the union of the science with the non sectarian spiritual traditions of the Humanity. 

7. The Freemasonry is an ACTIVE PHILOSOPHICAL AND PHILANTHROPIC MOVEMENT, at the same time national and universal, in which fits all the orientations and approaches that respect and defend the postulate of each man's independent and unique personality or nation.  

8. In consequence, it recognizes and proclaims in its whole, the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF RIGHTS OF THE MAN, approved by the United Nations in Paris, the 10th December of 1948, and works in favor of the establishment of a SOCIAL ORDER that guarantees such rights.  

9. It proclaims likewise the RIGHT FROM THE NATIONS TO THEIR SELF-DETERMINATION AND to FACE THEIR ECONOMIC, POLITICAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN PEACE AND FREEDOM and condemns aggression and conquest wars.  

10. It sustains that the State of Right and government's Democratic Régime is the one that better crystallizes the popular will, and it aspires to impede the privileges, the man's exploitation for the man and of the weak nations for the strong ones. The institution believes that only in a society governed by the principles of FREEDOM, EQUALITY AND FRATERNITY, the dignity of the men and the nations can be respected, which implies the full right to its development, by the free exercise of its potentialities.  

11. It proclaims their opposition to all political, economic, social, cultural, environmental and spiritual oppression and all political régime that it doesn't respect the human being fundamental rights in their environment. 

12. The Freemason’s Philosophy supposes, as all philosophy, an attitude in the face of the life, the MASONIC BEHAVIOR, the one that can be summarized in “free ethic and conscience.” 

13. As all association that aspires to carry out their ends inside the human community, nothing that it happens in the society is irrelevant for it, and it doesn't foment the neutrality of their members in none of the topics that pertain to it. It is not organ of any political party, social group or center of power, but it contains in its breast men and women of different personal metaphysical, philosophical or ideological positions, willing to study and to propel a lay State, starting from the basic teaching, in the humanity's benefit and to assure this way the JUSTICE AND PEACE among the men and among the nations, without any distinction of race, sex, color, nationality, etc. 

14. It is fundamental concern of the Institution, to work constantly to increase the common wealth of the universal progressive thought, with base to the coexistence of the men and the nations, the one that will be so much more PACIFIC AND FECUND the more wide its base is. 

15. The Freemasonry aspires then, to a Democratic and Cosmopolitan Universal Order, in which the men and the nations collaborate and benefit mutually in its free development through its UNION, SOLIDARITY AND COOPERATION.  

16. Considering that the metaphysical ideas are of the exclusive domain of the individual appreciation, the Institution rejects every dogmatic statement, for what it doesn't prohibit, neither imposes their members any theological or metaphysics conviction. It teaches the tolerance practice and the combat of the fanaticism, mainly the one that translates in the exploitation of the ignorance. 

17. It proclaims the principles of FREEDOM OF THE THOUGHT AND CONSCIENCE and commits to defend the ideals and the lay institutions, expressions of the principles of the Reason, the Tolerance and the Fraternity that finally have to maintain an atmosphere of peaceful coexistence, but that it doesn't suppose indifference before the diversity of ideas and beliefs, because the Institution declares that it is objective fundamental of the same one, the search of the truth, to impel THE PROGRESS OF MANKIND, constantly blocked by the ambition, the ignorance and the superstition. 

18. The Freemasonry considers that the ethical elevation, the emancipation and progress of the men and of the nations, is obtained through the EDUCATION, the ILLUSTRATION and the WORK, in an atmosphere of healthy freedom, where the citizen's rights walk side to side with their duties. 

19. THE FREEMASONRY IS MILITANCY. It conceives the Humanity's evolutionary march, with arrangement to a PHILOSOPHY OF THE HISTORY that manifests its optimism in the Progress in spite of the difficulties and setbacks that often happens in that dynamics. The Institution has character of ACADEMY or School of Thought, to spread and to foment this philosophy and to forge with it clarified men and women that promote and guide the social progress, inside the lay spirit. 

20. The principles of general character of the Institution have the enough elasticity so that their interpretation makes them valid in all the times and in all the countries, since in them nests the germ of the progress, which sprouts and is developed according to the environment. Its study corresponds to the three Symbolic Degrees of the Universal Masonry. 

21. The effectiveness of the Institution as factor of progress depends on the community, of their ideals and their action in the entire world. Therefore the Freemasonry aspires to establish a constant EXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE between the Masons and the Freemasons Orders – May they be mixed, masculine or feminine obedience while they favor the recognition and reciprocal visits -- to lay the foundation on firm bases the ideological likeness and the action unit that it seeks, WITHOUT DISTINCTION OF RITES AND WITHOUT ABIDING TO SUPPOSED EMANATED RULES OF MASONIC REGULARITY OF ANY MASONIC ORDER. 

22. For such end it considers that the indispensable freemason’s character to establish relationships of friendship and reciprocal recognition between the different Rites and Obediences is given by the following conditions: to a) Discreet work; b) Gradual structure; c) Symbolism of the free Operative Masonry; d) Legend of the Third Degree. 

23. It proclaims the RIGHT OF HOSPITALITY that is due to all the people and Institutions pursued by its ideals of Justice and Freedom and very particularly the RIGHT OF ASYLUM to the Masons and the Masonic Orders persecuted in their respective countries, so that they can continue working from the exile, for the freedom of their nations, whenever terrorist methods are not used in none of their practices. 

24. Propitiate the RIGHT OF HOSPITALITY TO THE YOUTH in general, and consequently to the children and daughters of the members of the Masonry that travel to carry out studies of any level, in their country and abroad, offering them the emotional, moral and spiritual attendance that they would need. 

25. The Masons have as a duty help, clarify, guide and protect their Brothers and Sisters, and defend them against all injustice, although it bears personal sacrifices. 

26. The Freemasonry proclaims an international juridical order that respects the Declaration of the Man's Rights integrally and that glorifies the Masonic maxim of Freedom, Equality and Fraternity; and it foments the progressive economic, politic, social and cultural integration of the Latin American countries, as way of contributing to the march toward superior stages of universal union. 

27. The Institution estimates that it is the masons' duty to work for the progress of the homeland of each one, stimulating complementarily, the harmonic coexistence between the countries and peoples, with economic, cultural and fraternal exchanges, with ethics and without hegemony spirit in any land. 

28. Strengthen the protection to the citizen, the entities and the States, in opposition to the tendency of invading the privacy, what is made today by the media and modern technologies. 

29. Foment the critical spirit with relationship to the informations poured by the massive media. 

30. Promote the cultural exchange and of visits among youngsters of different countries, adopting common ritualistic ceremonies, specially directed toward the age sector from the 14 to the 20 years, and sponsored by local Masonic Lodges. 
 

For such reasons, they consider convenient: 

a) To establish concrete relationships of cooperation among the different Obediences, with combined works, cultural exchange, common philanthropic work and any other form of active Fraternal Solidarity.  

b) To declare that the development of the Modern Liberal Masonry in the American continent is a priority. In particular they point out that with that objective, and, seen the extensive human and territorial geography of the continent, the existence of filiated Masonic Triangles will be stimulated – embryos of regular lodges - like an important form of masonic development and installation in far away places, not very populated or of incipient development. 

c) To spread for the world the moral, humanistic and social principles, by means of which the Masonry offers to the Obediences, to the Lodges, to the Brothers and Sisters, and to the profane world, perspectives of collective and individual, educational, social and spiritual progress. 
 

According to that exposed: 

We, the Great Masters and Delegates signing below, properly authorized to represent our respective Masonic Orders, accept to celebrate a solemn fraternal alliance, as settled down in the Preamble and in the following Articles: 

Article 1° - starting from the present date, a fraternal alliance settles down among the Signatory Powers of this Declaration, under the form of an INTERAMERICAN CONFEDERATION OF SYMBOLIC MASONRY, starting from now simply denominated CIMAS. 

Article 2° - The Signing Orders, by the present, are recognized to each other reciprocally as Sovereign Masonic Powers, Regular and Legitimate. 

Article 3° - The Signing Powers agree to maintain in the CIMAS, a Delegate that represents them. 

Article 4° - The Signing Powers agree to respect the universal Masonic principles, represented in its General Principles, Uses and Traditional Customs. 

In particular they sustain that the Masonic Institution possesses Signs, Emblems and Allegories that preside its works and whose symbolic significance can only be revealed through the Ceremony of Initiation, and its deepened knowledge, through the assiduous work in Lodge. 

The Initiation only has validity when it is carried out in a Just, Regular and Perfect Lodge. The initiation based progression contains several degrees, being the three first those of Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master. This last degree is the one that grants the Mason the fullness of his Masonic rights. 

Nobody can be excused of the Tests, Promises and/or Solemn Oaths prescribed by the Rituals of obligatory use in each one of the degrees. Every Mason is forced to practice the Masonic Secret, mainly regarding the signs, touches and words that constitute the initiation exclusive wealth of each degree. Every Masonic Lodge carries out its meetings in a place forbidden to the profane indiscretions. 

Article 5° - To the regularly affiliated workers the Signatory Powers have left insured the right of visiting the Lodges linked to any other of the Signatory Powers. The labor visitor will be identified appropriately and will bring with him a presentation letter or Masonic Passport. For the recognition in the reciprocal visits, besides the habitual tests in the Symbolic Degrees, the Signing Powers commits to use a properly established Annual Word for the CIMAS in each General Assembly.  

Article 6° - All the Symbolic Degrees granted to the Workers, as well as Certificates, Passports or Masonic Identities, Titles and Diplomas emitted by the Signing Powers are mutually acknowledged.

Article 7° - None of the Signing Powers will be able to, under any pretext, offer or grant Degrees to the subordinate members of another Signing Power, unless for its legal representatives' expressed application. 

Article 8° - None of the Signing Powers will accept the Affiliation of Lodges or detached Brothers of another Signing Power, unless by means of its legal representatives' expressed consent. 

Article 9° - The validity of the Treated present won't be able to alter the Laws or Regulations peculiar of any of the Signing Powers. 

Article 10° - The Signing Powers will always send to the CIMAS actual informations about its Administrative Groups, new Elections, number and localization of their Lodges, as well as those of cultural character, Bulletins, Statutes, Constitutions and General Regulations. 

Article 11° - Powers Founders of the CIMAS will be considered those that would sign the present Declaration in this date and those that would send in a maximum term of ninety (90) days, the properly ratified document, signed by their legal representatives, declaring their adhesion to the same one. 

Article 12° - After the term mentioned in the Article 11°, the adhesion of any Power to CIMAS will be made through a characteristic application document of affiliation, according to that settled down in the General Regulation of the CIMAS, by means of the remission of a volume of the Constitution of the Power, as well as of the Rituals used by it in its Symbolic Degrees. An inspection will be made by one or more affiliated members to the CIMAS, in order to check the Masonic regularity of the postulant Power. Three votes contrary to the admission of a postulant Power will determine their rejection of the CIMAS. 

Article 13° - The CIMAS will gather the representatives of the Signing Powers, according to a previously established agenda, in General Assembly, once every 2 (two) years, in opportunity of the anniversary of their Foundation, in the country headquarters of one of the Signing Powers that proposes at least one year in advance to such effect. This Assembly will vote and decide relative matters in particular to the CIMAS, such as the admission of new members, legislation, organization, procedures dedicated to its progress, expansion or improvement, as well as topics of interest will be debated for the Masonry in general. Each representative will have in this Assembly a vote. The decisions of the Assembly will be made by simple majority of votes, except for specially established clauses in the General Regulation of the CIMAS. 

Article 14° - At times of their Annual General Assembly, the CIMAS will promote a ritualistic festival meeting, dedicated to the Brotherhood of all present masons, besides a meeting of cultural character, bowed toward topics of initiation, humanistic, social and philosophical nature. The works presented in such meetings will be able to be published in an Annual of the CIMAS.

Article 15° - The CIMAS will choose from among the representatives of the Signing Powers, an Executive Directory, with (2) two year-old command, constituted by a President, a Vice-president, two Secretaries and a Treasurer, chosen by secret scrutiny, and whose functions will be specified in the General Regulation of the CIMAS. The Executive Directory will name Commissions of voluntary members to complete the objectives determined by this Regulation and to reach the goals settled down in this Treaty. 

Article 16° - The Founding Signing Powers of the CIMAS will constitute, through their representatives, a Supervisor Council whose function is to take care of the integrity and inviolability of the clauses settled down in this Treaty. The Supervisor Council will be entitled to veto any decision of the Executive Directory, even of the General Assembly that violates essential clauses or that harms the spirit of universal fraternity of the present Treat. 

Article 17° - The CIMAS won't be dissolved while three Signing Powers at least, want to continue it. 

Article 18° - The necessary pantries to the realization of the essential projects and organization of the CIMAS will be in charge of the Power headquarters. The headquarters of the CIMAS will be the one from the Obedience to which the elect President belongs.    

Article 19° - The CIMAS will maintain a virtual address, as well as a multilingual “site” in the international net of communication, in order to disclose the CIMAS and their goals. 
 

Transitory dispositions

1. – For only one time, on occasion of the foundation of the CIMAS, the elected Executive Directory, will exercise its command for one year, and/or until the next General Assembly. 

2. – Who subscribe the present Treaty ad-referendum, will remit the ratification of the same one in the time foreseen in the article 11. 
 

Final disposition

The present Treaty will remain effective, starting from the date of its signature by the respective legal representatives, committing the same ones, for if and for its legitimate successors, to make it effective. 

Given and Layout in San Pablo's Orient, Brazil, to the twenty one days of the month of September of two thousand and two, 6002 of the True Light.