The 8th Annual Internet Lodge Report, authored by Mike Herman, outlines the activities and challenges faced by Internet Lodge 9659EC during the 2005-2006 term. The lodge planned to hold its first regular meeting outside the UK in Portugal but faced a setback when their application for dispensation was denied. Instead, they organized a fraternal visit to Lancaster Lodge in Estoril, Portugal, complemented by a Ladies Night. The weekend included cultural excursions to significant historical sites such as Quinta da Regaleira and Templar Castles, with Prof. Jose Anes providing insights into Portuguese Freemasonry and the Templars. Additionally, the lodge conducted two regular meetings in Beaconsfield and Harrow, featuring educational presentations by Yasha Beresiner. This report highlights the lodge's commitment to fostering fraternal bonds and educational enrichment, despite logistical challenges in meeting abroad.
December 16th, 2025
February 10th, 2026
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March 2006 Mike Herman WM, Internet Lodge 9659EC, 2005 - 2006 It had been my intention to host the first ever regular meeting of Internet Lodge on ‘foreign’ soil. The plan was to meet in Portugal in October. We believed that because some English Constitution lodges meet in Portugal, we would be able to get a dispensation to do likewise. Unfortunately it was not to be, and our application was rejected. Since the arrangements were already in place we held a fraternal visit to Lancaster Lodge in Estoril, Portugal followed by our Ladies Night. The weekend in Portugal included visits to the esoteric Quinta da Regaleira, The Templars’ Castles at Tomar and Almourol, and The Batalha Monastery. The star of the weekend was Prof. Jose Anes, who gave us a guided tour of Quinta Regaleira, gave a lecture in our meeting on the history of modern Portuguese Freemasonry and then continued this theme with a prequel relating the history of the Templars during our visit to the Templars’ Castles. In addition to our installation meeting we held two regular meetings one in Beaconsfield at the Old School House, where we were educated and entertained by Yasha Beresiner and the other in Harrow. Mike Herman Immediate Past Master March 2006