The 432nd Stated Meeting of Far East Lodge No. 1. F.&A.M. was held at the Masonic Temple, No. 250 Yamashita-cho. Naka-ku. Yokohama, Japan on the 13th day of January 1996.
A Lodge of MMs was opened in due and ancient form at 14:22 hours with WB Welsh, WM in the East, WB Katagiri, PM, SW in the West, and Bro. Masaki, JW in the South.
At the sound of the gavel in the East, the lodge was raised for a moment of silent prayer in remembrance of Brother Richard Reck who passed to the Celestial Lodge on 10 Oct. 1995. After prayer, the WM ordered the charter draped for 30 days to honor our departed Brother.
The WM then 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 January 1996, 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 WB Hodges. It was moved by WB Hodges and seconded by WB Katagiri that the Treasurer's report be approved as read, subject to the usual audit. MOTION CARRIED.
The Secretary then read the bills for the period and Bro. Warnell moved and WB Hodges seconded that the bills be paid. MOTION CARRIED.
Next was the report of the several committees:
CHARITY: WB Hodges and Bro. Warnell reported on the contribution of 3 turkeys to the Yokohama Women's Association for use in their annual Christmas party for orphans. The WM directed the Secretary to write the widows of the Brethren who had just passed to the Celestial Lodge to see if they needed any assistance.
SICK AND VISITATION: WB Katagiri provided an update on WB Ohashi's medical condition.
REFRESHMENT AND ENTERTAINMENT: Nothing to report.
FRIENDLY TIPS: Nothing to report.
COACHING: WM Watanabe advised that Bro. Onoda was not able to make it to this meeting due to work requirements, but should be ready for his proficiency at our February Stated Meeting.
MASONIC EDUCATION/LODGE HISTORY: Nothing to report.
AUDIT: Nothing to report.
INVESTMENT: Nothing to report.
HOUSE: Nothing to report.
BALLOTING: Favorable ballots were cast accepting WB Hollis Fullerton as a dual member of our Lodge.
RECEPTION OF PETITIONS: Nothing to report.
CORRESPONDENCE: The WM read a communication from the Grand Master - Subject: Discussion of Past Jurisprudence Actions. The Secretary read the G/L Monthly Bulletin of 20 December 1995 and a communication from the Grand Secretary concerning closing lodges in short form.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: The subject of the balloting for Bro. Robert Montgomery's dual membership in the Lodge was raised. The Secretary advised that due to his failure to report the reading of Bro. Montgomery's petition in his Monthly Report to the GL, the Lodge was in error when it favorably balloted his acceptance into the Lodge at our Stated Meeting on 14 November. Bro. Warnell was told by the Grand Secretary that the Lodge would have to reballot after Bro. Montgomery's name had been published in the Grand Lodge Monthly Bulletin under the category, "Petition for Degrees Read". Unfortunately. Bro. Montgomery's name did not appear in the December GLOJ Monthly Bulletin, so balloting must be postponed for another month.
The WM announced that at our previous Stated Meeting, the subject of relief for our Brethren in the Philippines was brought up but no action was taken. He made a motion that yen 50,000 be contributed to this worth cause. It was seconded and the motion was carried.
NEW BUSINESS: The WM reminded the Brethren that our annual installation will be held during the February Stated Meeting. WB Katagiri advised the lodge that, due to his very busy schedule, and after careful consideration. he could not accept the job of Secretary of the Lodge, voted on at our December 1995 stated Meeting. The WM appointed WB Hodges to take on the duties of Secretary and Treasurer on a temporary basis — not to exceed 90 days from February 10th 1996, the date of the annual lodge installation.
At 15:13 hours the WM lowered the lodge to the 2nd degree for the purpose of hearing the proficiency of that degree from Brother Ramon Leyeza. The WM conducted the examination at the conclusion of which WB Welsh was most pleased to pronounce Bro. Leyeza proficient. The WM then called the lodge briefly free from restraint for the purpose of congratulating Bro. Leyeza.
At the sound of the gavel in the East, the WM lowered the lodge to the First Degree for the purpose of hearing the proficiency of that degree from Brother Rodolfo Herrera. The WM conducted the examination, at the conclusion of which he was again pleased to pronounce Bro. Herrera proficient. The WM again called the lodge briefly free from restraint for the purpose of congratulating Bro. Herrera.
At the sound of the gavel in the East, The WM raised the lodge to the 3rd Degree for the purpose of conferring the 3rd degree on Bro. Kenichi Miyata. The Lodge was called free from labor to refreshment while Bro. Miyata was being prepared to receive the 3rd degree. At the sound of an alarm at the door of the preparation room, the lodge was called from refreshment to labor for the purpose of conferring the 3rd degree on Bro. Miyata. Bro. Miyata was then obligated as a Master Mason with WB Watanabe, (Acting) WM in the East, WB Katagiri, PM, SW in the West, and Bro. Masaki, JW in the South. It being high twelve, the craft was called from labor to refreshment for the purpose of raising to the Sublime Degree of MM the above named Brother. Bro. Miyata was raised by WB Welsh, assisted by Bro. Warnell. WB Welsh presented the Masonic Bible, the Lodge by-laws, and the MM book. WB Katagiri gave the Apron Lecture and Bro. Masaki the Working Tools. Upon conclusion of the ceremony, Bro. Miyata, being the youngest MM in the lodge, was privileged to address the lodge. Bro. Miyata expressed his thanks and said that he would try to do as much as he can for the craft. The Lecture for this degree will be given at a later date.
The lodge was called briefly free from restraint to congratulate Bro. Miyata.
At the sound of the gavel in the East, the WM announced that there being no further business to come before this Lodge of MMs, we would proceed to close. Peace and harmony prevailing, this lodge was closed in due and ancient form at 16:04 hours with WB Welsh, WM in the East, WB Katagiri, SW in the West and Bro. Masaki, JW in the South.
There were 14 Brethren present of which one was a visitor.
APPROVED:
HENRY W. WELSH III
Worshipful Master
ATTEST:
JIMMIE D. WARNELL
Secretary