Past Masters

This page honours the Brethren who have served as Worshipful Master of Internet Lodge 9659. Their stories, year by year, reflect the Lodge's commitment to innovation, tradition, and our global community

• He was the Twenty Sixth Worshipful Master.
  
• His year included a Fraternal Visit to Corfu
  

• He was the Twenty Fifth Worshipful Master.

• His year included a fraternal visit to Cyprus, including a tour of the Troodos mountains and a beautiful monastery.

• The Lodge hosted a demonstration of a degree ceremony in Chorley.

• A lecture on Ecclesiastes 12:1 was delivered at the final meeting of his year.

• A donation of £250.00 was paid to East Cheshire Hospice.

• He was the twenty-fourth WM of Internet Lodge.

• His theme for the year was “Introduction to Greek Freemasonry,” as he was based in Athens, Greece, and also served as the Master of his Greek Lodge.

• The Lodge organised a trip to Athens, where members attended a raising ceremony at his Greek Lodge.

• He delivered a lecture on the history of Freemasonry in Greece.

• The Lodge demonstration of a Greek Lodge opening was performed in Coventry.

• Twenty Third Worshipful Master.
• His installation was postponed due to the pandemic and took place on 14th August 2021.
• He held one meeting in Rugby in October 2021, and attendance was restricted in the aftermath of Covid.

• Twenty Second Worshipful Master.
• The year included a special masonic trip to Dublin, where brethren visited the Grand Lodge of Ireland and attended meetings at two Irish lodges.
• The summer meeting was organised in Brighton, and the Ladies Festival Gala Dinner was held at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel.
• The October meeting took place in Sindlesham, near Reading, and a lecture was presented by W.Bro. Philip Harris.
• His successor was installed at the first Lodge meeting held on 14th August 2021 in Salford, as he was unable to attend due to Covid-19 international travel restrictions.

• Twenty First Worshipful Master.
• The themes for his year were Reconciliation & Remembrance.
• An overseas visit to the Emerald Isles included Lodge Ireland 2000, the Irish Constitution Internet Lodge.
• The Lodge held a visit and service at the New Masonic Garden of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum.
• Charities supported during his year included 1st Bangor Scouts, Fisher House Veterans support, Manchester Children’s Hospital & the Not Forgotten Association.

• Twentieth Worshipful Master.
• He had the honour of being the twentieth Worshipful Master during the UGLE Tercentenary year of 2017.
• His projects focused on the future of the Lodge and a new JOOMLA based private members site.
• A meeting in Lutterworth was followed by a presentation on "the Other Orders in Freemasonry".
• The Lodge celebrated the UGLE Tercentenary in Barry, South Wales, with a re-enactment of the "First Meeting of UGLE".

• Nineteenth Worshipful Master.
• His projects focused on the future of Masonry, how to serve the Lodge's 466 members, and the themes of meetings.
• A fraternal visit was made to Edinburgh, Scotland.
• The October festival weekend in Sheffield featured a speaker who looked at how the Craft could engage with the next generation.
• He flew out to Romania to support W. Bro. Mihutu being installed as Master of Lodge Dedal.

• Eighteenth Worshipful Master.
• His year included a visit to Great Queen Street and a talk on the work of the Connaught Club.
• The October meeting in Newcastle upon Tyne featured an excellent performance of a nineteenth-century raising by the Northumberland Masonic Demonstration team.
• He was delighted to install W.Bro Alan Turton as his successor.

• Seventeenth Worshipful Master.
• His year focused on consolidation, setting the Lodge on a "firm and stable foundation".
• Lodge meetings included an interesting weekend of music and festivities in Olney.
• A Ladies festival in Newport, Monmouthshire, featured a demonstration of a Russian 1st Degree initiation ceremony.
• During his tenure, membership grew to just under 400 members, with an increase from countries like Romania, France, Brazil, Hungary, Finland, and the USA.

• Sixteenth Worshipful Master.
• His aim was to involve more of our overseas Brethren.
• The Working Tools at his Installation were explained by Brethren from the Netherlands and Romania.
• A Lodge visit to Romania involved more than 40 brethren and ladies, including performing the Hiramic Legend in a local lodge.
• Our August meeting in Bangor, North Wales, featured a lecture on Staffordshire Pottery figurines and their connection to Freemasonry.

• Fifteenth Worshipful Master.
• His year was marked by a Lodge visit to Malta for more than 80 brethren and ladies, where they witnessed a Second Degree and a Third Degree ceremony.
• The August meeting in Knutsford, Cheshire, featured a lecture by the Grand Orator, "Initiation: what is the point?"
• He received a presentation to mark W. Bro Charles Lewis’s 50 years in Freemasonry at his Installation.
• Sadly, David died on 23rd February 2025.

• Fourteenth Worshipful Master.
• A highlight was a Lodge team's visit to Minneapolis, where they demonstrated an Emulation Third Degree to over 250 Masons.
• The October meeting featured a demonstration of the First Degree of Bristol Workings.
• The 50th anniversary of initiation was presented to W. Bro. Charles Lewis by the Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire.

• Thirteenth Worshipful Master and first Canadian to serve.
• He hosted a five-day social visit to the Niagara region of Ontario for over 40 members and wives.
• His year saw the dramatic growth in membership numbers, with 55 new joining members in 2010.
• The August web cast of part of our Festive Board in Chester to members across the globe was a key feature.
• The formation of our ladies' group, the LILies, was a notable achievement during his year.

• Twelfth Worshipful Master.
• He arranged a fraternal visit to Slovenia, which included a week of social activities.
• A meeting in Boston, Lincolnshire, included a presentation on Masonic Music.
• He commissioned a wide-ranging report into the Lodge's use of Internet Technology.
• Tragically, Bill died suddenly on 21st February 2010, just before the end of his year of office.

• Eleventh Worshipful Master.
• His meeting in Brockenhurst was a visit to a brand new lodge building, a personal project of W. Bro. Alex Viner.
• He was responsible for drawing up a policy document for the International Development Scheme.
• He also served as secretary to the Short Papers Competition.

• Tenth Worshipful Master.
• His membership and term as Master were one of the highlights of his 47-year Masonic career.
• He was privileged to serve during the year the Lodge ventured forth with the Short Papers Competition, a resounding success that became an annual event.
• W.Bro Charles Lewis passed to the Grand Lodge Above on 5th August 2020.

• Ninth Worshipful Master.
• His main objective was to improve the Lodge's usefulness to overseas members who rarely attend meetings.
• He established a community area with forums and blogs for members to share views and articles.
• A travel club was set up to facilitate get-togethers by Brethren worldwide.
• A four-day festival weekend in Winchester included a debate on the future of ritual.

• Eighth Worshipful Master.
• He hosted a fraternal visit to Lancaster Lodge in Estoril, Portugal, which included visits to historic sites like the Templars' Castles.
• An application to hold a regular meeting in Portugal was rejected, but a fraternal visit was held instead.
• A meeting in Beaconsfield featured a talk by Yasha Beresiner.

• Seventh Worshipful Master.
• The theme for his year was from the words of Joseph Fort Newton on Masonry's service to freedom of thought.
• A summer meeting in Worcester featured a Lancashire "Old England Night" with traditional delicacies.
• The Ladies Festival weekend included a demonstration of the building of King Solomon's temple.
• He led the formation of a Web Team to continue enhancing the Lodge's website.

• Sixth Worshipful Master.
• His year saw the first meeting of the Internet Lodge outside of England, held in Penarth, Cardiff, Wales.
• An October meeting in Birmingham featured a re-enactment of an 18th-century initiation ceremony.
• He initiated the working party that culminated in a magnificent new Lodge website.

• Fifth Worshipful Master.
• He took members on a three-day festival-weekend to his native country, the Netherlands.
• This weekend included a demonstration of a Dutch first-degree ceremony, over which he presided.
• He installed his successor using a form of the extended ceremony of a Board of Installed Masters.
• Brother Ab Goedhals passed to the Grand Lodge above on 7th March 2018.

• Fourth Worshipful Master.
• He was the first overseas Worshipful Master of the Lodge, administering it from 5,000 miles away.
• He developed the website to the latest state of the art, including a stereo movie on the homepage and online meal reservations and payments.
• He successfully managed a week-long activity in Florida, where members witnessed American-style degree ceremonies.
• Brother Peter Lanes passed to the Grand Lodge above on 19th January 2008.

• Third Worshipful Master.
• His theme was "The Internet & Freemasonry", leading members to communicate on a regular daily basis via our mailing list.
• The Lodge's web site was moved to a facility in the USA to provide full technical support and availability.
• Control of the website was shared out to more members.

• Second Worshipful Master.
• Known worldwide for his "Missing Master Mason" papers, he focused on working with a greater degree of internal openness and inclusiveness.
• He recognised that the initiative for communication lies with the Master of the Lodge.
• Brother John Belton passed to the Grand Lodge above on 13th April 2025.

• Founding Worshipful Master.
• He established a precedent for quality and excellence as the hallmark of Internet Lodge.
• He successfully navigated the challenge of properly organising a new type of lodge and resolving differences between the hierarchical structure of a Lodge and the nonhierarchical nature of network-based discussion.

• W.Bro. John Belton passed on 13th April 2025

• W.Bro. David H. Starbuck, passed on 23rd February 2025.

• W.Bro. Ab Goedhals, passed on 7th March 2018.

• W.Bro. Peter F. Lanes, passed on 19th January 2008.

• W.Bro. Charles Lewis, passed on 5th August 2020.

• W.Bro. Bill Holden, passed on 21st February 2010.