The 566th 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 April 2009.
WB Buda recognized Distinguished Brother Ed Lawson and the other Brethren of this Lodge as listed in the Tyler's register of this date.
A lodge of MMs was opened in due and ancient form at 13:15 hours with WB Buda, PM, WM in the East, Bro Inomata, SW in the West, and Bro Sagara, JW in the South.
WB Buda announced that this being our Stated Meeting for the month of April 2009, 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 7th March and Special Meeting held on 28th March 2009 and they were APPROVED AS READ.
The Treasurer's Report for the month of March was given by Bro. Secretary due to Bro. Treasurer's absence, 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 the G/L Bulletins of 29 March and ECM of 24 January had been tacked on Bulletin Board in the conference room.
CHARITY: An amount of ¥9,432 was collected from the Brethren present.
SICK AND VISITATION: MWB Katagiri phoned the Secretary that he is feeling something wrong with his shoulder and back so he needs to remain quiet at home.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
The most important item of business on today's meeting was to consider and ballot upon the proposal, presented at last month's meeting, to amend those sections of the Lodge's Bye-laws dealing with initiation fees and annual dues. The proposal having been duly seconded, and there being no questions or comments, it was put to the vote and passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
After the Lodge had been freed from restraint, Bro Lawson spoke of his early days with Far East Lodge No. 1, when it provided a spiritual haven during the stressful years he was working as a anesthetist in the Negishi Hospital, and remarked that although Far East Lodge No. 1 was not his mother lodge, it was the lodge in which he was 'made a Mason'. Bro Lawson then spoke of his passion for mountaineering and he concluded his presentation with remarks about the cosmopolitan nature of Far East Lodge No. 1, with members of different races, nationalities, and creeds. He then delivered a recitation of Bro Rudyard Kipling's The Mother Lodge, which so eloquently expresses the universality of the Craft.
COMING SCHEDULE:
After the Lodge had reopened, discussion was then had on the scheduling of future meetings and it was agreed to hold a Special Meeting on April 18 for the purpose of raising Bros Kajiwara and Sato. Finally, MWB Watanabe noted that the Stated Meeting for May fell in the middle of the long "Golden Week" of successive national holidays. He recommended that the Lodge hold its Stated Meeting one week later than usual, on 9 May. This was approved unanimously and the WM directed MWB Watanabe to apply for the necessary dispensation.
CLOSING: At 15:30 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 16:10 hours in short form with WB Buda, PM, WM in the East, Bro Inomata, SW in the West, and Bro Sagara, JW in the South.
There were a total of 15 brethren present of whom 13 were members of this Lodge and a FC, EA and one petitioner joined us during harmony.
The Secretary reported that regrets had been received from Bros Tatara and Katagiri.
APPROVED:
JANUSZ BUDA, PM
Worshipful Master
ATTEST:
KAZUHIRO WATANABE, PGM
Secretary