The 573rd 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 5th day of December 2009.
A lodge of MMs was opened in due and ancient form at 13:15 hours with Bro Inomata, acting WM in the East, Bro Sagara, acting SW in the West, and WB Herrera, acting JW in the South.
Bro Inomata, acting WM, recognized the Distinguished Brethren of this Lodge as listed in the Tyler’s register of this date.
The acting WM then announced that this being our Stated Meeting for the month of December 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 and Special Meeting held on 28th November and they were APPROVED AS READ.
The Treasurer's Report for the month of November was reported 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: None.
CORRESPONDENCE: The Secretary announced that the G/L Monthly Bulletin of 25 November and GLEC Minutes of 17 October were posted on the bulletin board in the Conference Room. The Secretary also read a letter from the Grand Secretary granting a Special Dispensation to change our meeting date from 2nd to 9th January.
CHARITY: Amount of ¥10,581 (including $11.00) was collected from the Brethren present.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Reading By-Laws: Article II, Section 2 of the By-Laws was read by the acting WM.
Oath: The acting WM asked those Brethren who had not attended our Special Meeting of Nov. 28 to take the same oath at the Altar.
NEW BUSINESS:
Balloting: After a short break, balloting for Lodge Officers for next year started at 14:30 hours with 3 visitors from Yokosuka No. 20 acting as tellers. The Elected Officers were as follows:
| Worshipful Master | Bro Norihiro Inomata |
| Senior Warden | Bro Masanori Sagara |
| Junior Warden | WB Janusz Buda, PM |
| Treasurer | WB Rodolfo Herrera, PM |
| Secretary | MWB Kazuhiro Watanabe, PGM |
The following Brethren were then appointed to their respective offices:
| Chaplain | Bro Martin Sneathern |
| Marshal | WB Takumi Masaki, PM |
| Senior Deacon | Bro Takashi Tsujii |
| Junior Deacon | Bro Seiichi Honda |
| Senior Steward | Bro Tsuyoshi Taniuchi |
| Junior Steward | Bro Taiki Ogawa |
| Tyler | Bro Akihiro Tatara |
Proficiency Test in MM Degree: Bro Alawn Jordan stood West of the Altar and was examined in his proficiency in the Master Mason Degree by MWB Watanabe. The examination was conducted in English and the acting WM declared him proficient in the Third Degree.
Suspension and LLM: Bro Secretary announced the names of those members of this Lodge who have not paid their annual dues for more than two years and will be suspended on 31 December 2009. He also announced the names of Life Members with no valid address for more than five years. These Life Member will be transferred to the list of Lost Life Members.
Suspended
Lost Life Members
COMING SCHEDULE:
On January 9th: The first Stated Meeting of this Lodge, after a short business meeting starting at 15:30, will be an open Installation for Officers of this Lodge conducted by MWB James L. Johnston, PGM as Installing Officer and MWB Watanabe, PGM as Installing Marshal. An Installation Banquet will follow at YC&AC.
On January 30th: A Special meeting to hold a EA degree conferral upon Mr. Yutaro Suzuki and Mr. Akimichi Yamada.
On February 27th: A MM degree conferral upon Bro Eric Anderson.
CLOSING: There was no further business from the West or South and nothing on the Secretary's Table, but Bro Honda proposed to make a cap with the Lodge’s logo for use in Lodge group activities. The acting WM thanked him for his proposal and said it would be discussed at a later date. There been no further business to come before this Lodge of MMs the acting WM proceeded to close. Peace and harmony prevailing, this Lodge was closed at 15:40 hours in short form with Bro Inomata, acting WM in the East, Bro Inomata, acting SW in the West, and WB Herrera, acting JW in the South.
There were a total of 16 brethren present including 3 visitors from Yokosuka Lodge No. 20.
APPROVED:
JANUSZ BUDA, PM
Worshipful Master
ATTEST:
KAZUHIRO WATANABE, PGM
Secretary