Provincial Facebook Group (PFG)

The Provincial Facebook Group is a member-only space we use to communicate to other Lodges and Chapters across the Province. With daily posts, there are currently 2,000 members of the Province who are members of the Provincial Facebook Group, and it grows every week. As far as we know, we are the only Province that uses a private Facebook group of validated members with such a broad coverage. It is therefore a secure way of communicating across the Province.

It is facilitated by the Communications Team. It is important to note we do not post on behalf of other people. Lodges, Chapters and other organisations (for example some of our associations recognised by Province) are expected to do create their own posts. Facebook is user-generated content. The idea is that access becomes democratised with everyone having the ability to post. It would defeat the object of the social media if the Communications Team posted on behalf of other people. Normally, we would expect the newly introduced Communications Officer to post on behalf of a Lodge or Chapter using their Facebook page.

Our approach is therefore decentralised as we prefer to empower members to provide material to the Provincial Facebook Group. All post are authorised or declined by one of the group admins and there are a set of rules that must be observed that are published within the group. Basically, it asks brethren to observe the standards of behaviour expected in a Lodge.

Posting on the Provincial Facebook Group

It is important to remember this is your group. Every member is entitled to post, the only editorial control is a set of published rules that we have refined over the 16 years this group has run. In fact, everyone in the group is encouraged to post, especially if you have something noteworthy to share. One thing we do ask is to provide a picture with your post, this makes it far more engaging. 

Joining the Provincial Facebook Group

In order to join you need to authenticate yourself as a subscribing member of a Lodge or Chapter in Yorkshire, West Riding by providing your full name, date of birth, Lodge name and number, home postcode and date of joining Freemasonry. If you do not provide an answer within a reasonable amount of time your request will be declined. However, you always can send another request. We are not that strict with the answers you provide, so long as we have sufficient detail to be convinced you are who you claim to be.

These are the questions that will be verified:

  • Your full name and your date of birth
  • Your lodge name and number
  • Your home postcode and the date your joined freemasonry.

Here is the link to the Provincial Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/168300659883959/

Guidelines for posting on the Provincial Facebook Group

  1. Masonic content: Your post must have relevant, strong masonic content, and be of potential interest to an audience of Craft and Royal Arch Freemasons [only] in the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding.
  2. Discussion of politics or religion: The standards of behaviour within the group are the standards we would uphold in open Lodge. Therefore, posts with political or religious implications will be declined.
  3. Discussion of masonic policy: Posts about masonic politics will be declined. These are posts that question or provoke discussion about Grand Lodge or Provincial Grand Lodge policy, rules or recommendations.
  4. Social capital: Using the social capital of the group for personal, private or commercial gain (for purposes other than promoting the welfare of Freemasonry) will be declined.
  5. Soliciting Membership: Posts soliciting membership from organisations other than Craft or Royal Arch may be declined.
  6. Multiple posts about the same event: Multiple posts about the same Lodge night may be declined to avoid repetition. The exception is ProvGL and ProvGC where multiple posts are encouraged.
  7. Charitable requests: A post that requests charitable support outside of raising money for WRMCL, MCF or masonic buildings will be declined.
  8. Lodge / Chapter postings: Postings about a Lodge/Chapter night or a Lodge social need to be newsworthy. They need to include a photograph and some relevant narrative. Avoid superlatives.
  9. Difference between a precedent and an exception: Editorial decisions are made in the context of prevailing circumstances. A previous posting does not create a precedent, which may have been an exception.
  10. Illness or bereavement: Care needs to be taken when communicating illness or bereavement. It is the responsibility of the person making the post to ensure the appropriate permission has been received from the family.

Here is the link to the Provincial Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/168300659883959/