The 435th 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 April 1996.
A lodge of MMs was opened in due and ancient form at 1415 hours with WB Welsh, PM, WM in the East, Bro. Warnell, SW in the West, and Bro. Masaki, JW in the South.
At the sound of the gavel in the East, the lodge was raised and WB Welsh read a letter from the Grand Master announcing the death of MWB Howard M. Voss, PGM. After ordering the charter draped for 30 days, a moment of silence was observed in remembrance of our departed Brother. After prayer, and with the lodge still upstanding, WB Welsh read another letter from the Grand Master concerning the annual Grand Lodge Children's Festival.
The WM then recognized the Distinguished Brethren as listed in the Tiler's Register of this date. He then announced his resignation as Master of this lodge effective at the conclusion of today's meeting. He then announced that the next order of business would be the reading of the minutes of our last Stated Meeting and all subsequent Special Meetings. The Acting Secretary read the minutes and they were approved as read.
WB Hodges, PM, then gave the Treasurer's Report and moved that the report be approved as read, subject to the usual audit. WB Watanabe, PM, seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.
WB Hodges, Acting Secretary, then read the bills for the period and moved that the bills be paid. WB Watanabe seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.
Next was the report of the several committees:
With the exception of MASONIC EDUCATION/LODGE HISTORY, all committee reports were negative. WB Katagiri, PM, announced that he has completed an analysis and chronicle of Count Tadasu HAYASHI and that copies were in the hands of the WM and that copies were available.
CORRESPONDENCE: The Secretary read the GL Bulletin of 20 March 1996, a letter from the GL Senior Lecturer announcing the appointment of RWB William M. Heath as our GL Inspector for 1996 and an invitation from Tokyo Masonic Lodge No. 2
There was no unfinished business.
Under new business, MWB Patterson, Grand Master of Masons in Japan, addressed the lodge and thanked the Brethren for their warm welcome. The lodge was then lowered to the First Degree at 1507 hours for the purpose of conferring the First Degree of Masonry on Mr. Walter Cyril Volinic. Mr. Volinic was obligated as an Entered Apprentice Mason by WB Welsh with Bro. Warnell, SW in the West, and Bro. Masaki, JW in the South. Bro. Warnell presented the Lambskin Apron and WB Welsh the Working Tools. Bro. Warnell gave the Lecture and WB Hodges delivered the Charge. After the lodge was called briefly free from restraint for the purpose of congratulating our newly obligated Brother, Bro. Volinic departed the lodge and it was raised to the Third Degree at 1640 hours.
WB Welsh called on MWB Patterson, GM, to address the lodge and afterwards to close the lodge in short form. After appropriate remarks, MWB Patterson called on WB Katagiri to place himself West of the Altar where he was pleased to present him with the GL Distinguished Service Award for his service to the fraternity, and especially to the Grand Lodge of Japan. Before closing, apologies were received from Bro. Miyata and WB Katagiri moved and WB Hodges seconded a motion to donate ¥20,000 to the GL Annual Children's Festival. MOTION CARRIED.
The GM then closed the lodge in short and ample form at 1659 hours with Bro. Warnell, SW in the West and Bro. Masaki, JW in the South.
There were 13 Brethren present of which 1 was a visitor.
APPROVED:
JIMMIE D. WARNELL
Acting Worshipful Master
ATTEST:
THOMAS H. HODGES
Acting Secretary