The 513th Stated Meeting of Far East Lodge No. 1, F. &A.M. was held at the Masonic Temple located at 77-12 Honmoku Midorigaoka, Naka-ku, Yokohama on the 10th day of December 2003.
A lodge of MMs was opened in due and ancient form at 1412 hours with MWB Heath, PGM, WM, in the East, WB Herrera, PM, SW, in the West, and WB Masaki, PM, Marshal, Acting JW, in the South.
MWB Jack C. Miller, Grand Master of Masons in Japan, accompanied by RWB Katagiri, DGM, sounded an alarm and was received with Grand Honors and seated in the East.
At the sound of the gavel in the East, the lodge was raised for a moment of prayer in remembrance of RWB Norinaga Miyoshi, SGW, who passed to the Celestial Lodge on 30 November 2003. After prayer the WM ordered the Charter draped for a period of 30 days to honor our departed Brother.
The WM then recognized the other Distinguished Brethren present as listed in the Tyler’s register of this date and announced that this being our Stated Meeting for the month of December 2003, 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.
The Treasurer then gave his report after which he moved and it was seconded that the report be accepted as read subject to the usual audit. MOTION CARRIED.
The Secretary then read the bills for the period after which he moved and it was seconded that the bills be paid. MOTION CARRIED.
Next was the report of the several committees: All committee reports were negative with the exception of the following:
CHARITY: WB Herrera gave a wrap-up report on the Orphans’ Christmas party sponsored by the Yokohama International Women’s Club on 06 December 2003. Alms in the amount of ¥4200 was afterwards collected.
SICK AND VISITATION: MWB Heath gave an update on the status of MWB Ditto, himself and his wife. He completed his remarks by informing the Brethren that after his wife returns home, she will be unable to be alone, except for short periods, until such time as her leg heals sufficiently to permit her to move about. As this process may take a number of months, MWB Heath advised that he will be unable to attend lodge during his wife’s rehabilitation.
REFRESHMENT & ENTERTAINMENT: WB Hodges confirmed that he has reserved space at the Seamens Club for the Installation Banquet. He advised that he would provide details of the proposed Installation Banquet to be held the evening of 10 January 2004. He emphasized that if there is insufficient interest on the part of the Brethren for a banquet, it will be cancelled again as it was last year.
BALLOTTING: None
RECEPTION OF PETITIONS: None
CORRESPONDENCE: The Secretary read the G/L Bulletin of 20 November 2003, and an email from WB Sugai and Bro Akimoto advising that they would accept an appointed position. WB Sugai specified that the position should be one that does not require his attendance at every meeting. Bro Akimoto advised that he would be willing to accept any position to which elected/appointed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: MWB Heath then read Articles 100, 100a, and 100ab of the Constitution and Article II, Sections 1 and 2 of the lodge By-Laws. He then requested MWB Miller, GM, to authorize MWB Watanabe to sign the Certificates of Proficiency for the three pillars. MWB Miller most graciously approved the request.
NEW BUSINESS: MWB Heath announced that he will be unable to accept any position next year that requires his presence at every meeting. WB Hodges announced that he will accept any position to which elected or appointed with the stipulation that should it be necessary for him to leave Japan, he will do so. Bro Buda announced that he will be away from Japan from August 2004 to July 2005, but would be honored to serve the lodge in any capacity before or after that period.
MWB Heath then announced that the annual election of officers would be held and the following Brethren were elected to the office specified:
The lodge was then called briefly free from restraint to allow the newly elected officers to select those Brethren who will serve as appointed Office Bearers. At the sound of the gavel in the East, MWB Heath announced the following appointments, all of whom accepted:
RWB Katagiri thanked MWB Heath for his many years of dedicated service which was seconded by the Brethren in attendance as witnessed by their warm round of applause.
MWB Heath then handed the gavel to MWB Miller and ask him to speak and afterwards close the lodge. MWB Miller then requested MWB Heath to meet him West of the Altar where he presented MWB Heath with his Certificate of Installed Master for 1993 which somehow managed to get sent to Hawaii in the household goods of a Brother that departed Yokosuka and a beautiful crystal plate as a personal thank-you for the part that MWB Heath played in getting MWB Miller active in Masonry after many years of inactivity.
After confirming that there was no further business to come before this lodge, MWB Miller closed the lodge in short form at 1540 hours with WB Herrera, PM, SW, in the West and WB Masaki, PM, Acting JW, in the South. There were 9 members and one visitor present.
APPROVED:
WILLIAM M. HEATH, PGM
Worshipful Master
ATTEST:
THOMAS H. HODGES, PM
Secretary