The 194th Stated Meeting of Far East Lodge No 1, F&AM, was held at the Masonic Temple, No. 3 Bluff, Yamate-cho, Yokohama, Japan, on the 6th day of June, 1973.
A Lodge of Master Masons was opened in due and ancient form at 19:00 hours, with Wor. Bro. Riffle in the East, Bro. Alvarez, Senior Warden, in the West and Bro. Chun, Junior Warden, in the South.
The Wor. Master recognized the distinguished Brethren present as listed in the Tiler's resister of this date.
The Wor. Master announced that this being our Stated Meeting for the month of June, the first order of business would be the reading of the minutes of our Last Stated Meeting and all subsequent Special Meetings.
The Secretary read the minutes and they were approved as corrected.
The next order of business was the Treasurer's Report, and it was presented by Bro. Hodges and approved as read subject to the usual audit.
The next order of businesss was the Report of The Several Committees:
HOUSE: W Bro. Riffle gave NEG report, Bro. Hodges reported Bro. Riefenstein was spending approx. 1,400,000 Yen to rebuild the caretaker's house.
DeMOLAY: NEG.
PUBLICATIONS: Bro. Hodges reported he will start soon on the next issue of FT's, and encouraged all to submit items for publication.
COACHING: Bro. Alvarez reported Bro. Holley and Bro. Gibson should be ready this month. W Bro. Riffle announced that the Second Degree would be held on 27th June.
AUDITING: NEG.
SICK AND VISITATION: Bro. Bennett reported. NEG.
JOB'S DAUGHTERS: Bro Alvarez reported that the coming Saturday night would be the last meeting until next September.
The following named petitioner was elected to receive the degrees of Masonry in this Lodge.
Mr. MAHNKE, Stephen Richard
The petition for affiliation of the below named Brother was voted on, and he was elected to become a dual member of Far East Lodge No. 1:
Bro. DIEL, Vernon Albert
Bro. Diel was obligated as a dual member with W Bro. Riffle in the East, Bro. Alvarez in the West, and Bro. Chun in the South.
Bro. Diel responded with appropriate remarks.
The following named applicants' petitions for the Degrees of Masonry were read:
Mr. DUNNING, James Leslie
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
The Secretary read the bills for the Month of May, MW Bro. Peck moved and Bro. Chun seconded that the bills be approved and paid as presented. CARRIED
Th Wor. Master made the following appointments to the Grand Lodge Committees as indicated:
| a. | Charity | Bro. Thomas H. Hodges |
| b. | Historical | Bro. James LaSalle |
| c. | Sight Assistance | Bro. Honorio B. Alvarez |
The Wor. Master requested Bro. Fix and Bro. Campbell to stand West of the Altar, he then presented both with a white Lambskin Apron and also a lapel pin. W Bro. Williams presented the Masonic Bible. W Bro. Williams apoligized for causing the delay in the presentations.
The Secretary then read the names of Brethren requesting demits.
NEW BUSINESS:
Wor. Brother Williams moved and Bro. Alvarez seconded that a new set of Officers' aprons and 20–24 Lambskin aprons be ordered. Motion Carried.
Bro. Hodges reported on the annual banquet held for the Grand Master on 26 May. MW Bro. Charles P. Weatherman, GM, MW Bro. Floran B. Quick, RW Bro. Leo N. Parlavecchio, JGW and many others were present. MW Bro. Nohea O. A. Peck, PGM, acted as Master of Ceremonies. there were 51 persons in attendance. Door prizes were given and an excellent Chinese dinner was enjoyed by all.
Wor. Bro. Riffle congratulated Bro. Henderson on a fine job as chairman of the Banquet Committee.
The Wor. Master Bro. Riffle reported to the Brethren that he would be departing Japan soon, and that he was scheduled to retire on 30 June. He related to the Brethren his deep feelings at having served as WM and thanked all for their cooperation an friendship. He remarked that he would be settling in Washington and spoke briefly on the attributes of that particular region. He then called on Bro. Chun who also will retire about the same time. Bro. Chun addressed the Lodge and commented on the many friends he had made in Masonry in Japan and that he would remember them always. Also that he was retiring in Hawaii and for thetime being he was just going to relax.
The Wor. Master pro-temped the following Brethren to the positions as indicated; for the balance of this year.
| Wor. Master | Bro. H. B. Alvarez |
| Senior Warden | Bro. T. H. Hodges |
| Junior Warden | Bro. Jim LaSalle |
| Ass't Treasurer | Bro. D. M. Campbell |
| Junior Deacon | Bro. A. M. Fix |
MW Bro. Peck spoke on people leaving, especially western Bros. and the effect on the Lodges. He encouraged western Bros. to learn a small part in the Japanese language. He also instructed Bros. Fix and Campbell concerning the Bible and White Lambskin Apron, and spoke on other items of Masonic interest.
There being no further business to come before this Lodge of Master Masons, The Wor. Master announced that the Lodge would proceed to close.
Peace and harmony prevailing the Lodge was closed in due and ancient form at 21:45 hours. With W Bro. Riffle in the East, Bro. Alvarez in the West, and Bro. Chun in the South.
(There were 18 Brethren present)