GLCPOO Website Policy

The Grand Lodge Computer Resources Committee, has been instructed to provide Masonic Website policies, guidelines and website content standards in order to encourage consistency, accuracy, and a united direction of purpose. Thereby implementing the Internet's full potential to communicate the Light of Freemasonry and enhance the GLCPOO image, while preserving our Ancient Usages, Established Customs and Landmarks.

Therefore:

All GLCPOO Lodge and District Websites will register with the Computer Resources Committee for GL approval prior to publishing, linking or otherwise making the site public. Please use the GLCPOO Website Registration Form for this purpose. 

Prior to registration, 'webmasters' and 'website approval officers', will read the GLCPOO Website Policy and ensure their Masonic websites comply with the General Guidelines and the GLCPOO Approval Icon rules and regulations.

Note: it is expected that all GLCPOO Lodge and District Websites, currently on the Internet will sooner-rather-than-later, co-operate and register their websites using the new registration form and obtain their GLCPOO Approved Icon. A limited time period will be allowed for this compliance.

General Guidelines

1.  Website approval officers: prior approval from the Master of the Lodge if it is a lodge website, or prior approval from the D.D.G.M. if it is a District website must be obtained by the webmaster.
The formation of a Website for the Lodge or District should be done with the knowledge and approval of the Master and the DDGM. It is important to remember that this is a public forum, subject to human interpretation, for which considerable planning will be required in order to make it work now and in the future.  

2.   District websites are encouraged to offer links to their Lodge websites, only if that site has a GLCPOO approval icon.
GLCPOO has reduced the burden of checking links to District and individual Lodge websites within our jurisdiction. If the site does not display the GLCPOO ICON on its opening page, then it has not received approval and you can respond accordingly with an email.

3.   Lodge websites will make every effort to be linked on their District website.

4.  District websites may apply for a link on the GLCPOO site. Lodge websites will not be linked.

5.  All pages must be free of advertisements such as banner ads.
Counters and guest books must be free of advertisements. Most ISPs  (Internet Service Providers) have free counters available. If you require a guest book, it is recommended that you use an ISP. that supports Microsoft FrontPage extensions as they have a built-in guest book feature, similar to the GL guest book, or use an ISP that will allow you to do CGI Scripting. Guest books should be visited and/or edited, everyday if possible, to ensure proper conduct. If unable to do so, it is wise to by-pass this feature.

6.   The Lodge Summons is not to be published on your website.

7.   Remember that you are not a spokesman for the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario. Please keep all material relevant to your lodge or district.

8.   No lists of mailing addresses or phone numbers of members or Grand Lodge Officers without their approval. (It is recommended that these NOT be included.)

9.   The publishing of e-mail addresses must be done with the consent of the brethren.

10.   Do not provide links to other Lodges or Grand Lodges that the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario does not recognize. All secretaries have copies of the current GL Amity List or you can find those that are recognized here on the GL site. When in doubt, do not link.

11.  No duplication of the information found on the Grand Lodge Web site will be permitted. Providing a link to the particular GL page or a directory is acceptable.

12.  Use the official Canadian S&C when ever possible in your websites. Many such graphics are available in the GL Webmaster help portion of the site.

13.   Be sure that you have permission to publish any article, photograph or image. Masonic literature is covered under the Copyright Act.

14.   Pictures or images should be kept as small as possible as they take considerable time to download, the recommended format is "jpeg" for pictures and "gif" for most graphics if they do not contain gradient fills.

15.  A lodge Website should be centered on the events of the lodge.
Links to other lodge sites in your district are encouraged, but you must ensure that the other lodge wishes your link and they display the GLCPOO ICON. You may also not wish another to link to you as a result of their poorly planned and implemented page. The use of buttons to present another part of your site is good, because it keeps the main page clean. A counter, to show the activity level, will provide you with a gauge of the effectiveness of your site. Visit our Webmaster help page for website utilities and tips.

16. The opening screen should identify yourself in a clear manner.
Your website should use tasteful colour schemes, standard fonts (a font on your PC may not be on the visitor's PC, and their default font may alter your design intentions) and small, quick to load graphics. The links should not be ambiguous, but be marked clearly. Avoid the use of a link which is not finished. IE: nothing turns off a seasoned surfer faster than a graphic which says "UNDER CONSTRUCTION".

17.   Linking to other District and Lodge websites requires thorough research by webmaster. If any doubt do not link.
Links to other sites, especially those to other jurisdictions must be carefully researched by your webmaster. It must be first established that the jurisdiction to which you are linking is one which is in amity with and is recognized by our Grand Lodge. This can be established by viewing the yearly list published by Grand Lodge which is kept at the Tyler's Register in your lodge ante-room, or here in the GL site.

It is equally important to determine if that site is properly sanctioned by the lodge, district or jurisdiction that it purports to represent. This was recently exemplified by a Masonic web-site which portrayed itself as being properly sanctioned, with the operators requesting a link to be placed on our Grand Lodge page. When the Grand Lodge of the jurisdiction was contacted, it was found that this site was not sanctioned and was not a proper representative of the jurisdiction. When in doubt, do not link.

View the contents of the link. If there are things there that you or others feel are controversial or not in keeping with good taste or Masonic teachings, do not link. Others will probably find these, but it should not be our duty to lead them there.

18.   Privacy and Terms of Use.
It is recommended that you include a Privacy and Terms of Use policy within your website. Using the Grand Lodge's own Privacy and Terms of Use policy as a guide is recommended.
Privacy/Terms of Use

19.   Password Protected Areas:
Due to the fact that no content is to be placed in a District or Lodge website which is not acceptable for public viewing, it is deemed unnecessary for a Lodge or District website to contain a password, or members only, area within the site.

GLCPOO Approval Icon Rules and Regulations.

The GLCPOO Approved Icon will be entrusted to all Masonic websites, within the jurisdiction of GLCPOO, who have received written approval from the Computer Resources Committee of GLCPOO. The displaying of the Icon establishes that the website has complied with the 'GLCPOO Website Policy' and agrees to continue doing the same.