The 557th 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 June 2008.
A lodge of MMs was opened in due and ancient form at 13:20 hours with WB Buda, PM, WM in the East, WB Masaki, PM, SW in the West, and Bro Inomata, JW in the South.
WB Buda recognized the Distinguished Brethren as listed in the Tyler’s register of this date.
He announced that this being our Stated Meeting for the month of June 2008, 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 our Monthly Meeting held on 10th May and they were APPROVED AS READ.
The Treasurer's Report for the month of April was read by Bro Secretary, 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: The Secretary read a Petition for the Degrees of Freemasonry from Mr. Alawn A. Jordan, employee of a US Navy contractor.
BALLOTTING: None.
CORRESPONDENCE: The Secretary announced the G/L Bulletins of 24 April and Minutes of GLECM of 19 February were posted on the Bulletin Board in the conference room. He then introduced e-mails from Bro John Muraoka, thanking the Lodge for his 50-year pin and from WB Henry Welsh, announcing the result of his final checkup in which no sign of cancer was found.
CHARITY: An amount of ¥5,120 was collected from th Brethren present.
COMMENTS: Bro Inomata reported briefly about the Children's Festival. It rained in the morning hours but after the rain stopped in the afternoon, the Festival returned to its usual busy condition.
Bro Buda reported that the Masonic Hall Ltd. is now considering changing its administration system by asking a professional Company in Hong Kong to act as trustees in the near future, due to the present directors who are all members of Lodge No. 640 getting on in age.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS:
PROFICIENCY TEST: At 13:50 hours, Bro. Kajiwara was tested in his proficiency in the EA degree by MWB Watanabe after the Lodge had been lowered to the First Degree. WB Buda congratulated him on his fine performance and declared him fully proficient.
FC DEGREE CONFERRAL: After a short break, the Lodge resumed to the Second Degree at 14:10 and a Second Degree conferral began at 14:30 when Bros Tamado and Ogawa gave 3 knocks at the door and were admitted into the Lodge. They were obligated as FCs by Bro Inomata and the Working Tool Lecture was given by Bro Taniuchi. In the second section of the Ceremony, the Staircase Lecture was given by Bro Honda and the G Lecture by WB Masaki. The Charge was delivered by MWB Watanabe and all of them were given in Japanese.
The Lodge was called briefly free from restraint for the purpose of congratulating our newly passed brethren and resumed to the MM degree at 15:55 hours.
COMING SCHEDULE: Bro Secretary announced the following:
CLOSING: At 16:10 hours, the WM 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 16:25 hours in short form with WB Buda, PM, WM in the East, WB Masaki, PM, SW in the West, and Bro Inomata JW in the South.
The Secretary reported that regrets had been received from Bros Ogawa, Katagiri, Sneathern, Tatara and Suzuki (FC).
There were a total of 14 brethren present of whom 10 were MMs of the Lodge and 4 were FCs. We also had one petitioner and a potential candidate during harmony.
APPROVED:
JANUSZ BUDA, PM
Worshipful Master
ATTEST:
KAZUHIRO WATANABE, PGM
Secretary