How to build a Freemasonry website

We really do know how to build a freemasonry website. We have built more than a hundred since 2011. We don’t mind passing on some free advice though.  However if you are considering designing a new Lodge website, or updating your existing one, we would strongly recommend letting the Masonic website experts do it.

Content on Masonic Websites

1. Don’t post any member’s name without the member’s permission.
2. Avoid complex URLs; use short names in lower case characters.
3. Remove outdated information on a regular basis.
4. Provide a site map
5. Keep a back-up
6. The “Charges of a Freemason” provide some excellent ideas on what to include, and what to not include…
   “Avoid all ill language… no private piques or quarrels… cautious in your words and carriage… act as becomes a moral and wise man… avoiding all wrangling and quarreling, all slander and backbiting… that all may see the benign influence of Freemasonry.”
7. Include a copyright notice
8. Include a disclaimer on the site, such as:
   “The opinions expressed on this webpage represent those of the individual authors and, unless clearly labeled as such, do not represent the opinions or policies of any masonic lodge, Grand Lodge or recognized masonic body.”
9. Include a disclaimer on each page with links to offsite pages, such as:
   “No claims are made or responsibilities assumed for the contents of linked websites”
10. Include a link to your Province and your countries national Lodge eg UGLE

Design on Masonic Websites

1. Avoid using frames and animated graphics
   Frames make it difficult for some browsers to navigate; animated graphics are time consuming distractions.
2. Don’t use black backgrounds or detailed, high contrast background graphic tiles; they generally render type illegible.
3. Use WordPress
4. Make sure it is mobile ready, naturally everything we build at MasonicWebsite looks great on every screen

Technical: Aspects on Masonic Websites

1. Don’t use the symbol “#”: spell out “Lodge No.”
2. Don’t use the ampersand, “&”; this symbol is used in HTML coding and can confuse some browsers.
3. Browser compatability is a major issue in web design. View your pages on as many different browser and OS versions as possible to identify potential problems (naturally we will do this for you when you become a client of ours.)

Overall

Keep in mind that your website is a reflection of the entire fraternity of Freemasonry and act accordingly.

If you don’t know how to build a freemasonry website, then we’d be very happy to help! Drop us a line via our contact page