The 239th 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 1st day of June 1977.
A Lodge of MMs was opened in due and ancient form at 19:30 hours with WB McGowan, WM, in the East, WB Williams, PM, (Acting) SW in the West, and MWB Robertson, PGM, (Acting) JW in the South.
The WM recognized the distinguished Brethren as listed in the Tiler's Register of this date. He then announced that this being our Stated Meeting for the month of June 1977, 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 corrected.
Next was the Treasurer's Report given by Bro. Zalewski. It was moved by WB DeLuna and seconded by Bro. Livernois that the Treasurer's Report be approved as read, subject to the usual audit. MOTION CARRIED.
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 McGowan rendered a report of the House Committee meeting held on 31 May 1977 including letter from F. H. S. CLARK (encl. (1) hereto) together with telegram sent to the District Grand Master, District Grand Lodge Far East, S.C. (enclosure (2) hereto). The gist of the matter still centers around the fact that evidently Masonic Hall Ltd. intends to sell the property to an as yet unnamed buyer. Should this occur, we, along with the other Bodies using the Temple, will be evicted. It is our understanding, however, that all proceeds from the sale of the property, less ¥41M that will be turned over to the District Grand Lodge, United Grand Lodge of England in Hong Kong will be turned over to the bodies here for use in constructing a new Temple. It is anticipated that funds in excess of ¥100M will likely be made available. WB McGowan announced that he intended to take the position that a lawyer be retained by the House Committee to ensure proper legal advice is available.
ENTERTAINMENT: WB McGowan reported that the Grand Master's Dinner was very successful and that the entire affair would cost the Lodge nothing. All expenses were defrayed from the Harmony Fund as supplemented by donations from those attending and as available from the fund-raising activities of the Brethren.
DeMOLAY: No report.
PUBLICATIONS: WB Hodges reported that he would be starting to work on the quarterly edition of the Friendly Tips with the objective of having it in the mail not later than the end of the month. WB McGowan encouraged the Brethren to contribute to the FT's since it is the publication of the Lodge.
EXAMINATION & RECEPTION: No report.
MEMBERSHIP: No report.
COACHING: WB McGowan appointed Bro. Redman the senior coach for the Yokohama area and charged him to pursue his duties faithfully.
AUDITING: WB DeLuna reported that the Treasurer's Books have been audited through March 1977. There are no discrepancies.
SICK & VISITATION: No report.
LAPSATION: No report.
LIFE MEMBERSHIP: A negative report was given by WB Williams.
CHARITY: Nothing to report.
SIGHT ASSISTANCE: Nothing to report.
LODGE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION: No report.
LIBRARY: No report.
BALLOTING: Secret balloting was had on the petition of Mr. Emil Frank ORTIZ for the Degrees of Masonry in this Lodge and he was elected. WB McGowan announced that Mr. ORTIZ would be initiated on 8 June 1977.
RECEPTION OF PETITIONS: The petition of Bro. Millard Carwell SKETO for dual membership in this Lodge was read.
CORRESPONDENCE:
The Secretary read the following correspondence.
OLD BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS: Brother Jerry Don Griffin was obligated as a Dual Member of the Lodge. The Secretary read a letter requesting a Demit from Bro. Joy V. Stewart. His being in good standing and hearing no objections, WB McGowan ordered that the Demit be granted.
At the request of WB Williams, WB McGowan clarified the duties of the Chairman of the Temple Trust Fund Committee.
WB McGowan announced that next week there would be a First Degree conferral on Mr. ORTIZ and that MWB Nishiyama, PGM, would be in the East. Other positions for the Degree conferral were announced. Bro. Poling brought fraternal greetings from the WM and Brethren of Lodge Pusan No. 1675, Scottish Constitution, Pusan, Korea.
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 21:45 hours with WB McGowan, WM, in the East, WB WILLIAMS, PM, (Acting) SW in the West, and MWB Robertson, PGM, (Acting) JW, in the South.
(There were 14 Brethren Present)
MASONIC HALL LIMITED.
F.H.S. CLARK.
P.O. Box 988 Central.
Osaka.
30th May, 1977
The Yokohama Masonic House Committee,
3, Yamate-cho, Naka-Ku, Yokohama.
Brethren,
Ref: Masonic Hall Limited.
For the benefit of newcomers using Masonic Hall Ltd. property and facilities at 3, Yamate-cho, Naka-Ku, Yokohama, and to refresh the memories of Brethren already acquainted in part or fully with the situation regarding the use thereof, various points are enumerated hereunder:
The owners of the property have never exacted any rent, in lieu thereof it was agreed that the users would pay local taxes and maintain the building (Temple etc.) in a good state of repair.
Masonic Hall Ltd. for many years had desired to sell its assets in Yokohama but mindful of the masonic needs of the Brethren meeting there has refrained from doing so until now. Taking sensible advantage of inflated land values, Masonic Hall, Ltd. has decided to enter into a sales contract with a most reputable buyer, and notice to vacate the property will be sent you in due course.
Masonic Hall Ltd. has never desired nor contemplated depriving the Yokohama Brethren of a meeting place and therefore the sales proceeds, less a sum of ¥41M. nett as Masonic Hall Ltd. participation, will be held at the disposal of the Scottish Brethren and others at present using the property. This balance of sales proceeds could well be in excess of ¥100,000,000 — and in order not to attract tax, this sum would have to be re-employed within twelve months from the date of sale, in a similar property undertaking as at present operating in 3, Yamate-cho.
For your information,
Yours faithfully and fraternally,
Masonic Hall Ltd. F. H. S. Clark.
Legal Representative in Japan.
c.c. Masonic Hall, Ltd. Hongkong.
Dispatched 1 June 1977
T.H. Hodges
Secretary/Treasurer
Cost ¥8,650
ALEX PURVIS
ZETLAND HALL
1 KENNEDY ROAD
HONG KONG
RW SIR:
HAVE RECEIVED LTR FM F.H.S. CLARK MASONIC HALL LTD REP IN JAPAN DTD 30 MAY ADVISING MHL HAS DECIDED TO SELL YOKO PROPERTY TO OUTSIDE INTEREST. DATE OF SALE AND EVICTION DATE NOT SPEC. MHL TO RETAIN ¥41M WITH BAL HELD FOR DISPOSAL BY SCOTTISH BRETHREN AND OTHERS PRESENTLY USING PROPERTY.
REQUEST CONTACT BRO LEE AND CONVEY FOLLOWING MOST URGENT:
A. REF LTR UR JAPAN REP DTD 30 MAY ADVISING OF PENDING SALE OF YOKOHAMA PROPERTY TO OUTSIDE INTEREST. NO APPARENT BENEFITS DERIVE MHL BY OUTSIDE SALE ALTHOUGH MANY DISADVANTAGES WILL ACCRUE FOR MASONRY IN JAPAN.
B. REQUEST RECONSIDER SALE TO OUTSIDE BUYER IN FAVOR OF OUR FIRM OFFER MADE TO F.H.S. CLARK ON 13 APR 77 AND HEREBY RECONFIRMED. PRICE ¥4lM AGREEABLE TO EFFECT TRANSFER OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS MHL FM HONG KONG TO MASONS IN YOKOHAMA.
C. FREEMASONS IN YOKOHAMA AWAIT UR DECISION. REQUEST ADVISE SOONEST.
FRATERNALLY,
MYRON G. BETTENCOURT
P.O. BOX 35
250 BANCHI
SAGAMI-DAI, ZAMA-SHI
KANAGAWA-KEN, JAPAN
TEL: (0462) 53-0720