FREEMASONRY ON THE INTERNET
by Dan Pushee
The following article appeared in the National Section of the May Edition of the Knight Templar Magazine (1997)
NOTE - Some information has been updated to August 2003
Are YOU ready to "SURF THE NET"????. Are you "ON-LINE"??? These are some of the current "in terms" used by people "connecting to the Internet" or "the Information Highway". Recently Steve Case, CEO of America On Line (AOL), reported that "there were ninety seven (97) million TV sets in US households and thirteen (13) million Personal Computers or PC's". Steve also indicated that they currently have "over eight (8) million customers and AOL had a usage figure of one hundred (100) million hours in December of 1996". Bill Gates CEO of Microsoft also recently indicated that he anticipates that every household will eventually have a PC. How many companies are still using typewriters??? Even our school systems are teaching our youth how to use computers. The company that I work for manu-factures resins, or "plastic pellets", that are used to "mold" the CRT enclosures for Sony - Gateway Computers. Over nine (9) million pounds have been utilized in that application since early 1996. That's a lot of CRT's!!!!
The purpose of this introduction is to indicate that we in Freemasonry need to move "from the Island of Malta to Cyberspace". SK Jack Canard, EPC, of Old Dominion Commandery #11 located in Alexandria, Virginia has taking an initiative to help all Masons to do just that. In late November, SK Jack returned to the Northern Virginia area after spending some time in California. He found that it was very difficult to find out information about Masonic activities in order to get "re-connected" in that area. Jack then decided to "build a homepage or web site" on the Internet. In mid-January he published THE VIRGINIA MASONIC INFORMATION NET. This Net can be "viewed" at http://www.gslink.com/~gcanard NOW http://aw22.com/). This Net contains EVERYTHING that a Mason needs to get started on his "search for more light" through the use of the Internet. It's primary purpose is to provide "timely notice" to the brethren of Northern Virginia on all items that need a "quick response". Sick lists and funeral notices are given a high priority. It contains "links" to over 22 Masonic Grand Lodges, 72 Lodges with "homepages" and many other sites for Masonic Research and discussions. It also contains many non-Masonic links to help anyone discover and search the Information Highway. This Net currently contains over 300 members of the Craft who are able to E-mail each other instantaneously.
This Net has been developed as a cooperative effort to that site, another homepage has been "constructed". This site is listed as THE VIRGINIA KNIGHT TEMPLAR INFORMATION NET. It can be "viewed" at http:// members.aol.com/kych52va/ index.html (EVENTUALLY Terminated). The purpose of this Net is to provide "unofficial" information on Commandery activities in Virginia and Templary in general. The page currently contains "Knight Line News", a schedule of events, a description of the Orders, information on the Knight Templar Eye Foundation, an "In Remembrance" page to honor departed Sir Knights, and provides a viable "data base on all Grand Commandery Officers, Committees, and Virginia Commanderies. It will also carry the Grand Commander's schedule. This Net has been on-line since January 22, 1997 and has an active list of over forty Sir Knights, Each one of these "sites" contain a "counter" so you can show your support by visiting. Why not "get connected" and let's go "surfing on the net" and spread the "light of Freemasonry".
Sir Knight Dan Pushee is a member of Jerusalem Commandery No. 19, Fitchburg, Massachusetts; Grice #16, Norfolk, Virginia; & Portsmouth #5 (NOW DEMITTED from 16 &5). He is a member of Massachusetts Priory #52 (NOW a Past PRIOR 2003)& Rose of Sharon #2, KYCH and is an Associate. Regent of the York Rite Sovereign College of NA. His address is 840 Mildenhall Drive, Chesapeake, Virginia 23322 (NOW residing at 235 N Pompeo Ave., Crystal River FL 34429). E-mail kych52fl@gmail.com.