PREAMBLE

On the 26th of October, 1948, Master Masons in the Yokohama area petitioned for, and received, a dispensation from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines to form, open, and hold a Masonic Lodge. The officers therein named were: Brother Herbert Wolff, Worshipful Master; Brother Herbert Lee Ellison, Senior Warden; and Brother Abraham Jacobson, Junior Warden. Far East Lodge U. D. opened and held meetings under this dispensation until the 31st of December, 1948, at which time the Lodge submitted to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines all records, forms, and transactions of the Lodge activities, together with a petition praying for a charter.

On the 26th of January, 1949, Far East Lodge U. D. was granted charter number 124, thereby becoming another Masonic Lodge legally constituted and chartered under the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines. Consecration ceremonies were conducted by officers of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines on the 17th of March, 1949, and the following officers installed:

On the 16th of March, 1957, the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Japan was formed. With the formation of the Grand Lodge of Japan, Far East Lodge No. 124 returned the charter under which it had been working to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines, and was issued a charter by the newly formed Grand Lodge of Japan. Far East Lodge No. 124, under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines, thus became, on the 16th day of March, 1957, Far East Lodge No. 1, under the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Japan. Elective officers of Far East Lodge No. 1 in 1957 were as follows:

ARTICLE I • Of Name and Officers

Section 1 The Lodge shall be known by the name of Far East Lodge No. 1, of Free and Accepted Masons, and it officers shall consist of a Master, a Senior Warden, a Junior Warden, a Treasurer, a Secretary, a Chaplain, a Marshal, a Senior Deacon, a Junior Deacon, two Stewards, a Tyler, and such other officers as the Lodge may deem proper to appoint.

ARTICLE II • Of Elections and Appointments

Section 1 The Master, the Senior and Junior Wardens, the Treasurer and the Secretary, shall be elected by ballot, in conformity with Articles 100, 100a and 100b of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge. The other officers shall be appointed by the Master, except the Junior Deacon, who may be appointed by the Senior Warden. Any Master Mason in good standing, whether or not a member of the Lodge, may be appointed Tyler.

Section 2 No member shall solicit for himself or for any other member of any Lodge any elective of appointive office in a Lodge, nor shall any electioneering, canvassing or soliciting of votes or support, for any member be allowed. Nominations of candidates for office shall not be made. A violation of this section shall be deemed unmasonic conduct and shall subject the offender to such discipline as the Lodge may determine. This section shall be read in open lodge by the Master at the stated meetings of October, November, and December of each year.

ARTICLE III • Of Meetings of the Lodge

Section 1 The Stated Meetings of this Lodge shall be holden on the first Saturday in each month at 1:00 P. M. o'clock, except August when there will be no meetings..

Section 2 Special meetings may be called from time to time, as the Lodge, or the presiding officer thereof, may direct.

Section 3 The Grand Master is empowered to approve the petition of any Lodge for a vacation period providing that no Stated Meeting shall be held during said period, which period shall in no case exceed three consecutive Stated Meetings.

Section 4 To conduct business at a Stated Meeting, a quorum which will consist of at least seven Master Masons of the Lodge in good standing. To Perform degree work, the number and degree of persons as required by the ritual of that degree. (ADDED TO COMPLY WITH CONSTITUTION)

Section 5 To conduct work in any degree, at least one of the following must be in attendance, the Installed Master, Senior Warden or Junior Warden. (ADDED TO COMPLY WITH CONSTITUTION)

ARTICLE IV • Of Initiation and Membership

Section 1 All petitions for initiation or affiliation must be signed by the petitioner and be recommended by two members of the Lodge and accompanied by two passport sized photographs of the petitioner. A duplicate of every such petition shall be forwarded immediately to the Grand Secretary for publication. Every such petition shall be referred to a committee of three, whose duty it shall be to report thereon at the next stated meeting, unless further time be granted, when the applicant shall be balloted for and received or rejected.

Section 2 If an applicant, elected to receive the degrees in this Lodge, does not come forward to be initiated within three (3) months thereafter, the fee shall be forfeited, unless the Lodge shall otherwise direct.

Section 3 Every person raised to the degree of Master Mason in this Lodge, except when such degree shall have been conferred at the request of another Lodge, or elected to be a member thereof, shall sign its By-Laws.

Section 4 In accordance with RESOLUTION dated 6 November 1968 (Appendix A hereto), as provided therein, and in accordance with Articles 137 and 137a of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge, every member of this Lodge shall be entitled to become a Life Member of this Lodge by paying the prescribed fee as set forth in Section 3 Article VIII, of these By-Laws.

ARTICLE V • Of the Treasurer

Section 1 The Treasurer shall receive all monies from the Secretary; shall keep a just and accurate account thereof; and shall pay the same out only upon an order duly signed by the Master, and countersigned by the Secretary. He shall at the Stated Meetings in June and December of each year, submit a report in full of the Monetary transactions of the Lodge. The Lodge may also, at any time when considered necessary, cause him to present an account of his receipts and disbursements, and of the amount of funds on hand.

Section 2 He shall, if required by the Lodge, execute a good and sufficient bond to the Master, for the faithful performance of his duties.

ARTICLE VI • Of the Secretary

Section 1 The Secretary shall keep a faithful record of all proceedings proper to be written; shall transmit a copy of the same to the Grand Lodge when required; shall keep a separate account for each member of the Lodge; shall report at the Stated Meetings in May and November of each year, the amounts due by each; shall receive all moneys due the Lodge, and pay the same over to the Treasurer; and shall perform all such other duties as may properly pertain to his office.

Section 2 He shall receive for his services a compensation which may annually be fixed by the Lodge, and when so required by the Lodge shall file a bond in sufficient amount in favor of the Master as guaranty of the faithful performance of his duties; provided that until all current obligations of the Lodge are paid, he shall not collect nor be paid more than l,800 Yen a month.

ARTICLE VII • Of the Tyler

Section 1 The Tyler, in addition to the necessary duties of his office, shall serve all notices and summonses, and perform such other services as may be required of him by the Lodge.

Section 2 He shall receive such compensation for his services as the Lodge may direct.

ARTICLE VIII • Of Fees

Section 1 The table of fees for this Lodge shall be as follows:

1. For the three degrees the sum of 60,000 Yen;
2. For the degree of Fellow Craft and Master Mason, when the first degree shall have been received in another Lodge and providing the degrees are not being conferred as courtesy for another Lodge, the sum of 40,000 Yen;
3. For the degree of Master Mason, when the first and second degree shall have been received in another Lodge and providing the degree is not being conferred as courtesy for another Lodge, the sum of 20,000 Yen;
4. For affiliation or dual membership, the sum of 5,000 Yen.

Section 2 The fee for each of the foregoing shall accompany the several petitions or applications, else they shall not be presented by the Secretary to the Lodge.

Section 3 The fee for Life Membership in this Lodge will be as may be fixed by the Lodge from time to time but in no case will it be less than twelve (12) times the Annual Dues nor will an increase in Annual Dues be retroactively applied to Life Members already on the rolls; PROVIDING that upon the death of a Life Member, should the Lodge choose or vote to refund the fee as provided by the Constitution, those Members who purchased Life Membership at a fee less than that prescribed by the Lodge at the time of their death, will not be refunded an amount in excess of the amount they paid when they became Life Members. The Life Membership fee may be paid in installments, PROVIDING the entire fee is paid in the same calendar year; PROVIDING FURTHER that all partially paid Life Membership fees shall be carried over to the next year MINUS the Annual Dues for the preceding year.

ARTICLE IX • Of Dues

Section 1 The dues of each local resident (in Japan) Member of this Lodge (except for Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft Masons) shall be three times (3x) the sum of the Grand Lodge per capita tax, conforming to Section 2 Article 83 of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Japan, payable annually in advance. No dues shall be paid by a Brother in respect of the year in which he is raised or affiliated or becomes a Dual Member.

Section 2 The dues of each overseas Member shall be 60.00 USD, payable annually in advance.

Section 3 No member, who shall be in arrears for dues at the time of the annual election, shall be permitted to vote, or shall be eligible for any office.

Section 4 Should any member, suspended for non-payment of dues, neglect for the period of two years to pay said dues or have the same remitted by the Lodge, said member may be restored to good standing only as provided in Article 104a of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge.

Section 5 Any member in good standing may withdraw from membership by paying his dues and notifying the Lodge to that effect at a Stated Meeting; but no recommendatory certificate shall be issued to him unless ordered by the Lodge.

ARTICLE X • Of Committees

Section 1 The Master and Wardens shall be a Charity Committee and will oversee the administration and operation of the Lodge Benevolent Funds, as established and included as APPENDIX B hereto. The Duty of the Charity Committee shall be to investigate the cases of applicants for benevolence and make recommendations. The Master may give casual relief at his discretion but in no case shall the sum given to any individual exceed 50,000 Yen.

Section 2 The Master, Wardens, Treasurer and Secretary shall be a Temple Trust Fund Committee and will oversee the administration and operation of the Lodge Temple Trust Funds, as established and included as APPENDIX C hereto.

Section 3 The Treasurer and Secretary shall be the 'GOLDEN 100 CLUB' Committee and will oversee and administer the club in accordance with the following rules;

1. Every member of this lodge who attains a combination of age and lodge membership of '100 years' or more, who are not already Life Members, shall be made a Life Member of this lodge and the General Fund shall reimburse the Life Membership Fund in the amount of 67,000 Yen (or such amount as the fee for Life Membership may beset from time to time by the lodge); such funds to revert automatically to the General Fund upon the death of each Brother thus made a Life Member, and
2. To qualify for membership in the GOLDEN 100 CLUB, each Brother, not a Life Member, must
   1. have been a member of this lodge for the full '100' years;
   2. have paid his annual dues for his '100' years;
   3. not have been suspended for non-payment of dues; ELSE such time the Brother thus suspended shall be added to the combination of age and membership until the full '100' years as a dues paying member shall have been attained;
   4. not have been suspended from the lodge for any reason than non-payment of dues; PROVIDING FURTHER that the 'effective date' for membership in the GOLDEN 100 CLUB shall be 01 January of the year following the year in which the Brother attains his 100th year, i.e. a Brother attains his '100 years' on 01/01/86. He will not become a member of the GOLDEN 100 CLUB until 01/01/87. Furthermore, he must pay his dues for the year of attainment, i.e. in this example, he must pay his dues for the year 1986.

Section 4 The Master, at the Stated Meeting of his Election, shall appoint an auditing committee, whose duty it shall be to examine all accounts presented against the Lodge and report at the next Stated Meeting.

Section 5 All reports of committees shall be made in writing when required by the Worshipful Master.

ARTICLE XI • Of Revealing the Transactions of the Lodge

Section 1 When a candidate for initiation or affiliation is rejected, or a brother reprimanded, suspended or expelled, no member or visitor shall reveal, either directly or indirectly, to such person, or to any other, any transactions which may have taken place on the subject; nor shall any proceeding of the Lodge, not proper to be made public, be disclosed outside thereof, under the penalty of reprimand, suspension or expulsion, as the Lodge may determine.

ARTICLE XII • Of the Order of Business

Section 1 The regular order of business at every Stated Meeting of this lodge shall be as follows, except as modified by the Presiding Officer when circumstances require:

1. Reading of the Minutes.
2. Treasurer's Report.
3. Bills.
4. Reports of Committees.
5. Balloting.
6. Reception of Petitions.
7. Correspondence.
8. Unfinished Business.
9. New Business.
10. Conferring of Degrees.

ARTICLE XIII • Of Amendments

Section 1 These By-Laws, so far as relates to the time of meeting, and the amounts of fees, dues, and disbursements by the Charity Committee, may be amended at any Stated Meeting by the votes of two-thirds of the members present; PROVIDED, That written notice of such amendment shall have been given at the Stated Meeting next preceding; but such amendment shall have no effect until approved by the Grand Lodge or Grand Master, and until such approval shall have been transmitted to the Grand Secretary. The Secretary of the Lodge shall note upon the minutes of the Lodge the notice of proposed amendment when made, and when transmitting an amendment for approval shall forward a certificate, under seal, showing that the Law has been complied with and that the amendment has received the requisite vote.

APPENDIX A

RESOLUTION 6 November 1968

Whereas, Article 137 of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Japan provides that each Constituent Lodge may determine to have Life Members; and

Whereas, Article 137a of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge sets forth:

1. actions to be taken to establish Life Membership,
2. minimum fees for Life Membership,
3. investment of Life Membership fees,
4. the use of the income from the investment of the Life Membership fees,
5. disposition of Life Membership fees at the death of a Life Member,
6. duties of the Secretary relative to reporting annually to the Grand Lodge on the number of Life Members, amount of funds created, and how invested, and
7. the requirement for approval of this resolution by the Grand Lodge; and

Whereas, during the year 1950, Far East Lodge No. 1 (then Far East Lodge No. 124 under Charter from the Grand Lodge of the Philippines) began accepting Life Membership fees; and

Whereas, the Lodge now has on its rolls one hundred fifteen (115) Life Members, of which one hundred six (106) are living; and

Whereas, the Brethren of the Lodge desire to establish the Life Membership Fund in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution:

NOW, THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED:

1. That a LIFE MEMBERSHIP TRUST FUND is hereby established in accordance with Articles 137 and 137a of the Constitution of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Japan
2. That the Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens, and their Successors in office be constituted a Standing Committee to administer the Life Membership Fund.
3. That the Standing Committee shall establish and maintain a book which shall show the receipt, use and disposition of the Life Membership fees.
4. That the Committee will, at the Stated Meeting of December each year, pay over to the Secretary Yen 3,600 for the dues of each Life Member on the rolls at that time, or such sum to which the dues may have been increased or decreased.
5. That the sum of Yen 5,871,000 be withdrawn from the General Fund of the Lodge and transferred to the custody and control of the Stating Committee, and henceforth no Life Membership fee shall be intermingled with Lodge funds.
6. That the 1969 dues for the Life Members on the rolls as at December 31, 1968, shall be considered as being paid prior to establishment of the Life Membership Fund.
7. That upon the death of a Life Member, should the Lodge choose or vote to refund the fee as provided by the Constitution, those Members who purchased Life Membership prior to 1958 (the time when dues and fees were increase), will not be refunded an amount in excess of $100.00, being the amount paid at that time; nor will any payment be made to a Member who was awarded Life Membership by the Lodge.

Submitted by: Floyd J. Robertson
Adopted by the Lodge: 5 February 1969
APPROVED; /s/ Chester O. Nielson Grand Master Date 14 Mar 1969

APPENDIX B

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Far East Lodge No. 1, F.&A.M. currently has no Benevolent Fund, as such, and

WHEREAS, Charity is one of the primary Tenets of Freemasonry, and

WHEREAS, members who donate money to the Lodge do not have an option to specify the preferred use of the money donated, other than General Fund or Temple Trust Fund, and

WHEREAS, it is desirable and in keeping with the principal Tenets of the Fraternity, that every lodge have a Benevolent Fund.

NOW, THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED;

1. That a BENEVOLENT FUND is hereby established in accordance with the wishes and desires of the Members of this lodge.
2. That the Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens and their successors in office be constituted a Standing Committee to administer the BENEVOLENT FUND and to investigate and make recommendations on proposed donations for charitable purposes.
3. That the source of funds for the BENEVOLENT FUND shall be by solicitation of donations from the Members of this lodge; such donations to be given freely within the means and limits of each member's ability to give, in accordance with the dictates of each members' conscience.
4. That all donations received specifically for charity and all unspecified donations subsequently received as well as donations that may be made from time to time by individual members for Benevolent purposes shall be transferred to the custody and control of the Standing Committee and that henceforth no funds designed as BENEVOLENT FUND money shall be intermingled with other Lodge funds.
5. That the Standing Committee shall establish and maintain or cause such records to be maintained as will show the receipt, use and disposition of BENEVOLENT FUND money and shall render annually or cause to have rendered annually in January of each year a complete report to each member of the lodge of all transactions which transpired during the preceding year.
6. That the Standing Committee shall be free to disburse funds from the Benevolent Fund for all such charitable purposes as they may find worthy upon approval of the lodge. The Master may give casual relief at his discretion but in no case shall the sum given to any individual exceed 50,000 Yen.
7. The priority for disbursement of Benevolent Fund money will be:
   1. For the relief of a distressed worthy Brother, his wife, widow or orphan(s).
   2. Donations for other Masonic Benevolent purposes or to other Masonic Benevolent organizations.
   3. Other charitable organizations as may be approved by the lodge.

SUBMITTED BY: THOMAS H. HODGES, PM
Adopted by the Members: 09 June 2001

APPENDIX C

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Far East Lodge No. 1, F.&A.M. is a tenant activity of the Masonic Temple located at No. 3, Bluff, Yamate-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Japan; and

WHEREAS, there are presently three such tenant units sharing the use of the Masonic Temple, being, in addition to Far East Lodge No. 1, F.&A.M., Lodge Star In The East No. 640 on the rolls of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and Star of The Orient Chapter No. 2, Order of Eastern Star; and

WHEREAS, these bodies share equally in the cost of maintenance, upkeep and payment of property taxes to the city of Yokohama through a Committee known as the Yokohama Masonic House Committee (YMHC); and

WHEREAS, Far East Lodge No. 1's share of these expenses is no less than Yen 300,000 per annum and would be considerable more if:

1. One or both of the other Bodies were to go dark.
2. The Yokohama Masonic House Committee were to be deprived of revenue being earned by means other than assessment of the using Bodies, currently approximately Yen 1,500,000 per year.
3. Major repairs and/or renovations were required to the Temple and/or Caretaker's house.
4. A natural disaster, such as an earthquake or typhoon, were to destroy or seriously damage the Temple or grounds, thereby denying use of the Temple and grounds for Masonic purposes; and

WHEREAS, Far East Lodge No. 1's share of these expenses are being paid from and amount to a considerable drain on the General Fund of the Lodge and effectively precludes the Lodge from fulfilling it's Masonic duties and obligations and could potentially be unbearable; and

WHEREAS, IT IS THE FIRM DESIRE OF THE Members of this Lodge that the Lodge be free from the present excessive and potentially crippling financial burden of supporting the Temple and property from the General Fund, thereby enabling the Lodge to fulfill it's Masonic duties and obligations and avoiding the necessity of continuously increasing dues and fees and/or resorting to emergency appeals for donations in time of financial poverty; and

WHEREAS, it is the firm desire of the Members of this Lodge that the Lodge shall continue "ad finim" to insure the perpetuation of Freemasonry in the city of Yokohama; and

WHEREAS, the Temple building is more than fifty (5) years old and requires major maintenance to the roof, externals and internals; and

WHEREAS, the Caretaker's house will soon require additional maintenance and renovations; and

WHEREAS, the property taxes and other mandatory operating costs can be expected to increase annually; and

WHEREAS, the Yokohama Masonic House Committee has exhausted all sources of additional income, other than assessment of the using Bodies; and

WEREAS, additional funds, when and as required, will have to be provided by the using Bodies; and

WHEREAS, any increase in the assessment currently being paid by the Lodge would only aggravate the existing problem and increase the drain on the General Fund, to the further determent of the Lodge's ability to fulfill its proper Masonic duties and obligations; and

WHEREAS, it is deemed prudent and wise to provide for all real contingencies in-so-far as it is realistically possible:

NOW, THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED;

1. That a TEMPLE TRUST FUND is hereby established in accordance with the wishes and desires of the Members of this lodge.
2. That the Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer and Secretary and their successors in office be constituted a Standing Committee to administer the TEMPLE TRUST FUND.
3. That the source of funds for the TEMPLE TRUST FUND shall be by solicitation of donations from the Members of this Lodge; such donations to be given freely within the means and limits of each member's ability to give, in accordance with the dictates of each Member's conscience and ability.
4. That the sum of Yen 397,155 BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE General Fund of the Lodge and transferred to the custody and control of the Standing Committee, such funds being the excess of funds donated by the members of this Lodge to effect repairs to the Temple roof in 1974, and that henceforth no funds designated as TEMPLE TRUST FUNDS shall be intermingled with Lodge funds.
5. That the Standing Committee shall establish and maintain records which shall show the receipt, use and disposition of the TEMPLE TRUST FUND and shall render annually in January of each year a complete report to each member of the Lodge all transactions which transpired during the preceding year.
6. That the Standing Committee shall cause all donations, hereinafter referenced to as the Principal, to the TEMPLE TRUST FUND to be invested at all times in reputable stocks and/or bonds. Such Principal to remain intact and unusable, except as may be provided for herein.
7. That the Standing Committee shall be free to disburse interest earned on the Principal to pay the lodge's share of maintenance, upkeep and taxes on the existing property or such other property as the Lodge may in the future acquire, rent, or use for Lodge purposes.
8. That all interest earned on the Principal in excess of that required to pay the Lodge's share of expenses shall be added to and invested with the Principal and will not be used for purposes other than as may be provided for herein.
9. That the Standing Committee shall be empowered to use the Principal of the TEMPLE TRUST FUND only:
   1. To pay the Lodge's share of expenses when interest earned is insufficient for that purpose, but only when sufficient funds are not otherwise available.*
   2. To acquire ownership of existing property or other suitable property for the purpose of perpetuating the Lodge and Freemasonry in the city of Yokohama, Japan.
   3. To extend loans to the Yokohama Masonic House Committee when deemed essential for the purpose of making improvements to the existing building and/or grounds which would result in the YMHC deriving additional income or when determined necessary to pay temple maintenance or repair costs which may be temporarily unavailable from the other using Bodies. All such loans, when approved by the Standing Committee, must provide for the payment of interest at the prevailing rate of interest that would be realized if the funds were to remain invested in reputable stocks and/or bonds.
10. That no funds can be withdrawn from the TEMPLE TRUST FUND for any other purposes, except as provided for in paragraphs 7, 8, and 9 of this RESOLUTION, unless and until two-thirds (2/3rd) of all the members of the Lodge shall have consented.

*Recommended by Brother Frederick M. Barberie and adopted by the Committee on 11 April 1977.

Submitted by: THE TEMPLE TRUST FUND COMMITTEE
Adopted by the Members: 14 April 1977