The 541st 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 13th day of January 2007 (Special Disp. 30—06).
A lodge of MM's 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 Janusz Buda, PM, JW in the South.
WB Herrera called the Brethren up for a moment of silence in remembrance of MWB Norman Cohen, PGM who was summoned to the Celestial Lodge on December 16 and the WM ordered the Charter draped for 30 days to honor our departed Brother.
Then 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 January 2007, 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 December and they were APPROVED AS READ.
The Secretary gave the Treasurer's report for the month of December after which he moved and it was seconded that the report be accepted as read subject to the usual audit. (The Treasurer asked to Secretary to read the report as he would be late for the meeting on account of picking up the Installing Officer.) 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: The Secretary read a Petition for the Degrees of Freemasonry from Mr. Hiroshi KOMURA of Creative Health Co. Ltd., Tokyo.
BALLOTTING: None
CORRESPONDENCE: The Secretary announced that the G/L Bulletin of 20 December and new Officers line-up from TMA had been tacked on the bulletin board in the conference room. He also introduced letters from GM on the passing of MWB Cohen and a half-yearly report from Eagle Star showing the cash-in value on 31 October 2006 was about 8.4 Mil yen.
CHARITY: The amount of ¥5,000+$13.25 was collected from the Brethren present.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS:
WB Buda reported that WB Alan J. Turney, Past Master of Lodge Star in the East No. 640, had laid his Working Tools down on 19 Dec., 2006 and noted that he had visited us many times and was appointed as our Tyler several times. He was famous as translator of Japanese novels into English and among them were Botchan and Kusamakura. The Worshipful Master asked to the Brethren present for a moment of silence for the late WB Turney.
WB Buda also reported that Masonic Hall Ltd. had installed a movable fence at the front of the Temple for security purposes.
Bros Inomata and Sagara announced that they are ready to take their 3rd degree Proficiency test. The Worshipful Master ordered MWB Watanabe to examine them and they showed us an excellent performance. WM of this Lodge declared that both of them were proficient in the Third Degree.
At 14:20 hours, the Lodge was called free from restraint for the purpose of preparing the Installation Ceremony for both elected and appointed Officers for the ensuing Masonic year.
The ceremony was conducted in public form with MWB James L. Johnston, PGM as Installing Officer and MWB Kazuhiro Watanabe, PGM as Installing Marshal. At 15:00 hours, the guests were seated and the Installation Ceremony commenced.
At 16:20 hours, all officers were installed with the exception of Junior Steward: Bro Martin W. Sneathern was not installed due to his emergency business trip to the US. The Chaplain gave the closing prayer and the newly installed Worshipful Master, WB Masaki, closed the Lodge in short from.
After the Installation, the Brethren and their guests walked over to the Yokohama Country and Athletic Club to enjoy a few refreshing drinks before the beginning of the Banquet at 18.30 hours. Total participants were 29 and they all enjoyed wine, cuisine as well as good atmosphere. They departed at around 20:30 hours.
The Secretary reported that regrets had been received from Bros Tsujii and Sneathern.
There were 15 Brethren of FE1, 3 Visitors including MWB Johnston PGM, RWB Koole, Junior Grand Warden and Grand Inspector of this Lodge and Bro Nobuta of S&C #3. Also 4 Petitioners, 3 Candidates and 5 Ladies were present.
APPROVED:
TAKUMI MASAKI , PM
Worshipful Master
ATTEST:
KAZUHIRO WATANABE, PGM
Secretary