The 540th 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 2nd day of December 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 MWB Katagiri, PGM, acting JW in the South.
The WM recognized the Distinguished Brethren as listed in the Tyler’s register of this date.
He then announced that this being our Stated Meeting for the month of December 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 4th November and the Special Meeting held on 25th November and both were approved as read.
The Treasurer gave the report for the month of October, 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, but the Secretary reported that he expected two or three to come.
BALLOTTING: None
CORRESPONDENCE: The Secretary announced that both the GLEC Minutes of October and G/L Bulletins of 20 November had been posted on the Bulletin Board in the conference room. A letter from the GM was introduced by the Secretary announcing that the Grand Treasurer had been changed to MWB Inae, PGM. A few correspondences connected with the Annual Communication had also been received, however the Secretary announced that he would postpone reading to the next meeting since we had enough time before the Communication.
CHARITY: Amount of ¥4,770+$5.00 was collected from the Brethren present.
READING BY-LAWS: Article II, Section 2 was read by the Worshipful Master.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS:
COMING PROPOSED SCHEDULE: The Secretary announced to the Brethren present that our Monthly Meeting for January 2007 will be postponed to 13th January which is one week later than the regular schedule. After a short business meeting, we will hold the Installation of Officers Ceremony starting at 15:00 hours in public form. The ceremony will be conducted by MWB James L. Johnston, PGM as Installing Marshal and MWB Kazuhiro Watanabe, PGM, as Master of Ceremonies. The Installation Banquet will follow at the YC&AC starting about 18:00 hours.
Election: WB Herrera, WM of this Lodge, appointed WB Sunao Kanemitsu, Aomori #10 to be a Teller and declared that the Annual Election of Officers would be held. The following Brethren were elected to the offices indicated.
WM: WB Takumi Masaki, PM
SW: WB Janusz Buda, PM
JW: WB Rodolfo C. Herrera, PM
TR: MWB Saburo Katagiri, PGM
SC: MWB Kazuhiro Watanabe, PGM
The lodge was briefly called free from restraint for the appointment of officers. The following named brethren were appointed:
Chp: Bro Larry E. Jackson
Mar: Bro Kenichi Miyata
S D: Bro Norihiro Inomata
J D: Bro Masanori Sagara
S S: Bro Dimitris Tsurugiannis
J S: Bro Martin W. Sneathern
Tyl: Bro Hiroki Mikuni
THIRD DEGREE CONFERRAL: Bros Takeda, FC and Wachi, FC.
At 14:40 hours, by three distinct knocks on the door the Brothers above mentioned were admitted into the Lodge and obligated MMs by MWB Watanabe. The Working Tool Lecture was given by Bro Inomata in Japanese.
At 15:10 hours, the Lodge was called briefly free from restraint for the purpose of preparing the Tragedy for our newly obligated Brethren.
At 15:30 Bro Takeda was invited into the Lodge and conferred the MM degree in the short form of the Tragedy with MWB Watanabe as King Solomon and WB Masaki as Hiram of Tyre. At 15:55, Bro Wachi was invited into the Lodge room and conferred the MM tragedy with the same positions as in the previous ceremony. At 17:05, the Lodge was called free from restraint for congratulating our newly raised Brethren. The degree lecture was started at 17:15 hours by MWB Katagiri, PGM, in Japanese and the Charge was delivered by WB Masaki. Upon the completion of the Charge at around 17:55, the newly obligated Brethren were invited to the Secretary's desk to sign their names on the Lodge’s By-Laws and were presented with a Masonic Bible, monitors in both English and Japanese versions, etc. at the Altar by the Worshipful Master.
CLOSING: The Master of the Lodge announced that he would proceed to close in short form at 18:10. Peace and harmony prevailing, this lodge was closed at 18:15 hours with WB Herrera, PM, WM in the East, WB Masaki, PM, SW in the West, and MWB Katagiri, PGM, acting JW in the South.
The Secretary reported that regrets had been received from WB Buda, Bro Miyata, Bro Jackson, Bro Tsujii and Bro Mikuni.
There were 12 brethren present and 3 petitioners joined our harmony before the meeting.
APPROVED:
R. C. HERRERA, PM
Worshipful Master
ATTEST:
KAZUHIRO WATANABE, PGM
Secretary