PREAMBLE
The Supreme Councils of the 33rd degree, that are part of the “American Federation of the Supreme Councils of The Old and Accepted Scottish Rite” (FASCREAA), gathered in the Zenith of Mendoza, Argentinian Republic, the 29th September 2013 (E.·.V.·.), in the framework of its III General Assembly, and considering that it is necessary to note for a future reference, a particular direction for the Occidental Hemisphere, based on the Masonic Tradition and on the Constitutions called of Frederick of 1762 and 1786, in the 1875 Lausanne Reforms and on the 2005 Geneva Declaration.
DECLARE
1. To reaffirm with contemporary vision the initiative, traditional and progressive character of the Old and Accepted Scottish Rite and the fidelity of the ancient uses and customs of the Masonry.
2. To reaffirm that the High Grades of the Old and Accepted Scottish Rites are a real Center of Union, respecting an original philosophical and spiritual current, that reconciles the Absolute Freedom of Conscience and the respect of the metaphysics conceptions that are personal options of each one of his members. For that reason we reaffirm the non-dogmatic sense of improving the fraternal, philosophic and knightly method that encourage the Rite.
3. To reaffirm with force the respect for human dignity working for the social perfectioning, fighting ignorance and superstition, and rejecting all oppression, segregation and discrimination. In particular, we affirm our engagement with the incorporation of the woman in the Initiation and practices of the High Grades of the Old and Accepted Scottish Rite.
4. To reaffirm that, although traditionally the Great Constitutions give the power to the Supreme Councils to work into the grades 1st to 33rd, today it is understood that the three Symbolic Masonry grades should be administrated in an independent way by the Symbolic Obedience, so the Supreme Council will keep the authority in all concerning to the grades 4th to 33rd. This is without prejudice of the place that could take the High Grades in the obedience organizational structures.
5. To reaffirm that the Human Being as a centrality, both in its rights and in its responsibilities, and in the social and natural environment where he develops his vital activities, constitutes the basement of the tasks, speculations and actions of the Old and Accepted Scottish Rite of the Universal Masonry.
6. To reaffirm its conviction that the indeclinable characteristics of the Old and Accepted Scottish Rites are the incessant searching of the Truth and the Justice founded on the Knowledge, the Human Right respect and the Freedom, Equality and Fraternity Principles. Particularly, they reaffirm their defense on the Democracy, the respect of the minority rights, the Freedom Conscience and Secularity encouragement and the role of the integral and solidarity Education as the most appropriate way to educate free responsible citizens and engaged with their reality.
7. To reaffirm its purpose to promote the greatest collaboration between the Masons focused on the strengthening and the unity of the Masonic Order, promoting the progressive integration of the people and the countries of the American continent, but embracing the total Humanity in coherence with our Universalist ideals.
8. To reaffirm the progress character of the Masonry, who have as a purpose “the Union, the Happiness, and the well-being in general for the human family and each human in particular. And, who must work with trust and energy and do incessant efforts to obtain these objectives, the only ones recognized as worthy of it”, to the tenor of the “New Secret Institutions and Fundaments” of 1786.
9. To reaffirm the validity of the statement contented in the II Article of the Constitution named Frederick of 1786, that says tthe Sovereign Great Inspector “have as a mission and particular task to instruct and illustrate the Brothers; keep the Charity, the Union and the Fraternal Love between them, and finally, everywhere, be dedicated to exercise the Peace end the Mercy”, obligation that FASCREAA understand must do in priority with the example. Approved at the Zenith of Mendoza, Argentina Republic, the 29th day of September 2013 (E:. V:.).