The 581st 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 September 2010.
A lodge of MMs was opened in due and ancient form at 13:00 hours with WB Inomata, WM in the East, Bro Sagara, SW in the West, and WB Buda, JW in the South.
The WM 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 September 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 3rd July and they were APPROVED AS READ.
The Treasurer's Report for the month of July was read by the Secretary due to the absence of Bro Treasurer 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: Bro Secretary announced a Petition from Mr. Shunji Suzuki, Senior Producer of NHK.
BALLOTTING: Ballots were held for two candidates, Mr. Shea Erickson and Dr. Kenji Oomura.
As a result of the ballots Mr. Erickson was elected and Dr. Oomura rejected. The Secretary returned the Initiation Fee (¥50,000) to Dr. Oomura.
CORRESPONDENCE: The Secretary announced that the Monthly Bulletin of 24 July and 21 Aug. and the approved GLEC Minutes of 19 June had been tacked on the bulletin board in the Conference Room.
CHARITY: An amount of ¥9,063 (¥8,863+2.00 USD) was collected from the Brethren present.
SICK AND VISITATION: Negative report.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS:
LOWERING THE LODGE TO FC DEGREE:
WB Inomata lowered the Lodge to the Second Degree for the purpose of testing Bro. Yutaro Suzuki in his proficiency in that Degree. WB Masaki conducted the examination in Japanese, at the conclusion of which the WM congratulated Bro Suzuki for a perfect performance and declared him fully proficient. The Lodge was then called free from restraint for the purpose of congratulating Bro Suzuki.
With the Lodge still free from restraint in the Second Degree, WB Donald Zamora, Grand Lodge Inspector, conducted a Lodge of Instruction on the floorwork in the First Degree. With Bro Adams acting as Candidate, WB Zamora demonstrated the correct manner of movements specified in our Ritual Book. His demonstration prompted many questions, especially about the conducting of two or more candidates.
COMING SCHEDULE:
After labor was resumed in the Third Degree, MWB Watanabe outlined the Lodge's schedule for the coming months.
The outcome of today's ballot had made it difficult to plan further ahead than our Special Meeting of September 25, when we will be initiating Mr. Shea Erikson. Floorwork and Lecture assignments were made for this Degree and an announcement of a revised schedule of conferral will be circulated at a later date.
In Other Business from the South, WB Buda reported that the Members' Section of the Lodge's website was again online. The User ID and Password having been changed, any Brethren wishing to access this section of our site should contact MWB Watanabe, who would provide the necessary login information.
After WB Zamora had been invited to say a few words, greetings and memorial tokens were presented by Bro Kubo on behalf of Bro Scott Zickafoos and Bro Alvin Pangilinan, the accompanying visitors from Square and Compass Lodge No. 3, and he extended a warm invitation for the Brethren of Far East Lodge No. 1 to visit Square and Compass Lodge No. 3. He noted that the two lodges shared a unique characteristic, in that both used their own Temple building and were not based at the Tokyo Masonic Center or on US military bases.
Bro Romadel E. de las Alas rose to bid farewell to the Brethren of Far East Lodge No. 1, as this was his last meeting before he left Japan to take up his new assignment in Tennessee. He invited the Brethren to attend the Change of Charge ceremony to be held on September 24 at the Negishi Base. WB Inomata thanked Bro de las Alas for his contributions to the Lodge, wished him good luck, and hoped that he would be able to maintain contact with the Lodge.
CLOSING: At 16:35 hours, there being no other business, WB Inomata proceeded to close the Lodge in due and ancient form. As usual, during our Stated Meeting several potential candidates made themselves at home in the Conference Room, waiting to resume the friendly conversation of our noontime lunch gatherings.
Present were a total of 15 MMs of this Lodge, plus WB Zamora, GLI, and 4 visitors from Square & Compass No. 3.
Regrets were received from Bros Wachi and Anderson.
APPROVED:
NORIHIRO INOMATA
Worshipful Master
ATTEST:
KAZUHIRO WATANABE, PGM
Secretary