The 198th Stated Meeting of Far East Loge No. 1, F&AM, was held at the Masonic Temple, No. 3 Bluff, Yamate-Cho, Yokohama, Japan on the 2nd day of January, 1974.
A Lodge of Master Masons was opened in due and ancient form at 19:30 hours with Bro. Alvarez, Master Elect, in the East, Bro. Hodges, SW Elect, in the West and Bro. Dunning (acting JW) in the South.
The WM recognized the distinguished Brethren present as listed in the Tiler's register of this date.
He then announced that this being our Stated Meeting for the Month of January, the first order of business would be the reading of the minutes of our last Stated Meeting and all subsequent meetings. The Secretary read the minutes and they were approved as corrected.
The next order of business was the Treasurer's Report, Bro. Campbell gave the report and Bro. Hodges moved, W Bro. Williams seconded that the report be accepted as read subject to the usual audit. CARRIED
Next, The Secretary read the bills for the month of December and MW Bro. Peck moved, Bro. Dunning seconded that the bills be paid. CARRIED
The next order of business was the Report of the Several Committees:
HOUSE: Bro. Hodges reported that Bro. Swanson had made an offer of Yen 40,000,000 to purchase the Temple property from the Masonic Halls Hong Kong Ltd, and it looked favorable. Also that the parking fee had been increased from 5,000 Yen to 7,000 Yen per month, and that the YMCA wanted to rent temple space.
ENTERTAINMENT: Bro. Henderson reported that arrangements for installation dinner to be held at Officers Club on Friday, Jan 11, at 18:00 hours and requested number of Brethren attending no later that next meeting on Wednesday. The cost was $4.20 per person.
PUBLICATIONS: Bro. Hodges apologized for tardiness in getting out the FT's, asked for assistance and suggested we find more reasonably way to printing due to high cost. Bro. Campbell suggested checking Taiwan and Korea for printing costs.
LIFE MEMBERSHIP: Bro. Alvarez reported that there were on the rolls 145 of which 127 were living, also the life membership fund now stands at ¥3,650,400.
JOB'S DAUGHTERS: Bro. Alvarez reported that the Bethel will close.
LIBRARY: Bro. Alvarez reported that $150 of new books had been ordered and that he would commence work on the library in the near future.
EDUCATION: MW Bro. Peck gave the Brethren a very informative lecture on the use of the ballot box and the use of the black cube.
The Secretary read letters of Invitations to installation of Officers from Lodge No. 5 and Lodge No. 7.
PETITIONS BALLOTED: None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Bro. Havens reported still working on getting sign in English and Japanese for the Lodge.
NEW BUSINESS: None
Bro. Alvarez announced that next week would be a Second Degree for Bro. Copeland and that the Knights Templar would hold fund raising dinner for the Eye Foundation on the 16th of February.
There being no further business to come before this lodge of Master Masons, the WM announced that the Lodge would proceed to close. Peace and harmony prevailing this Lodge was closed in due and ancient form at 21:00 hrs with Bro. Alvarez, Master Elect, in the East, Bro. Hodges, SW Elect, in the West and Bro. Dunning (acting JW) in the South.
(There were 15 Brethren present)