The 436th 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 11th day of May 1996.
A lodge of MMs was opened in due and ancient form at 1412 hours with Bro. Warnell, SW, Acting WM in the East, Bro. Masaki, JW, Acting SW in the West, and WB Welsh, PM, 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 May 1996, the first 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.
WB Hodges, PM, then gave the Treasurer's Report and moved that the report be approved as read, subject to the usual audit. WB Welsh, 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 Welsh seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.
Next was the report of the several committees:
Without exception, all committee reports were negative.
BALLOTING: Brother Francis Robert ROHRER was reinstated to good standing in this lodge. The WM then granted Bro. ROHRER a Demit in response to his written request of 04 April 1996.
RECEPTION OF PETITIONS: The Acting Secretary then read the petition for degrees submitted by Mr. Walter Morris JOHNSON.
CORRESPONDENCE: The Acting Secretary read the GL Bulletin of 20 April 1996, a letter from Lodge Star in the East No. 640, a letter from the Chairman of the Membership Committee, GLOJ, and, after the Lodge was raised, the Grand Master's letter of 20 April 1996 concerning the Resolution that was passed at the 39th Annual Communication which deleted the Mackey's 25 Landmarks from the Book of Constitution, Code and Law of the Grand Lodge of Japan. He then read a letter from Brother Robert G. Bryant requesting a Demit as he is no longer financially able to pay his dues. After recapitulating Bro. Bryant's history, WB Hodges moved and WB Welsh seconded a motion to make Bro. Bryant a Life Member of the lodge. Bro. Warnell moved to amend the motion to include returning Bro. Bryant's check for his 1996 dues. WB Welsh seconded the motion to amend the motion. The Amendment and original motion were both CARRIED.
There was no unfinished business.
Bro. Warnell then read a portion of Article 100c of the Constitution as it pertains to holding a special election to fill the position of Worshipful Master and Wardens. He then informed the Brethren that we would hold a secret ballot to determine if the Brethren wish to hold such an election. The ballot was taken and the Brethren present did unanimously vote to hold the special election. Bro. Warnell instructed the Acting Secretary to request a Special Dispensation from the Grand Master to hold the special election at our Stated Meeting of June and to ensure that due notice is given the members of the lodge.
Bro. Warnell then asked if anyone was prepared for examination and was informed that two EAs were without and prepared. At the sound of the gavel in the East, the lodge was lowered to the First Degree and all EAs invited to a seat in the lodge. Bro. Warnell instructed Brothers Hayden and Volinic to place themselves West of the Altar where they were examined in the First Degree by Bro. Leyeza. Upon conclusion of the examination, Bro. Warnell declared Bros. Hayden and Volinic proficient in the First Degree. He then called the lodge briefly free from restraint for congratulations. At the sound of the gavel in the East and after all EAs had departed the lodge, the lodge was raised to the Second Degree for the purpose of conferring this degree on the following named Entered Apprentice Masons, who had made the necessary proficiency in the preceding degree:
Brothers Hayden, Herrera and Volinic were then collectively obligated as Fellowcraft Masons with Bro. Warnell, SW, Acting WM, in the East, Bro. Masaki, JW, Acting SW, in the West and WB Welsh, PM, Acting JW, in the South.
The Working Tools were presented by WB Welsh. The Staircase Lecture was given by Bro. Montgomery. The Letter "G" Lecture was given by Bro. Warnell. The Charge was delivered by MWB Robinson, PGM.
The lodge was then called briefly free from restraint for the purpose of congratulating our newly passed Brothers.
At the sound of the gavel in the East, and after all FCs had been conducted from the lodge, the lodge was raised to the Third Degree. Bro. Masaki requested that the assignments for the expected Second Degree to be held at our June Stated Meeting be made as soon as possible. Bro. Warnell advised that the assignments would be made as quickly as possible and those that will participate advised next week. Apologies were received from Bro. Miyata.
Before closing, Bro. Warnell admonished the Brethren to remember that portion of their obligation concerning the harming of a Brother in his "person or good name" and asked each of the Brethren to remember and not succumb to our baser instincts and resort to name calling or otherwise criticizing a Brother in front of other Brethren. He reminded us that if we can say nothing good about a Brother, we should say nothing.
The WM then 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 1709 hours with Bro. Warnell, SW, Acting WM, in the East, Bro. Masaki, JW, Acting SW, in the West and WB Katagiri, PM, JS, Acting JW, in the South.
There were 14 Brethren present of which 4 were candidates.
APPROVED:
JIMMIE D. WARNELL
Acting Worshipful Master
ATTEST:
THOMAS H. HODGES
Acting Secretary