Old Charges: As Antigas Constituições Maçônicas (Volume I)

This inaugural volume of the Operative Masonry Collection, presented in Portuguese, brings together for the first time the foundational documents of medieval operative masonry, from the Bologna Charter (1248) to William Schaw's Statutes (1599). By compiling these texts, it reveals the concrete origins of the symbols, rituals, and ethical codes that would later form the basis of speculative Freemasonry. The manuscripts show how the stonemason's craft evolved into symbolic language, connecting practical work to the philosophical and mystical traditions that continue to inspire the Royal Art today.

Beyond its Masonic relevance, the collection is an essential tool for scholars seeking to understand the historical, ethical, and symbolic evolution of Freemasonry. Documents such as the Regius and Cooke manuscripts highlight codes of conduct, solidarity, and symbolic hierarchy, allowing the study of Freemasonry from its operative roots and the transition from professional practice to initiatory philosophy.

Iniciação de Voltaire na Loja des Neuf Sœurs

This edition features the Portuguese translation of A. Germain's 1874 booklet documenting Voltaire's initiation into the French Masonic Lodge of Neuf Sœurs in 1778. The text explores how this ceremony symbolized the connection between Enlightenment principles and Freemasonry. The edition includes a facsimile of the original work, annotated notes, biographies of lodge members, and a historical overview of the lodge's significant role in the Enlightenment. Voltaire, initiated at the age of 84 without the usual rituals due to his age, exemplified Freemasonry's commitment to liberty, reason, and the fight against superstition. This publication offers valuable historical and philosophical insights into the relationship between Freemasonry and the Enlightenment, serving as an important resource for scholars and readers interested in these intertwined themes.

The Three Distinct Knocks

The Three Distinct Knocks (1760-1764) is an essential work for understanding the internal conflicts within 18th-century Freemasonry. Authored by someone apparently not initiated but possessing deep ritual knowledge, the text critically examines the gap between Masonic ideals and the actual conduct within the Lodges. This edition features the original archaic English alongside a modern translation and includes a facsimile of the 1760 version for detailed comparative study.

The work exposes troubling practices such as excessive drinking after ceremonies and a failure to support those in need, highlighting a decline from the Order's founding principles. It calls into question the authenticity and purity of Masonic rituals while exploring the symbolic meaning of the "Three Distinct Knocks," which represent the pursuit of enlightenment and wisdom.

Beyond its historical critique, the text offers a timeless reflection on the ongoing tensions and transformations within Freemasonry. It is an invaluable resource for both scholars and practitioners seeking to better understand the evolution and challenges of the Order.

Old Charges: As Antigas Constituições Maçônicas (Volume II)

The Volume II of the Operative Freemasonry Collection: The Ancient Masonic Constitutions, coordinated by Rui Samarcos Lora and Luciano Urpia, provides a rigorous analysis of the transition from Operative Freemasonry to Speculative Freemasonry during the 16th and 17th centuries. Focusing on the period from 1600 to 1700, the book explores key documents such as the York No. 1 Manuscript (1600) and the Sinclair Charters (1601 and 1628), which played a pivotal role in shaping the structure and philosophy of modern Freemasonry.

The work follows the process of transformation within the Masonic Order, culminating in the establishment of Speculative Freemasonry, and examines how historical texts, including the Dumfries No. 4 Manuscript (1710), mark the end of the operative era and the beginning of a Freemasonry with greater social and intellectual influence.

With a full translation and analytical commentary, this volume offers a detailed view not only of the documents but also of the historical, social, and cultural context in which Freemasonry developed. The work is an essential read for those seeking to understand the evolution of Freemasonry, its practices, and how its constitutions shaped the structures of thought and power in Western society.

Old Charges: As Antigas Constituições Maçônicas (Volume III)

This third and final volume of the Old Charges collection is dedicated to the decisive period when modern Speculative Freemasonry solidified as a philosophical and fraternal institution. Spanning the years 1711 to 1730, the work examines the final transition from operative guilds to a structured society, symbolized by the founding of the first Grand Lodge in London (1717) and the publication of James Anderson's historic Constitutions (1723).

Through meticulous analysis and annotated translation, it presents foundational documents such as the Trinity College Manuscript (1711), which describes the earliest three-degree system, and the revealing Barret-Hallam Manuscript (1718), a rare piece capturing the exact moment of transformation into speculative Freemasonry. The volume also includes the famous Masonry Dissected exposure (1730), which forced ritual standardization, and, as exclusive bonus content, the Statutes of Franco-Masonry of the Elect Priests (1767), essential for understanding the origins of this influential rite.

Complete and definitive, this collection concludes with a comprehensive study of Freemasonry's "Great Crystallization," revealing how ideals of tolerance, morality, and universal brotherhood were codified to form the Order's enduring identity. An indispensable work for scholars, historians, and all seeking to understand the documentary roots of modern Freemasonry.

As Evidências da Maçonaria nos Registros Hebraicos Antigos

The Evidences of Masonry in Ancient Hebrew Records: Three Lectures on the Three Degrees

Annotated translation of The Evidences of Masonry from Ancient Hebrew Records (1896) by Rabbi Joseph Chayyim Mendes Chumaceiro, a seminal text seeking to connect Freemasonry to Hebrew traditions and Solomon's Temple. The project emerged from a fraternal conversation with Luciano Urpia and took on personal significance when Lora discovered he is eighth cousins with the Sephardic author, turning the translation into an ancestral dialogue on initiatic wisdom. Published amid 19th-century Orientalism, the work reflects Masonic efforts to legitimize its origins through biblical, kabbalistic, and midrashic scholarship, though it employs apologetic and creatively exegetical methods often arbitrary by modern historical standards.

The translator preserves the original oratorical style, enhanced by critical notes addressing methodological limitations such as forced etymologies and anachronistic projections, enabling a balanced reading that honors both spiritual appreciation and academic rigor. The book stands out as a historical document of 19th-century Freemasonry, illuminating tensions between received and invented tradition, and equips Brazilian scholars with tools to explore interfaces between Judaism, Kabbalah, and Masonic tradition.