The 583rd 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 November 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.
Our Stated Meeting for November was honored by the official visit of MWB Akira Washikita, Grand Master of the MW Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Japan, accompanied by a deputation of Grand Lodge officers including RWB Donald Smith, Deputy Grand Master, RWB Kazufumi Mabuchi, Grand Junior Warden, VWB Yoshiharu Shimokawa, Senior Grand Lecturer and WB Donald Zamorra, Grand Lodge Inspector for Far East Lodge No. 1. MWB Washikita and his delegation were received with Grand Honors and invited to join WB Inomata in the East.
WB Inomata raised the lodge for a minute's silent prayer in memory of WB Sunao "Tony" Kanemitsu, an Honorary Member of Far East Lodge No. 1 who had passed away on September 9, 2010. After tolling of the chimes the WM ordered the Charter draped for 30 days to honor our departed Brother.
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 November 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 2 October and they were APPROVED AS READ.
The Treasurer's Report for the month of October was reported 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: None.
BALLOTTING: WM of the Lodge reported that the Committee of Investigation had submitted a favorable report on the petition of Mr. Shunji Susuki. He was then elected to receive the Degrees of Masonry in this Lodge by ballot of the member present.
CORRESPONDENCE: The Secretary announced the Monthly Bulletin of 20 October and introduced letters from YIWC and Mrs. Kanemitsu, all of them tacked on the bulletin board in the Conference Room.
CHARITY: Amount of ¥14,011 (including ¥850 donation) was collected as alms for November from the Brethren present.
SICK AND VISITATION: Negative report.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
It being the month of November, the WM read out the required Article and Section of our By-laws forbidding discussion and solicitation before the election or nomination of lodge officers in December.
NEW BUSINESS:
Charity Donation: MWB Watanabe advised that he had received a letter from the Yokohama International Women's Club asking the Lodge to once again contribute to the Club's annual Christmas Party for Japanese orphans. MWB Watanabe moved, and it was duly seconded, that the Lodge contribute half the amount of 50,000 yen, the other half being contributed by Lodge Star in the East No. 640. The motion was carried unanimously.
Dropped for Non-progression: No contact having been made with Bro Peter J. Kraker since his initiation on June 27, 2009, MWB Watanabe proposed that Bro Kraker be dropped for non-progression. There were no objections but Bro Alawn Jordan offered to make one last effort to contact Bro Kraker and it was decided to postpone action for another month.
Proposed BBQ sponsored by Yokosuka Lodge No. 20: MWB Watanabe reported that he had been informed of a BBQ sponsored by Yokosuka Lodge No. 20 to be held at the Ikego Housing Area on November 13. He asked the visiting Brethren from Lodge No. 20 for further details and these were provided by Bros King and Roussellot.
EDUCATIONAL TALK: The Lodge was then called free from restraint to allow our EAs and FCs to join us for a 'Walk Around the Lodge' session of Masonic Education. Conducted by Bro Takashi Tsuji, SD, Bro Yutaro Suzuki (FC) was led around the Lodge and introduced to each of the Lodge's officers. Narration was provided in English by Bro Anderson and in Japanese by Bro Ishibashi.
THE MM CONFERRAL: After Bro Suzuki had retired from the Lodge and the Brethren had resumed labor in the Third Degree, WB Inomata allocated floorwork assignments for a Third Degree conferral to be held on November 27 for Bro Suzuki. The scheduling of a proposed initiation ceremony for Mr. Yasumitsu Hoshi and Mr. Shunji Suzuki was deferred to a later meeting, in January maybe.
GRAND MASTER'S COMMENTS: There being no other business before the Lodge, WB Inomata thanked the Grand Lodge deputation for attending our Stated Meeting for November and invited MWB Washikita to address the Lodge.
MWB Washikata complemented the Brethren of Far East Lodge No. 1 on their fine Temple building and on their reputation as one of the oldest and most active lodges under the Grand Lodge of Japan. He then contrasted this with some of the problems being experienced by Kyoto Masonic Lodge No. 5 and his mother lodge, Torii Masonic Lodge No. 6 in Nagoya. After the closure of Lodge No. 5, its property and furnishings had reverted to the Grand Lodge of Japan. A few days earlier, MWB Washikita had authorised the creation of Lodge Mikado (Under Dispensation) in Kyoto but this new lodge was currently without a place to meet. Torii Masonic Lodge No. 6 in Nagoya had been using a building which infringed on the property owned by its neighbor, who had been cooperative in permitting this state of affairs to continue uncontested. This neighbour had, unfortunately, passed away and the current owner was demanding either compensation for the use of his land, or full restoration. This matter was in the hands of lawyers who had advised that Lodge No. 6 was in a weak position.
During his term in office, MWB Washikita hoped to supervise the establishment of Lodge Mikado UD, to resolve the land problems of Lodge No. 6, and to create new Lodges in high-density urban areas of historical importance such as Osaka and Kobe.
WB Inomata thanked MWB Washikata for his informative address and then proceeded to close the Lodge.
CLOSING: At 15:55 hours, there being no other business, WB Inomata proceeded to close the Lodge in due and ancient form.
There were a total of 17 MMs of this Lodge present with one FC and petitioners. We also received the GM and with his 4 GL Officers plus 2 Brethren from Yokosuka Lodge No. 20, Bro King and Bro Rousselot.
APPROVED:
NORIHIRO INOMATA
Worshipful Master
ATTEST:
KAZUHIRO WATANABE, PGM
Secretary