The Grand Lodge of Colorado

The Grand Lodge of Grand Lodge of Colorado is the next stop on the tour of American Grand Lodges.

Grand Lodge of Colorado Masonic membership:
12,645  – 2007
11,421  – 2008
gain/loss  –  -1,224
Data from MSANA

State population: 4,939,456 as of 2008 (estimated)

Mission Statement:
The mission of Freemasonry in Colorado is to teach and perpetuate a fraternal way of life. That promotes brotherhood and self-improvement. Through education, moral standards, charitable giving and community involvement.

About the Grand Lodge:

Late in the year 1858 a number of gold-seekers had gathered at the junction of Cherry Creek and the Platte River, on land which was then a part of the Territory of Kansas, but which now is within the State of Colorado. This settlement was known as Auraria, and by the first of November a number of cabins had been erected there.

On the evening of November 3, 1858, seven Masons, including William M. Slaughter, held an informal meeting in one of those cabins; and throughout the following winter these brethren and others continued to meet from time to time, having in mind the formation of a new Masonic Lodge at Auraria, provided the proper authorization could be obtained from some Grand Lodge… read more.

Some of what I found on my excursion there:
The Grand Lodge of Colorado is a minimalist website with a lot lot of punch.  The site is has everything that one would want in a Grand Lodge site, including events listed on the front page, information of how to contact and find them, and an address (message) from the Grand Master.  It has a very clear look and feel for what Colorado is known for, and lays out all of its informational content right on the front page.

Informational Content:
The Grand Lodge of Colorado site is very rich in informational content.  In that mix it has a clear history of Freemasonry in the state, what Freemasonry means both in general and in the state.  And, it offers a wealth of pdf e-books for the membership and visitors to read  on the fraternity and its multitide of meanings.  This feature really impressed me in that it included some texts that are not commonly featured on most sites, including:  An Exposition of the Mysteries or Religious Dogmas and Customs of Egyptians, Pythagoreans and Druids, Illustrations of Masonry, William Preston, George Oliver editor, 1867, Legenda, (Kadosh and Heirodom), Albert Pike, and many others.  If added together, it would represent many thousands of pages of knowledge made available from a Grand Lodge site.

The site does not go for the immediate conversion of interested parties to membership, rather seeking to inform prospective members of what the requirements are and providing information on what membership represents.  All of this can be found under their membership button on the top navigation.

The links section also has a diversity of sites, including The Sanctum Sanctorum, the Guild of Masonic Webmasters, Freemasonsonline.com, International Club for Templar Studies, and Paul M. Bessel’s Masonic Pages.  This seems to be a growing list, and I’m sure as time progresses more will be added.

Other interesting components of the site are Grand Lodge specific, including information on their educational grants, their Honor Lodge award, and the Traveling Gavel, which is an interesting activity for lodges to promote visitation.  The site also has an extensive listing of lodges in the state, which list websites to the lodges.  Unfortunately, not all of the websites worked, some not existing at all.  Of those that did function, the visitor was further greeted by a local lodge site.  I do recommend that if traveling to the Grand Lodge site to stop in and look at the lodge links and virtually visit the various lodges.

Also, hidden on the community pages are press mentions that the Grand lodge has received and programs that it sponsors for community awareness including a Child ID program, a Band Camp Sponsorship, and Teacher of the Year program.  Each of these are very noble pursuits and important in and of themselves.

Look and Feel:
As mentioned, the site is a minimalist construction.  The two column site, with navigation across the top and on the right, really hits the mark for everything that a Grand Lodge site needs to communicate its information.  The events on the front page immediately catch the eye, as does the striking image of the Grand Master with his message below.  Each of the pages convey this symmetry and keep the delicate balance of message consistency.  I did notice several instances (outside of their on-line library) that pdf’s and .docs were employed which can be challenging for some users (especially for those who do not have the know how to open them) and it also breaks the ability to key in specific search seo by binding up the text in the document making its content essentially invisible to the various search engines.

The site visually has a good balance between negative (white) space and its use of logos and images.  It maximizes the use of clean typography for its linkage and transitions, making it easy to use, clear, and articulate in where the visitor is going.  It does lose some of its secondary navigation when you dig deep into its pages, but the visitor can quickly use the top nav to get back to its main pages.

Further, the site employs a visual that is specific and unmistakable to the state and its presence in the snow capped Rockey mountains.  Not included to be overt, the image of the mountains paint an interesting visual for the site as a whole.

Overall:
The Grand Lodge of Colorado site is really a very clean and elegant site.  It is packed with information and content (the pdf library itself a gold mine worth the visit) but in a very easy to use package.  Its up-to-date calendar and listing of lodges is an excellent way to connect members to lodges and those interested to something local.  It is disappointing to see lodges listed with websites only to find no site present, and this is something I hope gets resolved to broaden the reach in the state.  Overall, I can definitely see the site expanding and adding even more information, and I think the layout is fitting to grow with the content.

One suggestion, as with many state Grand Lodge sites, is the addition of an RSS/XML feed so visitors can stay abreast of changes or updates with a subscription.  Or, in lieu of a feed, a newsletter sign up to send information out to those of interest to receive one, as it represent a terrific means to deliver up to date information on what’s going on.

Up Next: The Grand Lodge of Connecticut.