The 538th 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 7th day of October 2006.
A lodge of MMs was opened in due and ancient form at 13:15 hours with WB Herrera, PM, WM in the East, WB Masaki, PM, SW in the West, and WB Buda, PM, JW, in the South.
WB Herrera called the Brethren up for a moment of silence in remembrance of WB Louie Vanvig, a Past Master of the Lodge who was summoned to the Celestial Lodge on September 17 and the WM ordered the Charter draped for 30 days to honor our departed Brother.
The WM 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 October 2006, 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 of the Monthly Meeting held on 2nd September and they were approved as read.
The Treasurer gave the report for the month of July, 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:
RECEPTION OF PETITIONS: None.
BALLOTTING: None.
CORRESPONDENCE: The Secretary announced that both the GLEC Minutes of June and G/L Bulletins of 20 September had been tacked on the Bulletin Board in the Conference Room. And he also introduced a letter from the TMA asking for nominations for Trustee, Supervisor and Counselor by 25 November 2006 through GLOJ. The Secretary recommended that, as the deadline date was the end of next month and we would be a busy with a 3rd Degree conferral this afternoon, we should discuss this matter at our next Monthly Meeting.
CHARITY: Amount of ¥5,750 was collected from the Brethren present.
HOUSE: WB Buda gave a report on the financial situation of Masonic Hall Limited, the custodian of the Yokohama Masonic Temple. He also recommended that the Brethren of both Yokohama lodges work together to arrange a schedule of volunteer cleaning and maintenance.
COMING PROPOSED SCHEDULE: The Secretary proposed to the Brethren present that a Special Meeting be held to confer the 3rd degree upon Bros Wachi, FC and Yoshiki, FC but this date proved inconvenient for many of the Brethren. However, the following schedule was agreed upon:
ARTICLE 2 of the BY-LAWs was read by the Worshipful Master.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS:
Lowering the Lodge to the Second Degree
At this time, all FCs were invited into the Temple and degree proficiency tests upon Bros Wachi, FC and Takeda, FC were conducted by MWB Watanabe. The WM announced that they were proficient in the Second Degree.
Bro Charles Jackson was given leave address to the Lodge. He announced that he was leaving Japan and in a moving farewell thanked the Brethren for their support and encouragement.
Lowering the Lodge to the First Degree
The proficiency test was conducted by MWB Watanabe upon Bro Konno, EA and the WM announced that he was proficient in the First Degree.
3rd DEGREE CONFERRAL:
At 15:00 hours, the Lodge resumed labor in the 3rd degree for the purpose of conferring the MM degree upon Bros Tsujii, FC and Mikuni, FC who then knocked on the door and were admitted into the Lodge by the acting SS, Bro Sagara and acting JS, Bro Tsuruyiannis. Both Obligation and Working Tool Lecture were conducted by MWB Watanabe in Japanese.
At 16:30 hours, the Lodge was called briefly free from restraint for the purpose of preparing the Tragedy for our newly obligated Brother.
At 16:40 Bro Mikuni was invited into the Lodge and received the MM degree in the short form of thge Tragedy with MWB Watanabe as King Solomon and WB Masaki as Hiram of Tire. At 17:00, Bro Tsujii was invited into the Lodge room and received the MM degree with the same positions as in the short form ceremony. At 17:50, the Lodge was called free from restraint for the purpose of congratulating our newly raised brethren. And almost 5 hours had passed from opening, at the Secretary’s suggestion, the Degree Lecture and Charge were postponed to the Meeting next month.
CLOSING:
The Master of the Lodge announced that he would proceed to close in short form at 18:00. Peace and harmony prevailing, this lodge was closed at 18:10 hours with WB Herrera, PM, WM in the East, WB Masaki, PM, SW in the West, and WB Bro Buda, PM, JW in the South.
The Secretary reported that regrets had received from Bros Sneathern and Miyata.
There were 15 brethren present including 4 FCs and 1 EA of this Lodge, and WB Tony Kanemitsu of Aomori #10 and Bro Philip McKenzie of Lodge Star in the East No. 640 joined the meeting as visitors. Also 4 petitioners joined during our harmony before the meeting.
APPROVED:
R. C. HERRERA, PM
Worshipful Master
ATTEST:
KAZUHIRO WATANABE, PGM
Secretary