The 567th 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 9th day of May 2009 (Special Dispensation 5-09).
A lodge of MMs was opened in due and ancient form at 13:30 hours with WB Buda, PM, WM in the East, Bro Inomata, SW in the West, and Bro Sagara, JW in the South.
WB Buda received WB Donald Zamora of Yokosuka Lodge No. 20, the Grand Lodge Inspector for Far East Lodge No 1, with Grand Honors and invited him to take a seat in the East. He also recognized the distinguished Brethren of this Lodge as listed in the Tyler’s register of this date.
The Lodge was also pleased to receive visits from Bros Takigami and Sugita of Yuai Lodge No. 11, Bro Wilson Bohol of Yokosuka Lodge No. 20, and Bro Sam Durbin of Anoka Lodge No. 30, Minnesota. Bros Bohal and Durbin being first-time visitors to our Lodge, the WM presented them with the customary commemorative card.
He then announced that this being our Stated Meeting for the month of May 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 4th April and Special Meeting held on 18th April 2009 and they were APPROVED AS READ.
The Treasurer's report for the month of March was reported 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 the G/L Bulletins of 25 April had been tacked on the Bulletin Board in the conference room. He also introduced letters from GL on Special Dispensation (5-09) and eMail on the cancellation of the Children Festival because of swine flu.
CHARITY: An Amount of ¥8,206 (including 2.00 USD) was collected from the Brethren present.
SICK AND VISITATION: MWB Katagiri telephoned to the Secretary presenting his regrets for the same reasons as last month.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Bro Secretary reported that Bro Honda had arranged for the Lodge's trash to be taken away by a garbage disposal company named Takamatsu-shoji. Bro Secretary explained the details and cost of the service and his proposal that the Lodge avail itself of this service was duly seconded and unanimously approved. WB Buda said he would inform Lodge Star in the East of the arrangement and propose that the two lodges share the cost.
NEW BUSINESS:
Masonic Hall Ltd: WB Buda reported on some significant developments concerning Masonic Hall Ltd (MHL), the company that owned and administered the Temple building. After reviewing the history of the company and some of the many difficulties raised by its current administrative structure, WB Buda announced that trusteeship of MHL would be taken over by a registered law office in Hong Kong, which would act only on specific instructions from the General Committee of Lodge Star in the East.
FC Conferral: After the Lodge had been lowered to the Second degree at 14:00 the conferral upon Bro Eric Anderson, EA was started. By three distinct knocks on the door at 14:25, Bro Anderson was admitted into the Lodge and all degree work was conducted in English. WB Buda gave the Obligation; Bro Kajiwara the Working Tools, and Bro Honda conducted the Candidate. For the Second Section of the Degree, Bro Inomata, SW, took the East as an acting WM and WB Buda replaced him in the West. Bro Honda gave the Staircase Lecture, Bro Inomata the G Lecture, and MWB Watanabe delivered the Charge. The Lodge resumed to the MM degree after a short break at 16:00.
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 Bro Alawn Jordan.
MWB Watanabe then proposed that we devote our Stated Meeting for June to business only, and hold a Special Meeting on June 27 for the conferral of the First Degree (in English) upon Mr. Jason Kraker and Mr. Masumi Ishibashi.
In the final item of business, WB Buda extended formal greetings and thanks to WB Zamora and invited him to say a few words to the Brethren of the Lodge. WB Zamora praised the Brethren for their excellent floor work and suggested that the few slight errors he had noticed might be best discussed at a Lodge of Instruction that he would conduct at a later date. WB Zamora concluded his remarks with an invitation to all Brethren of Far East Lodge No. 1 to join the Brethren of Yokosuka Lodge No. 20 in a picnic party to be held on the grounds of the Negishi Base, at a time and date to be decided.
Before closing the Lodge, WB Buda asked if there were any other business from the floor. Bro Sneathern announced that he had prepared a notebook for recording all borrowings and returns of books in the Lodge's cabinet downstairs. Bro Bohol brought fraternal greetings from the WM, Officers and Brethren of Yokosuka Lodge No. 20, and Bro Durbin brought similar greetings from the WM, Officers, and Brethren of Anoka Lodge No. 30, Minnesota. WB Buda asked both Brethren to carry reciprocal greetings from Far East Lodge No. 1 to their own Lodges.
CLOSING: At 16:20 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 19 brethren present of whom 14 were members of this Lodge and 5 visitors. We had also had an FC, 2 EAs and a Candidate.
APPROVED:
JANUSZ BUDA, PM
Worshipful Master
ATTEST:
KAZUHIRO WATANABE, PGM
Secretary