The 576th 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 6th day of March 2010.
WB Inomata recognized the Distinguished 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 Inomata, WM in the East, Bro Sagara, SW in the West, and WB Buda, JW in the South.
After the Lodge had been opened, WB Inomata greeted RWB Donald Smith, Grand Senior Warden, and invited him to a seat in the East. RWB Smith requested and was given leave to remain on the floor of the lodge. WB Inomata next greeted Bro Michel Tsigopoulos, Secretary of Sagamihara Lodge No. 13, and presented him with a first-time visitor's card.
Then the Worshipful Master announced that this being our Stated Meeting for the month of March 2010, 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 6th February and Special Meeting held on 27th February and they were APPROVED AS READ.
The Treasurer Report for the month of February was presented by Bro Secretary due to the 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.
CORRESPONDENCE: The Secretary announced the G/L Monthly Bulletin of 24 February and GLEC Minutes of 16 January were tacked on the bulletin board in the Conference Room. The Secretary also presented copies of the proposed resolutions and said he would provide further details when the subject came up for discussion.
CHARITY: An amount of ¥8,000 (including 6.00 USD) was collected from the Brethren present.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS:
Voting on proposed resolutions: The discussion of the proposed Constitutional Amendments generated many pertinent questions which were answered in detail by MWB Watanabe and RWB Smith. WB Inomata asked for a show of hands on each amendment and there was unanimous agreement that the Lodge vote as follows on the respective amendments:
Lodge’s website: WB Buda then gave an update on the current status of the Lodge's website and suggested that, to ensure space for further expansion and increase security, the Members' Section be moved to a separate server. The Lodge's public website would remain unchanged, but Brethren wishing to access the Members' Section would be redirected automatically and seamlessly to another server that would provide much greater capacity and flexibility. After a brief discussion, the Lodge agreed to WB Buda's suggestion and WB Inomata instructed him to go ahead with the necessary arrangements.
Lowering the Lodge to the EA degree: After calling the Brethren free from restraint for refreshment, labor was resumed and WB Inomata lowered the Lodge to the EA Degree for the purpose of testing Bro Suzuki on his proficiency in that degree. The examination was conducted in Japanese by MWB Watanabe, and Bro Suzuki’s responses were word-perfect. WB Inomata declared Bro Suzuki proficient in the First Degree and gave the usual EA guidance from the WM which had been postponed from the EA conferral on January 30. He then called the Lodge free from restraint for the purpose of congratulating Bro Suzuki. Bro Suzuki and Bro Adams (FC) then retired informally.
THIRD DEGREE CONFERRAL: Labor having been resumed in the Third Degree, discussion was held on the scheduling of a Third Degree Conferral on Bros Adams and Ishibashi, 24 April being suggested as a possible date. Positions for the Second Section, the Tragedy, were accepted by Brethren who had experience of previous MM conferrals and some of the Lectures.
LOST CONTACT: MWB Watanabe drew the attention of the Lodge to the loss of contact with Bro Jason Kraker and warned that if Bro Kraker did not complete his EA proficiency before June, he would be dropped for non-progression. Bro Jordan reported that although he had not met Bro Kraker for several months, he would do his best to establish contact.
FROM THE EAST: WB Inomata announced the membership of the new Masonic Education Committee and outlined some of its objectives. He then asked RWB Smith to say a few words to the Members of the Lodge. RWB Smith noted that it was always a pleasure to visit Far East Lodge No. 1, and then commented the splendid proficiency displayed by Bro Suzuki.
FROM THE WEST: Bro Sagara expressed concern about Brethren who had stopped attending Lodge in recent months, suggesting that we should be more active in establishing contact with them and ascertaining the cause of their absence.
FROM THE SOUTH: WB Buda supported Bro Sagara’s suggestion and also the WM’s comment about the importance of notifying Bro Secretary of absences, illnesses, and other indispositions
FROM THE FLOOR: Bro de las Alas announced that on April 24th, the Negishi Housing Area would be open to the public and extended a welcome to everyone.
CLOSING: At 16:30 hours, there being no further business on the Secretary’s Table nor the Floor of the Lodge, the WM closed the Lodge in due and ancient form.
There were a total of 17 brethren present including one FC and EA of this Lodge and visitors RWB Don Smith, SGW, and Bro Michel Tsigopoulos, Secretary of Sagamihara Lodge No. 13.
We received regrets from Bros Honda, Wachi, Sneathern, Tatara and Herrera.
APPROVED:
NORIHIRO INOMATA
Worshipful Master
ATTEST:
KAZUHIRO WATANABE, PGM
Secretary