The 525th 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 4th day of June 2005.
A Lodge of MMs was opened in due and ancient form at 14:20 hours with WB Herrera, PM, WM in the East, WB Masaki, PM, SW in the West, and Bro Terasawa, acting JW, in the South.
The WM then recognized the Distinguished Brethren as listed in the Tyler’s register of this date.
And then he announced that this being our Stated Meeting for the month of June 2005, 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.
Treasurer gave the report for the month of May and after which he moved and it was seconded that the report 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: Alms in the amount of ¥2,925 were collected.
RECEPTION OF PETITIONS: The Secretary read a Petition for the Degrees of Freemasonry from Mr. Yoshiki Takeda, employee of Fuji Photo Film.
BALLOTTING: WB Herrera, WM of the Lodge, reported that the Committee of Investigation had submitted a favorable report on the petition of Mr. Larry E. Jackson. He then elected by ballot of the members present to receive the degrees of Masonry in this Lodge. WB Herrera announced that Mr. Jackson will be initiated on 3rd September.
CORRESPONDENCE: The Secretary announced the G/L Bulletins of 20 May 2005 had been pinned on the bulletin board in the conference room and asked the Brethren to read them.
The Secretary introduced to the brethren an email received from John Wolff starting as follows:
Dear Sir,
My name is John Wolff. My Grandfather was Herbert Wolff. I believe he was a member of your Lodge after the Second World War. He passed away in 1977 as did my father Herbert Wolff Jr. I was wondering if you had any photos or information in your archives about my grandfather you could relate to me.
He was a lucky because his grandfather was one of our charter members so some of his photos as well as story were on our web page, which the Secretary informed him about. He thanked us and said he can now pass this on to his son and grandson.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS: At 15:10 hours, the Lodge was lowered to the First Degree for the purpose of conferring this degree on Mr. Masanori Sagara. After three distinct knock on the door Mr. Sagara was admitted into the Lodge and obligated an EAM by WB Herrera, Master of the Lodge with WB Masaki, SW in the West and Bro Terasawa, acting JW in the South. MWB Watanabe gave the Apron Lecture, Bro Miyata the Working Tool Lecture in Japanese, MWB Katagiri gave Degree Lecture in Japanese and MWB Watanabe delivered the Charge in Japanese.
Then Bro Inomata was placed West of Altar and examined by MWB Watanabe. After the examination WB Herrera, Worshipful Master of this Lodge, declared him proficient in the First Degree.
After calling the Lodge free from restraint for the purpose of congratulating both Bro Sagara and Bro Inomata then they were conducted from the Lodge. At the sound of the gavel in the East, the Lodge resumed labor in the Third Degree.
The Secretary proposed that since we have two more candidates for conferral we should have a Special Meeting in July, when the Lodge is usually dark, to pass those EAs. This proposal was unanimously affirmated. The Special Meeting will be held on July 9 starting at 13:00 hours.
The WM then commented on the Lectures and 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 at 17:30 hours in short form with WB Herrera, PM, WM in the East, WB Masaki, PM, SW in the West, and Bro Terasawa, acting JW in the South.
There were 11 brethren including one Candidate and a Visitor. Also we had Mr. Larry Eugene Jackson, petitioner visited us before the meeting.
APPROVED:
R. C. HERRERA, PM
Worshipful Master
ATTEST:
KAZUHIRO WATANABE, PGM
Secretary