We are sent many masonic websites for review, some good and some not so good, but all are making an effort to move themselves forward into the wonderful, useful and not-as-confusing-as-it-was world of the internet. E-communication is being talked about as a friendly, versatile and even cost effective means of communication – from the Grand Lodges to the Provinces and Districts, cascading down to the lodges and its members.
    I thought I would look for some success stories, at all levels of development – those who have gone the whole hog and those just realising the benefits available.
    The award for energy and content has to go to the Province of Cumberland and Westmorland, which is found at www.cumbwestmasons.co.uk. A friend of ours, Peter Argyle moved from sunny Worcestershire up to the world of unknown Freemasonry (as far as I was concerned) in Cumbria. He soon made contact with local Freemasons – obviously aided by his well sought-after musical skills. Along this journey Peter met a local Freemason by the name of Sandy Rogers who, with his colleague, Joe Strong just happened to be involved in their Provincial website. It is jampacked with all kinds of information. It is technical, busy, never boring, and may well be the most informative Provincial website we have come across. Go and visit and spend a while just being amazed at what these Brethren have created. Another great idea is a site called Ask a Freemason which can be seen at www.askafreemason.org. This is a clean and interesting site where you literally can ‘ask a Freemason’. The site asks a simple question, which is a pre-requisite to being a Freemason, namely Is there Greatness in you? Cleverly using Benjamin Franklin as the character to guide you, this site is simple, yet cleverly constructed, it reminded me a little of the ‘Encarta’ days.
    Now for something completely different. feeds.feedburner.com. The Digital Freemason is the place to watch. Not yet up there with the leading masonic research resources but a clever concept indeed. There are currently some 40 plus research articles in digital format (.mp3). They are absolutely fascinating.
    Some new UK masonic websites worth a mention are: Lodge of the Round Table, at www.lodgeoftheroundtable.org.uk; Masefield Lodge, at www.masefieldlodge.org.uk; the Province of Durham at www.durhamfreemasons.org; Duke of Athol Lodge, at www.dukeofathol210.co.uk and Old Cheltonian Lodge, at www.oclodge.org Overseas we have the District Grand Lodge of Natal site at www.natalenglishfreemasonry.co.za, and a lodge website from the Netherlands, Niederrhein, at www.niederrhein892.de If you know of any other fraternal sites we should take a look at email us at online@thefreemason.com (note new email address for recommendations).