* Texto do Irmao Chalmers Paton com traducao do Irmao Jose Filardo e adptacoes necessarias de Sergio Roberto. SteinmetzenInto the history of the Steinmetzenof Germany it is impossible here to enter. Findels account of it is veryinteresting, and probably he is right in most of his opinions as to datesconcerning the formation and extension of the fraternity. It is more to ourpresent purpose to consider the actual organisation and system of thefraternity.E impraticavel entrar aqui na historia dos Steinmetzenda Alemanha. O relato de Findel e muito interessante, e provavelmente eleesta certo na maioria de suas opinioes a respeito de datas relativas a formacaoe extensao da fraternidade. E mais para o nosso presente proposito considerar aorganizacao e o sistema efetivo da fraternidade.The following statement is of special importance, and it isremarkable that the German historian of Freemasonry who makes it, never seemsfor a moment to advert to its importance, or to perceive that it has anybearing on the question of the identity of modern Freemasonry whit the Masonryof the medieval centuries: - Stonemasons formed a sort of confraternitastogether, binding themselves by an oath, to which union, besides theconfederates, mateurs were also admitted, if they only consented to enter thebrotherhood, and submit to its laws. Findel, p. 59.A declaracao a seguir e de especial importancia, e enotavel que o historiador alemao da Francomaconaria que a faz nunca parece, porum momento sequer, chamar a atencao para a sua importancia, ou perceber que elatem alguma relacao com a questao da identidade da Francomaconaria moderna com aMaconaria (operativa) dos seculos medievais: Os maconsformavam uma especie de confraternitas juntos, unindo-se por umjuramento, a cuja uniao, alem dos confederados, amadores tambem eram admitidos,desde que eles consentissem em entrar na fraternidade, e submeter-se as suasleis . Findel, p. 59.For what reason, it may be asked, were these amateurs admitted, ifthe fraternity was a mere operative craft?Por que razao, poder-se-ia perguntar, esses amadoreseram admitidos, se a fraternidade era um oficio (meramente) operativo?It seems plain that we have here evidence of the existence ofspeculative Freemasonry, at least in its germ and rudiment; and it is notnecessary taht we should attempt to prove more than this in order to identifyour modern Freemasonry whit that of the medieval Steinmentzen of Germany.Parece claro que temos aqui provas da existencia de Francomaconariaespeculativa, pelo menos em seu germe e rudimentos (antes de 1717); e nao enecessario que tentemos provar mais do que isso, a fim de identificar a Francomaconariamoderna com a dos Steinmetzen medievaisda Alemanha.It is admitted, on all hands, that Freemasonry has been improvedand developed in progress of time, and that it is capable of indefiniteimprovement. No one is more ready than I to acknowledge the Ashmole, and afterhim Desaguiliers and Anderson, contribute much to the improvement the system.Admite-se, para todos os fins, que Maconaria foimelhorada e desenvolvida no decorrer do tempo, e que ela e susceptivel de sermelhorada por tempo indeterminado. Ninguem esta mais pronto que eu parareconhece que Ashmole, e depois dele Desaguliers e Anderson contribuiram muitopara o aperfeicoamento do sistema.The only point here contended for is that they found the systemalready existing, a