The 518th 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 1st day of May 2004.
A lodge of MMs was opened in due and ancient form at 1410 hours with WB Herrera, PM, WM in the East, MWB Katagiri, GM, JS, acting SW in the West, and MWB Watanabe, PGM, Tr, Acting 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 Bros Michael Kazzoz Abraham and William Thomas Haley who passed to the Celestial Lodge on 03/23/04 and 01/05/04 respectively. After prayer and tolling of the bell, the charter was draped and will remain so for a period of 30 days to honor our departed Brethren.
The WM then recognized the Distinguished Brethren as listed in the Tyler’s register of this date and announced that this being our Stated Meeting for the month of May 2004, 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 Hodges reported that thanks to the efforts of Bro Jim Pippin, who visited us in April, and Ms. Alice Harrington, 2nd Vice President in charge of charity activities for the Yokohama International Women Club, it appears that at least 8 and perhaps 10 Dell desktop computers will be donated. Bro Pippin’s company is donating the computers and Ms. Harrington is coordinating with the various charity activities sponsored by YIWC. As of today, 3 computers have been earmarked for one of the orphanages and 5 each to a workshop for the mentally handicapped which are supported by YIWC. There are 2 computers still available if anyone knows of a suitable recipient. Alms in the amount of ¥2,825 were collected.
COACHING: WB Hodges reported that Bro Jackson has not contacted him and his current progress is unknown.
BALLOTTING: None
RECEPTION OF PETITIONS: None.
CORRESPONDENCE: The Secretary read the G/L Bulletin of 20 April 2004. WB Herrera advised that he has received correspondence naming our Grand Lodge Inspector for 2004. It is WB Ramon Prospero, PM, a member of Yokosuka Lodge No. 20. He then mentioned that he has received a letter from MWB Johnston, PGM, Chairman of the G/L Education Committee and Grand Historian. The contents of MWB Johnston’s letter sparked a discussion as to the pro’s and con’s of the present system of Masonic Education employed by Grand Lodge. The consensus of the Brethren is that the Grand Lodge needs to reconsider it’s educational program by structuring the information provided to the constituent lodges in such a manner to recognize the different levels of Masonic expertise already existing in each lodge; e.g. the information attached to MWB Johnston’s letter is better suited for publishing on the Grand Lodge Home Page as it is information that is directed towards the non-Mason and presents little of value to a Masonic lodge as it is not the place of a subordinate lodge to try to educate the public about Masonry. This is not meant as criticism of the Grand Lodge’s efforts to provide educational material useful to the lodges but to point out that the approach to this problem would be reviewed and specific information identified and provided to the lodges, bearing in mind that the Grand Lodge can make use of it’s Home Page as well as the lodges to provide Masonic education.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: WB Hodges provided an update on MWB Heath’s situation. Bro Bill is survived by 2 brothers and one sister, all of whom live in the U.S. One of the Brothers, together with WB Marty Fullerton, PM, Yokosuka Lodge #20, arrived in Japan during the weekend of 17 April. During the following week, they were to work with the appropriate authorities to have Bro Bill’s remains cremated and to resolve other pending issues created by this tragic event. It is not clear at this time, what, if any Masonic services will be held for Bro Bill other than the Lodge of Sorrow that Grand Lodge is planning for the early fall. Should any information become available, it will be passed on to the Brethren
NEW BUSINESS: WB Hodges brought up the matter of the lodge’s bank account at Citibank. He pointed out that we need to authorize additional members to the list of authorized signers of checks and that it will subsequently be necessary to transfer the name of the lodge “Representative” since Bro Hodges intends to depart Japan within the first three months of 2005. This sparked a broad range of discussion concerning not only the bank accounts but the need to plan in a specific manner for Bro Hodges’ departure. It was decided to add MWB Katagiri and WB Masaki to the list of check signers and that MWB Watanabe replace Bro Hodges as the lodge representative.
With regard to the projected departure of Bro Hodges, it was the consensus of the Brethren present that it will create a problem if the brother who may be elected as Secretary in December is unable to spend sufficient time with Bro Hodges before his departure. However, it is hoped that problems can be kept to a minimum.
Apologies were received from WB Masaki and Bro Akimoto.
After determining that there was no further business to come before this Lodge of MM’s, WB Herrera closed the lodge in due and ancient form at 1535 hours with MWB Katagiri, GM, JS, Acting SW in the West and MWB Watanabe, PGM, Tr, Acting JW in the South.
APPROVED:
R. C. HERRERA, PM
Worshipful Master
ATTEST:
THOMAS H. HODGES, PM
Secretary