MasonicDiscussion--The Three Pillars

[dbweinberg]

TheThreePillars.com Discussion Forum Rules and Regulations

This document contains all rules governing use of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum. Use of your account on TheThreePillars.com and associated sites is affirmation of your acceptance of these rules, as amended, and your assent in complying with these rules.

Article 1: Mission Statement

The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum is first and foremost a Masonic Community, whereby Masons from around the globe (regardless of Grand Lodge affiliation) can learn from one another. It is also a forum where those interested in Freemasonry can ask sincere questions about the craft and affords Masons the opportunity to answer the same. It is designed to put into electronic practice the three principal tenets of Freemasonry - Brotherly Love Relief and Truth.

The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum operates for the unfettered exchange of ideas, practices, and philosophies, and maintains the integrity of its membership in accordance with this document, as amended from time to time, and with the official pronouncements of the Administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum.

Article 2: Posting here is a privilege, not a right.

2.01. The Administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum reserves the right to suspend or revoke, at any time, with or without notice, any and all user accounts found to be in violation of any or all of the Rules and Regulations, as amended. Exercise of suspension or revocation of any individual user account is at the sole discretion of the Administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum, and exists without right of appeal, redress, or review by any body outside the Administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum.

2.02. Any discussion of any specific action of the Administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum is to be conducted via the in-board private messaging function or electronic mail.

2.03. The administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum has the right, in its sole discretion, to take any actions the Administration deems as in the best interest of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum, without recourse to any body other than the appropriate legal jurisdiction.

2.04. The administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum has determined, that, absent any specific and non-binding determination otherwise in individual situations, user accounts are limited to natural persons having attained their eighteenth year.

2.05. The administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum has the right, but not the obligation, to monitor the content of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum to determine compliance with these Rules and Regulations, and any other operating rules established and posted. The administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum has the right in its sole discretion to edit, refuse to post, or remove any material submitted to or posted on The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum. Without limiting the foregoing, the administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum has the right to remove any material that it, in its sole discretion, find to be in violation of the provisions hereof, otherwise objectionable or stale. Notwithstanding this right, users shall remain solely responsible for the content of their messages. Each individual user acknowledges and agrees that neither the administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum nor any third party content provider shall assume or have any liability for any action or inaction by us or any third party content provider with respect to any conduct, communication or posting on The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum.

Article 3. Limitation of Liabilities, Disclaimer of Warrantees

3.01. Each individual user expressly agrees that use of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum is at his or her sole risk. The administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum does not warrant that The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum will be uninterrupted or error free; nor makes any warranty as to the results that maybe obtained from use of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum or as to the accuracy, reliability or content of any information provided through the Forum or any associated system.

3.02. The disclaimer of liability contained in this section applies to any damages or injury caused by any failure of performance, error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, computer virus, communication line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, alteration of, or use of record, whether for breach of contract, tortuous behavior, negligence, or under any other cause of action. Each individual user specifically acknowledges that the administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum is not liable for the defamatory, offensive, or illegal conduct of third parties, subscribers, members or other users of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum and that the risk of injury from the foregoing rests entirely with each individual user.

3.03. In no event will the administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum or any person or entity involved in creating, producing or distributing the online services be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages arising out of the use of or inability to use The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum or out of the breach of any warranty. Each individual user hereby acknowledges that the provisions of this section shall apply to all content on The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum.

3.04. The administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum neither endorses nor are responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, advice or statement on The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum, nor for any offensive, defamatory or obscene posting made on The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum by anyone other than our employee spokespersons acting solely in their official capacities. Under no circumstances will the administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum be liable for any loss or damage caused by reliance on information obtained through postings on The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum.

3.05. The administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum does not endorse, warrant or guarantee any product or service offered by a third party through The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum and will not be a party to or in any way monitor any transaction between users and third party providers of products or services. As with the purchase of a product or service through any medium or in any environment, each individual user should use her or her best judgment and exercise caution where appropriate.

3.06. Each individual user specifically acknowledges that in no event will the administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum, our affiliates, nor any of their respective employees or agents be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages arising out of (i) the use by such user of any browser owned or operated by any party and/or (ii) the downloading of any software owned or operated by any third party.

Article 4. Terms of Use

4.01. It is considered a violation of the Terms of Use of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum to:

(a) Use this Web Site for illegal purposes, in violation of any applicable laws or regulations or in violation of any rules specified on such areas of this Web Site;

(b) Post or otherwise distribute any content that you do not have a right to transmit under any law or under contractual or fiduciary relationships (including but not limited to inside information, confidential information learned as part of employment relationships or under nondisclosure agreements);

(c) Post or otherwise distribute the proprietary information of another (whether protected by copyright, trademark, trade secret, right of publicity or other proprietary right) without the express permission of the owner of such right. Each individual user affirms that the writing is his or her own, and is not subject to another’s copyright. If subject to another’s copyright, it should be so stated and quoted appropriately, with full attribution to the copyright-holder;

(d) Sell, resell or exploit for commercial purposes, any portion of The Three Pillars Discussion Forum;

(e) Post or otherwise distribute any content that is unlawful, deceptive, misleading, false, counterfeit, stolen, threatening, harassing, abusive, obscene, pornographic, defamatory, racially or ethnically objectionable, or in violation of the personal privacy rights of another;

(f) Intentionally forge headers, manipulate identifiers or otherwise engage in any activities intended to hide a user’s identity or contact information;

(g) Post or otherwise distribute any content that contains software viruses or any other computer code designed to interrupt, destroy or limit the functionality of any computer software or hardware or telecommunications equipment;

(h) Send unsolicited commercial messages or communications in any form (spam);

(i) Assist or permit any persons in engaging in any of the activities described above.

4.02. Specific Rules:
Without limiting the foregoing, the following form supplemental rules to the Rules and Regulations of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum. This Paragraph is provided as explanatory and for information; should the contents conflict with any other article, paragraph, or provision of these Rules and Regulations, the subparts of this Paragraph are subject to, and do not void or otherwise modify the countervailing article, paragraph, or provision.

(a) Apply the Golden Rule
Remember this forum is open to Masons and non-Masons alike. You and your post are somebody’s impression of what a Freemason is. Stand up for what you believe, but consider the feelings of the other poster. When you communicate online, all the poster sees are words on a screen.

(b) Remember Where You Are
This is a forum for and about Freemasonry. While it is not a Masonic lodge, or a substitute one, the same conduct you would engage in while in your lodge is expected here. While “flaming” may be the order of the day on some forums, it is not acceptable here, nor will it be tolerated. Respectful debate on issues concerning Freemasonry is accepted; heated exchanges are not.

(c) Respect Our Bandwidth and the Bandwidth of Others
Please keep your posts to as few words as needed to get across your thoughts. There are many posters on the forum and many topics to be viewed. If your post is essay length, the administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum would be happy to publish it on our main web site and you are welcomed to link to it, inviting comments on the essay. Linking to an article online is permitted. Displaying images on The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum, which are pulled from other web sites, not your own is referred to as “hot-linking” and is not acceptable here.

(d) Help Keep Flame Wars Under Control
Flaming is what happens when people express strongly held opinions without holding back their emotions. While flaming is common on most forums, it is to be kept in check here. If you read a post that is the spark of a potential flame war, please send a PM (Private message to the poster whispering wise council in their ear.) Failing this, contact the moderator of the forum to have the post removed. Do not under any circumstance add fuel to the fire, by arguing. Debating an issue = good. Arguing and flaming = possible banishment from the forums.

(e) Be Forgiving Of The Shortcomings of Others
It is a fact that on this forum we have Masons from around the globe. These members will have varying degrees of experience and come from lodges with customs that may be foreign to you. Perhaps you have traveled extensively, while your fellow poster may have never been to a lodge other than his own. Perhaps you are conversant in all the degrees of Masonry, while your Brother is but an apprentice. We are here to learn from one another, to teach and to share our ideas. Patience is a virtue.

(f) Taboo Topics
i. Politics and Religion:
Freemasonry makes much of the notion that politics and religion are never to be discussed in lodge. The actual prohibition is on Partisan Politics and Sectarian Religion. It would be impossible to discuss Freemasonry, its issues, traditions and customs without mentioning politics and religion; however there is no need to debate partisan political matters or sectarian religious dogma. Just as not everyone in your lodge is a Democrat and or a Christian, likewise here, not everyone is of the Jewish Faith or a member of one political party or another. Therefore, while it is acceptable to discuss matters of faith and political thought in general terms, it is unacceptable to discuss matters of a religious or political nature, which might lead to heated exchanges.

ii. Masonic Class
There are no topics that can ignite greater debate and lead to an escalation of heated exchanges than the topics of Prince Hall regularity, One Day Classes, and Mixed and Feminine Masonry. The open areas of this forum are open to ALL Masons regardless of their Grand Lodge affiliations. The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum takes no notice whether one has received the degrees via a “One Day Class” or through the traditional route. The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum is open to Masons of both genders and all colors. We will not tolerate any discussion or opinion that suggests that any one class of mason is superior or inferior to another. There is but one class on this forum and that is the class, which we all attend here to learn from one another. This does not mean that these issues cannot be discussed, but we must ensure that they are kept as harmonious as possible.

iii. Criticisms Of Specific Grand Lodges
While it may be reasonably argued that some Grand Lodges are losing site of the purpose of Freemasonry, it is unfair to point fingers at any one Grand Lodge. We have members of virtually every Grand Lodge on the forum. Thus an attack on any one Grand Lodge is an attack on our forum member from that Grand Lodge. We also have several Grand Lodge officers here who are trying to make a difference, both on the forum and in their Grand Body. If you have issues with a specific Grand Lodge, please take it up with that Grand Lodge via your lodge secretary. No user of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum, by virtue of their user account with The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum is empowered to act in any other manner than they would if they did not have a user account with The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum. This includes, but is not limited to, the following of proper Masonic protocol for contacting Grand Lodges other than the user’s ‘home’ Grand Lodge.

(g) Copyrighted Materials
You are not permitted to reprint or post any material on the forum that is under copyright. It is permissible to post up to 200 words from any article and a link to where the originating article may be found online. Source must be given for ALL QUOTES.

(h) Representing The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum
No user, no matter how their user account is designated or styled, is empowered to speak on behalf of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum unless specifically authorized to do so by the administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum. Other than those specifically empowered to do by the administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum, no user of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum is empowered to contact any Grand Lodge or Concordant / Appendant Body on behalf of The Three Pillars Discussion Forum. Any questions you may have concerning practices in other jurisdictions, should be directed to your lodge secretary and follow the normal Masonic protocols. Any member who violates this rule will be have their user account removed from participation.

(i) Accounts
Each individual user is permitted one account. Anyone running multiple accounts will have both accounts deleted. The administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum reserves the right to delete or de-register subsequent registrations without notice where the user had a previous account deleted or de-registered under this provision. If determination is made by the administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum that multiple persons are using an individual user account, or that a user account was set up by one person for use by another person, the administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum reserves the right to delete or de-register the user account without notice, and to delete or de-register any subsequent registration of user accounts.

(j) No Criminal Activity
A criminal activity is a posting that constitutes spam or unauthorized advertising, invades a member's privacy or encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any local, state, national, or international law or regulation.

Article 5. Site Affiliations

5.01. The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum is not associated with any Grand Lodge, Grand Orient, or any other body purporting control, jurisdictional or otherwise, over Masonry in general or Masons in particular, wheresoever dispersed. The Three Pillars Masonic Forum disclaims all liability for the enforcement of any particular Grand Body’s individual laws, rules, edicts, resolution, or any other pronouncement or promulgation, and is not the arm or organ of any Grand Body.

5.02. The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum, explicitly or implicitly, does not condone, endorse, join with, support, sanction, or approve of any Grand Lodge, Grand Orient, or any other body purporting control, jurisdictional or otherwise, over Masonry in general or Masons in particular, wheresoever dispersed. The Administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum, do not, in their joint or several capacities as the Administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum, explicitly or implicitly, condone, endorse, join with, support, sanction, or approve of any Grand Lodge, Grand Orient, or any other body purporting control, jurisdictional or otherwise, over Masonry in general or Masons in particular, wheresoever dispersed.

5.03. The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum is expressly not affiliated with any other web sites or forums except as enumerated in this paragraph, irrespective of any similarity in name or on-line appearance.

5.04. Any statements purporting contravention of any Paragraph of this Article is subject to revision to state “Beware the Lizard’s Drool”, “Pushing the Broom of Harmony,” “I have felt the Impact of Harmony II,” or any other such nonsense statement the Administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum feels appropriate, or inappropriate, as the case may be, and effect any other Paragraph or Article of these Rules, as amended.

Article 6. Miscellaneous

6.01. The Three Pillars Discussion Forum is not an archive of every post ever made on the forum. The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum has the option to use an automated topic pruning system, which would deletes posts with no reply after a period of time ranging from 7 – 30 days, depending on the nature of the forum. Selected threads may be archived at the moderator’s discretion to be used as FAQs on any given Masonic topic.

6.02. If a court of competent jurisdiction shall, at any time, hold that a portion of these Rules and Regulations as invalid, the remainder will not be affected thereby and will continue in full force and effect.

6.03. The terms of this Agreement, insofar as they may require construction or enforcement, are to be construed according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without regard to conflict of law principles.

6.04. From time to time, at the sole discretion of the administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Forum, these Rules and Regulations may be amended. It is the responsibility of each individual user to review these Rules and Regulations for changes, modifications, or additions, and use of each individual user’s account is an express acceptance of these Rules and Regulations, as amended.

6.05. Headings in this agreement are for convenience only and shall not be used to interpret or construe its provisions.

6.06. By each use of the specific user’s account, the user explicitly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless all moderators and administrators of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum, the administration of The Three Pillars Masonic Discussion Forum, its employees, agents and representatives, from any and all claims and liabilities (including reasonable attorney’s fees) that may arise from, but not limited to, each individual user’s submissions, unauthorized use of material obtained through the service, or each individual user’s breach of these rules, or from any such acts through each individual user’s account. Each individual user further warrants and agrees that the above identified in this Paragraph 6.06 is not responsible and shall have no liability to each individual user, with respect to any material posted by others.
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Dave
And, just 'cause some of you're expecting it: Fear the Broom Harmony!


"... no, that's a baseball bat. THIS is a Club."