The Internet and Clandestine Masonry

The dark side of the Internet as it relates to Freemasonry is that it allows irregular or clandestine masons a wide audience. In fact, such masonry has latched onto the Internet with a vengeance. Google the word “Freemasonry” and more often than not at least half of the initial hits will be websites condemning Masonry or featuring irregular masonry. Google “Freemason blogs” and many or most hits will be irregular websites or those that provide irregular information and opinions, or link to such sites.

Of the three most popular Masonic websites on the Internet only one is regular. One of the other two is decidedly irregular, even hostile to Grand Lodges and traditional Masonry, while the other features links to such sites. The former, joined by any number of Masonic blogs, endorsed a presidential candidate in the 2008 election, which gave those not knowledgeable about Freemasonry the false impression that the Craft is involved in politics.

In this confusing digital world it can be very difficult for a non-Mason or a prospective Mason to differentiate between clandestine and regular Masonic websites. Even regular Masons can be easily misled. Popular Masonic forums often feature routine postings from regular Masons, and from irregular European ones, as well as from co-masons and feminine masons. All are mixed together and mingled in a way that gives each equal credibility. Many blogging Masons, especially the most prominent sites, tend to come from angry men with an ax to grind, men who want radical change in the Craft.

The Internet allows regular brothers to post anonymously or under false flags and publish information in violation of their obligation without being held to account. One prominent poster, who is generally in support of regular Masonry, routinely publishes the exact text of the California ritual to support his positions.

Another phenomenon on the Internet is that irregular and clandestine groups have a representation out of proportion to their true numbers. A single disgruntled former Mason can change his Internet identity repeatedly, post messages and give the very false impression that a certain site is representative of the feelings of large numbers of Masons, or that a certain dissident point of view is widely held when neither is the case. It is commonly thought that two popular sites hostile to regular Masonry that often write in support of one another are actually authored by the same malcontent expelled Mason, and that he is the force behind an irregular grand lodge.

For centuries irregular Masons have languished because they’ve never had the numbers to achieve real impact. The Internet has changed that. Disgruntled and expelled Masons have formed several clandestine groups which have a strong presence on the Internet. One expelled Mason founded or participated in the founding of the Rite of the Rose Cross of Gold, the Modern Rite of Memphis, the United Grand Lodge of America, and most recently the Grand Orient of the United States of America which claims to have received recognition from the Grand Orient of France. He and others present that they are the new wave of Masonry in the 21st century.

This “new wave” has certain troubling aspects. The proponents veil their anger towards regular Masonry by claiming to be supportive of traditional Masonry, when in fact they are not. They tend to depict regular Masonic Grand Lodges as monolithic and oppressive. They view subordinate lodges as dysfunctional and archaic. They envision a future in which anyone claiming to be a Mason is accepted as such, a world in which regularity all but ceases to exist. In the name of what they term “universal brotherhood” they seek a Masonic world in which anyone wearing a compass and square is accepted as a Mason. If they have their way it will be the end of regular Masonry.

Following is a sample from such a site:

Mainstream Masonry has always been a dictatorship, a benevolent one and in
many Grand Lodges guided by a voting body which is increasingly ignored. That
seemed to serve Masonry well for many years. Perhaps there has always been
some back room arm twisting and an Oligarchy working out of smoke filled rooms.
But we always had the sense that our leaders had our best interests at heart and
that they listened to the wishes and feelings of the average Mason.
We had a simple system for simple times…

As easy, fast communication has brought Masons from many different traditions
together, the rise of universal Masonry reaching out across jurisdictions, seeking
consensus and some kind of all encompassing identity has enjoyed an interstate
bonding. Brothers from many different jurisdictions with the ability to
communicate well on a daily basis seek to break down barriers of territorial
exclusiveness. Naturally when power is eroded, dispersed and questioned it seeks
to preserve the status quo, sometimes by whatever means.

Such postings appear weekly on various popular websites. Clandestine masons understand the impact of the Internet and its potential significance to their cause. Consider this, even more seditious posting from a recent blog, intended apparently to lure regular Masons into attending irregular lodges of the clandestine Grand Orient of the United States of America:

Masonic recognition is a hotly debated topic on the Internet these days but is it
really as important as it appears? In truth it’s a game played by Grand Lodges and
a few overzealous brothers. Most lodges give a wink and a grin to recognition to
keep their Grand Lodge from harassing them.

For centuries Masons having been visiting one another in lodges whether
recognized or not, and the age old tradition continues to this day. Masons from the
State Grand Lodges and UGLE have been visiting and joining the Grand Orient of
France for over a hundred years. Other Masons have visited Price Hall lodges
even in jurisdictions where they’re not recognized. The GOUSA has members that
still belong to their State Grand Lodge. The bottom line is that most Masons care
more about the brotherhood than they do about Masonic recognition.

Such is the nature of clandestine Internet masonry, but the threat here comes not from the likelihood that, as one example, the so-called Grand Orient of the United States of America will become a viable Grand Lodge with a competing network of subordinate lodges. The clandestine and expelled masons forming such groups have a history of dissent. They form alliances and fall out with one another with frequency. On a practical level the Grand Orient of the United States of America and such groups are not a threat to regular Masonry because they cannot get along with each other. Having broken with regular Masonry they are by practice rebellious and prone to active dissension, even from one another.

No, the threat here comes in a different form.

Non-Masons, prospective Masons and new Masons visiting the Internet cannot today readily distinguish regular Masonry from irregular masonry and in many cases are unlikely to know that such a profound distinction exists. The threat to the Craft is that we have lost the Internet message to irregular masonry. The state of today’s Internet Masonic message is largely unrepresentative of regular Masonry. Clandestine masons and disgruntled regular Masons engaged in unMasonic conduct are primarily driving a destructive digital discourse. It is essential to our future that regular Masonry take control of the digital Masonic message. If we don’t, these forces will.

The reality is that if the Internet Freemason message remains unchanged it will become dominant. It will not only influence how non-Masons think of us, new members will be influenced by it and will form an initial false belief in the actual nature of regular Masonry, a belief that participation in lodge activities may not alter. As they rise in leadership they will seek to change Freemasonry to conform to this influence and, given time, these leaders will decide the direction and future of Freemasonry.

The Internet And Regular Masonry

Generally speaking, regular Masons are reluctant, or unwilling, to spread light on the Internet. They are by nature reticent when it comes to discussing the Craft outside of the lodge. Others are not certain what can be discussed or do not know how to write certain matters in a form the profane can access. Still others hold the opinion that we are a fraternity and that light, that is, our understanding that comes from reading and study, can only truly be shared face-to-face.

There already exists a form of regular digital Freemasonry. The United Grand Lodge of England has chartered an Internet lodge, as just one example. Certain long respected research lodges and societies have blossomed in this new digital age. Masons all over the world meet and communicate in chat rooms and in forums. Information is exchanged, friendships are formed. The consequences for all this are not as yet fully apparent, though the dangers are.

This is not to say that the Internet and Internet lodges will replace the traditional Craft lodge. They will not. Masonry depends on fraternity that can only exist within a lodge, and upon our ritual, which can only be truly experienced there as well.

Recent non-scientific polls conducted by widely read Masonic blogs reveal surprising results. One is that as many Masons over the age of 40 as under it routinely visited Masonic blogs. In addition, just as many Masons who have been members more than 20 years visited the blogs as those new to the Craft. The polls suggest results that are initially counterintuitive, that is, that Masons of all ages express their interest in Masonry by visiting Masonic websites.

All North American Grand lodges have websites and it is likely that most subordinate lodges have them as well. It is clear from a review of these sites, however, that those in authority are uncertain how to proceed. Craft lodge websites are noteworthy for their haphazard design, unpolished appearance and utter lack of timely information. The single most important function such a site can perform, that of keeping brothers informed of events, does not take place. It is as if once a site is constructed it no longer receives the attention of the Master. Though more professionally designed, most Grand Lodge websites are little better. In nearly every case, both for the Grand Lodges as well as for the Craft lodges, the worth of websites is simply squandered.

Portal For New Masons

We routinely ask where the new brothers will come from. They will come from the Internet.

The Internet is already the portal for most prospects and those interested in researching Masonry. In visiting the blogs created by new Masons and in speaking to new candidates, it is apparent that the Internet is the primary means they employed in making their decision to join. This is true for nearly any man today who becomes a Mason.

As a consequence, a striking and contemporaneous website is vital to the continued well being and functioning of any lodge in the 21st century. New Masons and those considering joining expect a lodge to have such a site. It is through websites they select most of the companies with which they conduct business and they associate a quality website with a worthwhile organization. More often than not, the mere existence, as well as the condition of a lodge website, will of itself influence the potential Mason in deciding to submit a petition and will determine to which lodge he will submit it.

Any primary focus on membership other than on the Internet by the Grand Lodges and subordinate lodges is misdirected. Digital Freemasonry is a significant dimension in the future of Freemasonry. A well designed website that provides the right kind of information and is kept current is not just a boon to the brothers of that lodge, but it also plays a vital role in attracting new brothers to the Craft and that lodge.

The consequence today of our haphazard, untimely, sloppy sites is to present a very poor image of Freemasonry. It is so bad, in fact, the Craft would be better served if their were no Grand or subordinate lodge websites at all.

Note On This Paper

This paper is by Worshipful Brother Ronald J. Watkins, Past Master of Wayfarers Lodge #50, and Past District Deputy Grand Master for the Grand Lodge of Arizona. It is being presented in three parts due to it’s length, but it’s message is very important. It is used with permission.