The 252nd 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 5th day of July l978.
A Lodge of Master Masons was open in due and ancient form at 1935 hours with Worshipful Brother DeLuna in the East, Brother Redman in the West and Brother Norman in the South.
The Worshipful Master announced that the first order of business this evening would be to receive Worshipful Brother Onishi, Grand Junior Warden of The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Japan. WB Onishi was received with with an appropriate welcome address by the WM and he invited him to sit at his right. The WM then recognized the other distinguished Brethren and visitors present as listed in the Tiler's register of this date.
The WM then reappointed Bro. I.N. Medley as Secretary (Pro-Tem) for the month of July. The WM then said that before conducting our business the Secretary would read a letter of correspondence. It announced the death of Bro. Leroy F. McCracken and the charter was draped.
The WM then announced the next 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 read.
Next was the Treasurer's report given by Bro. Zalewski. It was moved by Bro. Redman and seconded by Bro. Sketo that the Treasurer's report be approved as read, subject to visual audit. MOTION CARRIED.
BILLS: The Secretary had no bills for the month of June.
CHARITY: Negative Report. WM DeLuna stated that the clothing collection was pulling up and assigned Bro. Sketo to check with Bro. Weaver as to what we could do with them.
REFRESHMENT/ENTERTAINMENT: Negative Report.
FRIENDLY TIPS: Negative Report.
COACHING: Bro. Redman said that Bro. Thomsen would be ready to give his 2° proficiency in 3 weeks. The WM stated that he thought Bro. Ortiz was late with his proficiency and instructed the Secretary to. check his record.
SICK AND VISITATIONS: WM DeLuna said Bro. Miller had surgery on his lip, and was doing well. Most Worshipful Bro. Robertson said that MWB Peck was in good spirits and saying he was going to prove the doctor wrong.
MASONIC EDUCATION/LODGE HISTORY: Negative Report.
AUDIT: Bro. Sketo reported he had held an audit and the books were in good order.
HOUSE: WM said a meeting would be held either the 20th or 27th of July. WM said the Eastern Star would pay half of the cost of the a/c to he installed at a price of 414,262 Yen. Bro. Redman moved we share cost. Bro. Mattie seconded. MOTION CARRIED.
Bro. Zalewski asked if Lodge 640 would help pay. The WM said it had been discussed and they would be approached again.
BALLOTING: MWB Robertson gave a brief lecture on the secrecy of balloting and your duties there, also a pamphlet was read informing the Brethren of their duties.
Secret balloting was held on the petition of Mr. Jerome Foster Zarth and Mr. Rokuro Nakayama and they were elected to for the Degrees of Masonry in this Lodge.
RECEPTION OF PETITIONS: The Secretary read the petition of Mr. L.W. Lamm for the degrees.
GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE: The Secretary read a letter of demit from Bro. Blake E. Nelson, and a letter of demit from Bro. Perry G. Harding III, and a letter from Richard L. Reck with a change of address.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: The installing of officer as follows by WM DeLuna assisted by MWB Robertson:
NEW BUSINESS: WB Nakano asked that we donate money to the Emergency Fund of the Grand Lodge as it was short after giving money to several worthwhile causes. After much discussion the WM said he would table this until the next Stated Meeting and it will be brought up as Old Business.
Bro. Redman said that Mr. Zarth would be initiated on the 12th day of July, Mr. Nakayama would be initiated on the 19th day of July.
Bro. Redman then made the assignments for Degree teams and told the Brethren that they were responsible for knowing their assignments.
Bro. Mattie bid farewell to the Bro. of the Lodge, it being his last night in the Lodge. The WM bid him farewell and wished him good luck in California.
The WM then read a letter from Bro. Alva R. Hall paying a life time membership for Bro. Ohashi. He then presented Bro. Ohashi with a life time card and certificate.
The Worshipful Master then announced that there being nothing further to come before this Lodge of Master Masons we would proceed to close. Peace and Harmony prevailing, the Lodge was closed in due and ancient form at 2150 hours with WB DeLuna in the East, Bro. Redman in the West and Bro. Norman in the South.
(There were 14 Brethren present.)