What are we all about? (Freemasons that is) A question we are all asked on many occasions you will agree. By now we have the stock answers of what the craft does for us as individuals, moral and spiritual development, making one the best one can be etc, etc, etc…but when it comes to the charitable side of the craft and what Freemasonry does for others, it’s a little more complicated…. Or is it? An absolute must website for all members and non-members alike is http:www.grandcharity.org – A simple description of the actual charity is; “The Freemasons' Grand Charity is a grant-making charity, which supports people in need.” Their website is far more than that! It seems that those responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of the official Grand Charity website have missed no tricks! You can easily navigate the site and discover the vast amount of information available.
     Why not subscribe to their “updates” where you will receive between 10 and 12 emails per year informing you of all the latest grants and work of the Grand Charity? Keep in touch with the most important part of our existence, after all Charity is the main ingredient which enables us to develop and nurture the tenets of our craft – Brotherly Love, Relief and truth.
     How do you browse? - Microsoft Internet Explorer is the browser that the 77% of us use, with Firefox, Opera, Netscape as alternatives - Oh yes and the Apple Mac uses its very own Safari. Interestingly Safari 3 beta is available for Microsoft users too and worth checking out if you like a simple browser.
     A new local lodge website worth a mention is that of Worcestershire’s third oldest lodge – The Lodge of Hope and Charity No 377, which can be found at www.hopeandcharity377.org.uk - The brother in the Chair is our very own Worshipful Brother Mike Murphy – co founder of TheFreemason.com and webmaster of the new lodge website.
     Romiley Lodge No 4976 in the Province of Cheshire has a new site which is also worth a mention. It’s clean, crisp and packed with information. Visit www.romileyfreemasons.org and be impressed.
     I have to leave you with a link to a touching and poignant slideshow which will mean so much to so many. Hopefully it will also help to remind us that the needs of others can take many forms, understanding and compassion for those in the closing days of their mortal existence must be paramount.
     Please visit www.parentswish.com and if it does not affect you personally, then you will undoubtedly know someone who it will – pass it on. When I first saw this slideshow my 16 year old son Joshua was sat with me we were both seriously touched by the message therein – I think Joshua will be a good Freemason one day.

If you know of any other sites we should take a look at email us at online@thefreemason.com