The 236th STATED MEETING of Far East Lodge No. 1, F. & A. M. was held at the Masonic Temple, No. 3 Bluff, Yamate-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Japan on the 2nd day of March 1977.
A Lodge of MMs was opened in due and ancient form at 19:30 hours with WB McGOWAN, WM in the East, WB DeLUNA, PM, (Acting) SW in the West, and MWB ROBERTSON, PGM, (Acting) JW in the South.
Upon completion of opening, WB McGOWAN raised the Lodge for a word of Prayer for Bro. ZALEWSKI, who is ill.
The WM recognized the distinguished Brethren (and first time visitors) as listed in the Tiler's Register of this date. He then announced that this being our Stated Meeting for the month of March, the first order of business would be the reading of the minutes of the last Stated Meeting and all subsequent Special Meetings.
The Secretary read the minutes and they were approved as read/corrected.
The Treasurer's report was not given due to the illness of Bro. ZALEWSKI.
The Secretary than read the bills for the period and WB WILLIAMS moved and Bro. LIVERNOIS seconded that the bills be paid. MOTION CARRIED.
Next was the report of the several committees:
HOUSE: WB HODGES gave a report of the House Committee meeting held on 25 Feb 77 as reflected in their minutes of that date and attached as enclosure (1) hereto:
ENTERTAINMENT: Negative. WB McGOWAN reminded Bro. NEGRANZA that there are other members of the Entertainment Committee and that Bro. NEGRANZA should make full use of their talents to assist him in providing refreshment for the meeting nights.
DeMOLAY: Negative.
PUBLICATIONS: Negative.
EXAMINATION & RECEPTION: Negative.
MEMBERSHIP: Negative.
COACHING: Negative.
AUDITING: Negative. WB McGOWAN encouraged WB DeLUNA the Chairman of the Auditing Committee to teach the members of the Auditing Committee their duties and responsibilities since they are new and need this assistance.
SICK & VISITATION: Negative.
LAPSATION: Negative.
LIFE MEMBERSHIP: Negative.
CHARITY: WB McGOWAN appointed Bro. WEAVER to the Charity Committee with specific responsibility for overseeing the Lodge's Charity Clothing Box. He will be assisted in this area by Bros. NORMAN and FERRER. WB McGOWAN encouraged these Brethren to get this program moving again as it has been long neglected.
SIGHT ASSISTANCE: Negative.
LODGE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION: Negative.
LIBRARY: WB McGOWAN requested Bro. NORMAN to review the condition of the Library and to render a report with recommendations, if any, at the next Stated Meeting.
BALLOTING: Secret balloting was had on the Petition of Mr. Joseph Stephen CHOOPE for the Degrees of Masonry in this Lodge and he was elected. WB McGOWAN announced that we would confer the First Degree of Masonry on Mr. CHOOPE on 16 March 1977 and instructed the Secretary to inform Mr. CHOOPE accordingly.
RECEPTION OF PETITIONS: The following petitions for the Degrees of Masonry in this Lodge were read:
CORRESPONDENCE: The Secretary read a letter dated February 28, 1977 from the Grand Secretary which gave the particulars on the services to be conducted for MWB Bro. Sadaichi HORIUCHI, PGM.
OLD BUSINESS: WB McGOWAN again went over the proposed Grand Lodge Blood Donation Program further clarifying the answer that RWB VOSS, JGW, is soliciting. After discussion and comments WB McGOWAN stated that he would inform the Grand Lodge that Far East Lodge No. 1 is completely in favor of the proposed program and will support it to the best of our ability.
WB McGOWAN then reminded the Lodge that WB have not acted on an appeal for contributions to the Grand Lodge's Emergency Charity Fund. WB HODGES moved and WB DeLUNA seconded the motion to donate ¥50,000 to the Fund. MOTION CARRIED.
WB McGOWAN then brought the appeal by the Grand Lodge Charity Festival Committee for support of the next Festival. After discussion it was decided that the Lodge will as a minimum provide part of the transportation requirements for this activity and possibly other support. Final decision to be made after WB McGOWAN discusses the most urgent needs with WB KATAGIRI, Chairman of the Festival Committee.
NEW BUSINESS: WB McGOWAN informed the Lodge that we have been selected to open a Lodge of MMs at the commencement of the GL Communication on 18 March 1977 for the purpose of receiving MWB NISHIYAMA, GM, and his officers prior to the opening of the GL Communication. This is a "first" and singularly appropriate since our Lodge is the Mother Lodge of the Grand Master. WB McGOWAN stated that the Lodge would hold a practice session on 9 March 1977 and individually canvassed the Lodge Officers to determine who would be able to assist him in opening the Lodge on the morning of the 18th.
WB McGOWAN then announced that WB would have a First Degree on 16 March 1977 for Mr. CHOOPE and instructed the Secretary to inform Mr. CHOOPE accordingly.
WB McGOWAN announced that there would be another open house pot luck supper on the 30th and that there would be two guest speakers that night who would speak on the Japanese and American Red Cross. The WM urged all to attend and to bring a guest. He asked WB BARTELSON to extend an invitation to the Eastern Star Members to attend and to feel free to bring guests. Bro. NEGRANZA to arrange for members to bring a dish of food that evening.
WB McGOWAN then asked for a volunteer to be the Lodge photographer, explaining that he would like to have informal pictures made of the various functions throughout the year. He will provide the film and arrange for developing and printing. WB DeLUNA responded by volunteering.
MWB ROBERTSON congratulated WB McGOWAN on a very well run business meeting.
MWB NISHIYAMA, GM, then gave a brief report on his visit to the United States, stating that he had received a most warm and gracious welcome at each of the places he visited. He also met with quite a few members of our Lodge on the West Coast while there and each one of them expressed their love for and continuing concern for the Lodge's well being. He then extended fraternal greeting to Bro. ERWIN our first time visitor this evening from Anglo-Hanseatic Lodge No. 850 in Hamburg, West Germany and requested that Bro. ERWIN extend his Fraternal Greetings to the Worshipful Master and Brethren of his Mother Lodge and also to the MW Grand Master of Masons in Germany.
Bro. ERWIN responded with appropriate remarks and then requested permission to read the Working Tools as examplified in his Mother Lodge which would serve as some indication of the differences in ritual between the two Grand Jurisdiction but more importantly illustrates the vast similarities of our Great Brotherhood.
Before closing WB McGOWAN announced that the Lodge would open in the Third Degree on the 9th for the purpose of appropriately draping the Lodge in memory of MWB HORIUCHI.
The WM then announced that there being no further business to come before this Lodge of Master Masons, we would proceed to close. Peace and harmony prevailing, this Lodge was closed in due and ancient form at 21:25 hours with WB McGOWAN, WM, in the East, WB DeLUNA, PM, (Acting) SW in the West, and Bro. NEGRANZA, JW, in the South.
(There were 13 Brethren present.)