You only need to read the "guest book" of the web site of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania at www.pagrandlodge.org to see how Masons from far and wide are attracted to share their Masonic experiences. Thirty-seven countries are represented among the hundreds of messages left like business cards on a public bulletin board for others to see and be able to correspond with them.

Even more exciting are the stories of men being brought together with their long-lost friends and families through the use of the Internet. Bro. Nathan W. Sheff was featured in a photo recently on the DeMolay portion of the web site as an advisor-in-training for a new chapter in Easton. Little did he know that an old Army buddy was searching for him. As he tells it:

"Unfortunately he was not a Mason and was not looking at Masonic things. He was looking specifically for me -- and, low and behold, the picture came up. Larry was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam and I was in Vietnam at the same time. He went out west and got married and, after a few phone calls, we lost touch with each other. I had tried to find him on the net and never could --until the DeMolay picture and then he found me!"

Through the Grand Lodge web site men have been introduced to the fraternity in their own communities where they never knew lodges existed. Men have been able to get in touch with their "mother lodges" after they moved out of the state.

Masons have learned about the history, customs, and practices of this worldwide fraternity. They have been given immediate access to the charitable services performed by the fraternity. People in need of assistance have been helped, or have been connected with those who could help them.

The Internet even crosses barriers of war. During the recent NATO action, Bro. Sasa Damjavanovic of Pobratim Lodge No. 1 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, used the Internet to share his views of the situation between his country's government and NATO. His appeal for prayers by Masonic brothers around the world for peace and understanding reached hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Masons. In July, he wrote:

"My dear Brother: Thanks to the GAOTU, finally we can talk about our usual Masonic things. War is over (I hope) and I am glad to invite you to visit us when you can."

The Internet is good for business, communications, entertainment, news and information, personal finance, genealogy, medical reasearch, and hundreds of other special interests. But, for Freemasonry, it is bringing people together, sharing our story of fraternalism and charity, and strengthening the bonds of friendship and brotherly love.