Gespräche für Freimaurer
Drittes Gespräch
ERNST
Du bist mir den ganzen Tag im Gedränge der Gesellschaft ausgewichen. Aber ich verfolge dich in dein Schlafzimmer.
FALK
Hast du mir so etwas Wichtiges zu sagen? Der blossen Unterhaltung bin ich auf heute müde.
ERNST
Du spottest meiner Neugierde.
FALK
Deiner Neugierde?
ERNST
Die du diesen Morgen so meisterhaft zu erregen ,wusstest.
FALK
Wovon spachen wir diesen Morgen?
ERNST
Von den Freimäurern.
FALK
Nun?—Ich habe dir im Rausche des Pyrmonter doch nicht das Geheimnis verraten?
ERNST
Das man, wie du sagst, nicbt verraten kann.
FALK
Nun freilich; das beruhigt mich wieder.
ERNST
Aber du hast mir doch über die Freimäurer etwas gesagt, das mir unerwartet war; das mir auffiel; das mich denken rnachte.
FALK
Und was war das?
ERNST
0 quäle mich nicht!—Du erinnerst dich dessen gewiss.
FALK
Ja, es fällt mir nach und nach wieder ein.—Und das war es, was dich den ganzen langen Tag unter deinen Freunden und Freundinnen so abwesend machte?
ERNST
Das war es!—Und ich kann nicht einschlafen, wenn du mir wenigstens nicht noch eine Frage beantwortest.
FALK
Nach dem die Frage sein wird.
ERNST
Woher kannst du mir aber beweisen, wenigstens nur wahrscheinlich machen, dass die Freimäurer wirklich jene grosse und würdige Absichten haben?
FALK
Halbe ich dir von ihren Absichten gesprochen? lch wüsste nicht.— Sondern da du dir gar keinen Begriff von den wahren Taten der Freimäurer machen konntest, habe ich dich bloss auf einen Punkt aufmerksam machen wollen, wo noch so vieles geschehen kann, wovon sich unsere staatsklugen Köpfe gar nichts träumen lassen.—Vielleicht, dasz die Freimäurer da herum arheiten. Vielleicht! —da herum!—Nur um dir dein Vorurteil zu benehmen, dass alle baubedürftigen Plätze schon ausgefunden und besetzt, alle nötige Arbeiten schon unter die erforderlichen Hände verteilet wären.
ERNST
Wende dich itzt, wie du willst—Genug, ich denke mir nun aus deinen Reden die Freimâurer als Leule, die es freiwillig über sich genommen haben, den unvermeidlich en Uebeln des Staats entgegenzuarbeiten.
FALK
Dieser Begriff kann den Freimäurern wenigstens keine Schande machen.— Bleib dabei!—Nur fasse ihn recht. Menge nichts hinein, was nicht hineingehöret. —Den unvermeidlichen Uebeln des Staats!—Nicht dieses und jenes Staats. Nicht den unvermeidlichen Uebeln, welche, eine gewisse Staatsverfassung einmal angenommen, aus dieser angenommenen Staatsverfassung nun totwendig folgen. Mit diesen gibt sich der Freimäurer niemals ab; wenigstens nicht als Freimäurer. Die Linerung und Heilung dieser überlässt er dem Bürger, der sich nach seiner Einsicht, nach seinem Mute, auf seine Gefahr damit befassen mag. Uebel ganz andrer Art, ganz höherer Art sind der Gegenstand seiner Wirksamkeit.
ERNST
Ich habe das sehr wohl begriffen.—Night Uebel, welche den missvergnügten Bürger machen, sondern Uebel, ohne welche auch der glücklichste Bürger nicht ein kann.
FALK
Recht! Diesen entgegen—wie sagtest du?—entgegenzuarbeiten?
ERNST
Ja!
FALK
Das Wort sagt ein wenig viel.—Entgegenarbeiten!—Um sie vö11ig zu heben?— Das kann nicht sein. Denn man würde den Staat selbst mit ihnen zugleich vernichten.—Sie müssen nicht einmal denen mit eins merklich gemacht werden, die noch gar keine Empfindung davon haben. Höchstens diese Empfindung in dem Menschen von weitem veranlassen, ihr Aufkeimen begülnstigen, ihre Pflanzen versetzen, begäten beblatten— kann hier entgegenarbeiten heissen.— Begreifst du nun, warum ich sagte, ob die Freimäurer schon immer tätig wären, dass Jahrhunderte dennoch vergehen könnten, ohne dass.slch sagen lasse: das haben sie getan.
ERNST
Und verstehe auch nun den zweiten Zug des Rätsels—Gute Taten, welche gute Taten entbehrlich machen sollen.
FALK
Wohl!—Nun geh und studiere jene Uebel und lerne sie alle kennen und wäge all ihre Einflüsse gegeneinander ab, und sei versichert, dass dir dieses Studium Dinge aufschliessen wird, die in Tagen der Schwermut die niederschlagendsten, unauflöslichsten Einwürfe wider Vorsehung und Tugend zu sein scheinen. Dieser Aufschluss, diese Erleuchtung wird dich ruhig und glücklich machen—auch ohne Freimàurer zu heissen
ERNST
Du legest auf dieses heissen so viel Nachdruck.
FALK
Weil man etwas sein kann, ohne es zu heissen
ERNST
Gut das! ich versteh'—Aber auf meine Frage wieder zu kommen, die ich nur ein wenig anders einkleiden muss. Da ich sie doch nun kenne, die Uebel, gegen welcbe die Freimäurerei angehet.
FALK
Du kennest sie?
ERNST
Hast du mir sie nicht selbst genannt?
FALK
Icb habe dir einige zut Probe namhaft gemacht. Nur einige von denen, die auch dem kurzsichtigsten Auge einleuchten; nur einige von den unstreitigsten, weitumfassendsten.—Aber wie viele sind nicht noch übrig, die, ob sie schon nicht so einleuchten, nicht so unstreitig sind, nicht so viel umfassen, dennoch nicht weniger gewiss, nicht weniger notwendig sind!
ERNST
So lass mich meine Frage denn bloss auf diejeniten Stücke einschränken, die du mir selbst namhaft gemacht hast.—Wie beweisest du mir auch nur von diesen Stücken, dass die Freimäurer wirklich ihr Ahsehen darauf haben?—Du schweigst?—Du sinnest nach?
FALK
Wahrlich nicht dem, was ich auf diese Frage zu antworten hätte!—Aber ich weiss nicht, was ich mir für Ursachen denken so11, warum du mir diese Frage tust.
ERNST
Und du willst mir meine Frage beantworten, wenn ich dir die Ursachen derselben sage?
FALK
Das verspreche ich dir.
ERNST
Ich kenne und fürchte deinen Scharfsinn.
FALK
Meinen Scharfsinn?
ERNST
Ich fürchte, du verkaufst mir deine Spekulation für Tatsache.
FALK
Sehr verbunden!
ERNST
Be1eidiget dich das?
FALK
Vielmehr muss ich dir danken, dass du Scharfsinn nennest, was du ganz anders hättest benennen können.
ERNST
Gewiss nicht. Sondern ich weiss, wie leicht der Scharfsinnige sich selbst betriegt; wie leicht er andern Leuten Pläne und Absichten leihet und unterlegt, an die sie nie gedacht haben.
FALK
Aber woraus schliesst man auf der Leute Pläne und Absichten? Aus ihren einzeln Handlungen doch wohl?
ERNST
Woraus sonst?—Und hier bin ich wieder bei meiner Frage.—Aus welchen einzeln, unstreitigen Handlungen der Freimàurer ist abzunehmen, dass es auch nur mit ihr Zweck ist, jene von dir benannte Trennung, welche Staat und Staaten unter den Menschen notwendig machen müssen, durch sich und in sich wieder zu vereinigen?
FALK
Und zwar ohne Nachteil dieses Staats und dieser Staaten.
ERNST
Desto besser!—Es brauchen auch vielleicht nicht Handlungen zu sein, woraus jenes abzunehmen. Wenn es nur gewisse Eigentümlichkeiten, Besonderheiten sind, die dahin leiten oder daraus entspringen.—Von: dergleichen müsstest du sogar in deiner Spekulation ausgegangen sein; gesetzt, dass dein System nur Hypothese wäre.
FALK
Dein Misstrauen äussert sich noch.—Aber ich hoffe, es soll sich verlieren, wenn ich dir ein Grundgesetz der Freimäurer zu Gemüte führe.
ERNST
Und welches?
FALK
Aus welchem sie nie ein Geheimnis gemacht haben. Nach welchem sie immer vor den Augen der ganzen Welt gehandelt haben.
ERNST
Das ist?
FALK
Das ist, jeden würdigen Mann von gehöriger Anlage, ohne Unterschied des Vaterlandes, ohne Unterchied der Religion, ohne Unterschied seines bürgerlichen Standes in ihren Orden aufzunehmen.
ERNST
Wahrhaftig!
FALK
Freilich scheint dieses Grundgesetze dergleichen Männer, die über jene Trennungen hinweg sind, vielmehr bereits vorauszusetzen als die Absicht zu haben, sie zu bilden. Allein das Nitrum muss ja wohl in der Luft sein, ehe es sich als Salpeter an den Wänden anlegt.
ERNST
O ja!
FALK
Und warum sollten die Freimäurer sich nicht hier einer gewöhnlichen List haben bedienen dürfen?—Dass man einen Teil seiner geheimen Absichten ganz offenbar treibt, um den Argwohn irrezuführen, der immer ganz etwas anders vermutet, als er sieht.
ERNST
Warum nicht?
FALK
Warum sollte der Künstler, der Silber machen kann, nicht mit altem Bruchsilber handeln, damit man so weniger argwohne, dass er es machen kann?
ERNST
Warum nicht?
FALK
Ernst!—Hörst du mich?—Du antwortest im Traume, glaub' ich.
ERNST
Nein, Freund! Aber ich habe genug; genug auf diese Nacht. Morgen mit dem frühsten kehre ich wieder nach der Stadt.
FALK
Schon? Und warum so bald?
ERNST
Du kennst mich, und fragst? Wie lange dauert deine Brunnenkur noch?
FALK
Ich habe sie vorgestern erst angefangen.
ERNST
So sehe ich dich vor dem Ende derselben noch wieder.—Lebe wohl! gute Nacht!
FALK
Gute Nacht! lebe wohl!
Ende dieses Projekt Gutenberg Etextes Gespräche für Freimaurer, von Gotthold Ephraim Lessing.
Sie haben Gespräche für Freimaurer zu Ende gelesen
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
Bücher wie dieses
Hinweis von Project Gutenberg
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Gespraeche fuer Freimaurer, by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GESPRAECHE FUER FREIMAURER ***
***** This file should be named 9326-8.txt or 9326-8.zip ***** This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: http://www.gutenberg.org/9/3/2/9326/
Produced by Delphine Lettau and Gutenberg Projekt-DE Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed.
Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.
START: FULL LICENSE
THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at www.gutenberg.org/license.
Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United States.
1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed:
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg-tm License.
1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided that
* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work.
* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
1.F.
1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.
1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem.
1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life.
Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
For additional contact information:
Dr. Gregory B. Newby
Chief Executive and Director
gbnewby@pglaf.org
Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.
The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate
While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate.
International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate
Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works.
Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org
This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.