Copyright & Site Conditions

This page contains information about Lodge Ben Cleuch ( hereinafter referred to as the ‘Lodge’) copyright and links to external Websites. They also contain an important liability disclaimer.

Copyright

The information contained on this Website is the copyright property of the Lodge ( unless stated otherwise ) and is protected by international copyright laws.

The Lodge Website is provided for personal, private and non – commercial use only. No user or recipient has any right to modify, copy, distribute, transmit, display, perform, reproduce, publish, license, create derivative works from, transfer, exchange or sell any information , material, software, images, graphics, or source code obtained from the Lodge Website.

No part of the Lodge Website may be reproduced in any form weather electronically or otherwise ( other than temporary in the course of using the Website ) without the express prior written consent of the Lodge.

Links to external Web – sites

The Lodge has included, or may include, links to third party Internet Websites controlled and maintained by others. When accessing these links the user leaves the Lodge Website. These links are included solely for the convenience of users and their presence does not constitute any endorsement by the Lodge of the Websites linked or referred to nor does the Lodge have any control over, or responsibility for, the content of any such Websites.

Liability Disclaimer

The Lodge Website is produced and made available in absolute good faith. For the avoidance of any doubt, neither the Lodge nor any of it’s Trustees, Office – bearers or members give or make any representations or warranties of any kind, weather express, actual or implied, in relation to all or any part of the Lodge Website or any contents thereof or any Website or Websites to which the Lodge Website is linked. All warranties and presentations of every kind and howsoever arising are hereby absolutely and expressly excluded to the fullest extent by law.

Liability for material reproduced on the Lodge Website remains with the author(s) and/or originator(s) of the material concerned and not with the Lodge. Responsibility for errors and/or omissions in all material remains with the author(s) and/or originator(s) and not the Lodge.

The content of the Lodge Website does not constitute the dispensation or the giving of any kind of advice, recommendations or guidance by or on behalf of the Lodge and must not be relied upon in making, or refraining from making, any decision.

There is no guarantee that the Website will be free from infection weather by viruses or from any other cause or source which maybe harmful or destructive. All parties use the Lodge Website entirely at their own risk and without recourse to the Lodge, its Office – bearers, Trustees and members or any of them.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Lodge and, separately, its Trustees, its Office-bearers and members, all jointly and severally, hereby disclaim all liability ( howsoever arising ) in connection with any loss or damage, arising out of or in connection with any use of, or inability to use, all or any part of the Lodge Website or any site to which the Lodge website is linked or any action taken ( or not taken ) as a result of access to the use of any of these.

Editorial Control

The Lodge can exercise editorial control only over material commissioned and/or produced by it. The Lodge can not, under any circumstances, change, add to, or subtract from, any material previously produced by others, that is prior to reproduction by the Lodge. Errors and omissions in such previously reproduced material are the responsibility of the original author or commissioning body and not the Lodge. Errors and omissions in material reproduced on the Lodge Website which do not occur on the original material should be brought to the attention of the Web Master. If correction is required, the full text of the original material, author, source, dates and place(s) of primary publication must be submitted to the Lodge, which will then make appropriate adjustments and corrections having regard to the submission.

Lodge Ben Cleuch No. 782.

All references in the Lodge Website and in these pages to ‘the Lodge’ include references to all of the members of the Lodge and the Lodge Trustees and Office-bearers, all jointly and severally. Lodge Ben Cleuch No. 782 is a daughter Lodge of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Grand Lodge is the ultimate authority on all matters relating to Scottish Freemasonry .

Privacy Policy

Privacy

Lodge Ben Cleuch No. 782 ( herein after referred to as the ‘Lodge’ ) recognises the importance of protecting the privacy of the visitors to the Lodge Website. Any personal data collected through the Lodge Website will be regarded and treated as confidential and in accordance with the principles of the data protection act 1998. However the collection of such data is unintentional as the Lodge has not designed or consciously put in place any system designed to collect personal information.

Disclaimer

The Lodge intends that the information published on the Lodge Website is up to date and accurate . However the information on the Website does not constitute legal or professional advice, guidance, or recommendation and the Lodge, its Office-bearers, Trustees and members, and each of them, will not accept any liability from actions arising from its use nor will they be held responsible for the contents of any Website or other source referenced by any external link.

Cookies

A cookie is a small data file that certain Websites write to a hard drive when a user visits that Website. The only personal information that a cookie can contain is information that a user personally supplies . A cookie can not read data from a user’s hard drive or read cookie files created by other Websites. Cookies, however, enhance a Website’s performance in a number of ways including providing a secure way to identify verification during a visit to a Website and personalising the user’s experience with the Lodge Website while making it more convenient for the user.

The Lodge may therefore use cookie technology to track or record information about visitors to the Lodge Website. These cookies are “session specific” and are not used to record personal information or to associate personal with the use of the Lodge services. Privacy or security are not compromised if and when the user accepts a cookie from the Lodge Website. Users can refuse cookies by turning them off on their browsers ( see under “Tools” and then “Internet Options” ) and users do not need to have cookies turned on to successfully use the Website.

Social Media Web Sites

Since the advent of the internet the main content has been Websites. These can be considered to be “static” information sites which supply information which is updated as and when required but does not happen in ‘real time’.

Social media Websites are interactive and discussions between individuals and groups can take place instantly. Compared to static Websites social media websites are dynamic and instantaneous and are more like telephone conversations , than say posters. For this reason they are impossible to monitor and the information ( including images ) can be added, amended, or deleted within seconds.

The Grand Lodge of Scotland has no wish to stifle communication between Freemasons but exactly what can and can not be discussed remains the same as before the existence of the internet. Generally speaking Freemasons are prohibited from discussing matters that are the preserve of Grand Lodge. That is , subjects on which Grand Lodge are the final arbiter . A few examples might exist in illustrating this point. Relationships ( including recognition ) between Grand Lodges should no be discussed. Matters of Internal discipline ( including accusations of misconduct ) and the guilt or innocence of any particular individual is not for public debate. Proposed changes to the Constitution and Laws of the Grand Lodge ( or of Provincial GL’s or Daughter Lodges ) should not be discussed in public ( and therefore not on Social Media Websites. A final example is canvassing for votes for election to a position (at any level) is prohibited.

Freemasons, or body of Freemasons such as a Lodge, are not permitted to express opinions on matters of Religion, or Politics. Nor are Freemasons, or body of Freemasons, permitted to express opinions on matters which are reserved for Grand Lodge. If there is any doubt in the mind of any individual as to the validity of any discussion it is best to err on the side of caution and not participate in the discussion where there is any doubt as to the legitimacy of the subject.

The guidance offered above regarding Websites is equally applicable to social media Websites. This is particularly important regarding images. Images of individuals or groups of individuals which identifies them as being Freemasons must not be posted on any Websites without prior permission from all the individuals concerned. Each has the right to Privacy and if they do not wish to be publicly identified as being a Freemason their wish must be respected.