The Eminent Arrival of
The Masonic Internet

Rick Kasparek, MPS

"If Hiram Abif had better tools, would it
make him less a craftsman?"

In the past few issues of The Philalethes
I have read the articles by Brothers Ed-
ward Struble, MPS; Edward L. King,
MPS; and William H Yarnall, Sr., MPS
regarding the "Craft and the Com-
puter" with great interest. They each
discuss valid points which should be
taken into consideration. However, I
hope we don't get so distracted by the
discussion that we let opportunity pass
us by. The simple fact is that whether
you oppose, or favor the use of comput-
ers and the Internet by our Fratemity,
the dawn of this new technology has
long since passed and we are in-fact,
behind the curve on applying it to our
benefit. Several Grand Lodges, Craft
Lodges, Masonic Research Organiza-
tions, Masonic Youth Organizations,
and Masonry-related commercial or-
ganizations and individuals from
around the world have already estab-
lished their sites on the Internet's World
Wide Web, to make their messages
available to "cyber-surfing" masons or
as we call ourselves, " e-Masons . "

FACT: There are more than 200 Masonic
sites on the web. There are 37 Grand Lodges;
89 Craft Lodges; 8 sites concerned with Ma-
sonic Research; more than 15 sites which deal
with Prince Hall, specific Rites and Co-ma-
sonry; more than 40 Masonic Youth sites; 6
commercial sites and more than 60 sites by
individual Masons. A quick search of the In-
ternet reueals that there are more than 8400
files, which mention Freemasony.

I agree with Brothers Struble and
Yarnall that "we must take care with
whom we communicate " so that we
may keep inviolate those things which
were given to us as such, and so that we
do not afford ammunition to those who
would seek to discredit us or do us
harm. However, open discussions re-
garding the general nature of Freema-
sonry should be offered and shared be-
tween Freemasons, e-Masons and non-
masons throughout the world via this
highly accessible medium.

I feel that we should emulate our Ma-
sonic forefathers, those pioneering spir-
its who have preceded us. This is OUR
"Brave New World." Although some
pioneers have traveled here before us, it
is time for Freemasonry to establish a
strong foothold in this New World and
show our spirit of Truth, Relief and
Brotherly Love to those who are already
here, as well as those who will follow.
We can bring our "Gentle Craft" into
the 21st century, and ensure its survival
by utilizing new methods and tech-
nology, or let its future slip quietly from
our grasp and fade into history.

This New World also affords us a
wonderful opportunity to communicate
with the non-masonic community. Re-
cently, a Masonic WebSite won an
award as one of the top 500 sites on the
World Wide Web. This site is featured
in a printed version of I-Way Magazine
(which will soon be on news stands) as
well as at the heavily visited I-Way
WebSite. Our Fraternity will be repre-
sented at one of 500 sites being de-
scribed to the average computer-literate
consumer. I should remind the reader
that the demographics of the average
Internet user are a VERY close match
for some of the qualifications of a Ma-
sonic candidate. It is important for us to
make our Internet presence one which
will appeal to these people.

As others before me have stated, there
are indeed issues to be dealt with, the
one which is most discussed is how one
knows he is really talking to a Mason.
There are several methods of "Authen-
ticating" or providing proof of valid
Masonic membership. Most of these
start with an off-line method of verify-
ing membership and then issuing a user
name and password which could be
used to enter online "Masons- only"
WebSite, discussion groups, chat areas,
mailing lists or news groups. A central
repository could also be created where
these users' information could be stored
and updated. This could also provide
the basis for creating a worldwide E-
mail directory of Freemasons. Possibili-
ties for the future of Masonry are
limited only by those first few precious
steps we take. I hope that those steps set
us on the path- of possibilities wherein
we can use the available technologies to
provide a place for us in the future of
mankind.

147
