One of the interesting items that Grand Master Wilbert M. Curtis introduced us to at our summer Grand Session of PHA Texas was the new Conference of Grand Masters PHA website. It is really quite well done.
There are two interactive maps where you can slide your cursor over a state and it will show you the Grand Master of that state or territory with his picture, website and E-Mail address. Another map will do the same thing for Grand Matrons and Grand Patrons . Both maps are also broken down into Regions and each Region is also part of the information included in a visit to each state.
When the Grand Masters meet, the Grand Matrons and Grand Patrons also meet at the same time and place. Including the women with the men in joint but separate gatherings is a constant theme in Prince Hall Masonry. Not so on the Mainstream side.
The website has a center picture which changes, a touch of Masonic art and symbolism and good color. It also has a fair amount of information. You can learn about the origin of Prince Hall Masonry and the origin of the Adoptive Rite among Black women. Another click will show you all the Grand Lodge websites list alphabetically. Other tabs will bring you to PHA charities and to other Masonic links.
But what I enjoy seeing on the site most of all is the spelling out of the Purpose of the Grand Masters conference along with pictures of the officers and a breakdown of regional heads. Along with the Purpose are listed also the Objectives for the Grand Masters and Grand Matrons and Grand Patrons.
To view the website go here: http://www.conferenceofgrandmasterspha.org/home.asp
The Prince Hall Site gives you the feeling of some tight bonding among the different jurisdictions. It also sets a definite agenda while at the same time allowing some time for position papers.
Taking a look at the Mainstream Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America, Inc. I see a site that doesn’t seem to want to show off Masonry, doesn’t emphasize togetherness, is less informational and not quite so elegant.
To view that website go here: http://www.cgmna.org/index.htm
Contrast the two for yourself and see if you come to the same conclusions.
You are so interesting! I do not believe I’ve truly read through a single thing like that before. So great to discover someone with some unique thoughts on this issue. Really.. thanks for starting this up. This website is one thing that is needed on the web, someone with a bit of originality!