The 590th 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 June 2011.
A lodge of MM's was opened in due and ancient form at 13:00 hours with WBro Inomata, WM in the East, Bro Sagara, SW in the West, and Bro Tsujii, JW in the South.
By the 3 distinct knocks from outside and Tyler informs us that MW GM of Japan with his G Officers visited us. WM ordered to Marshal to receive him and the Lodge receive them with Grand Horner.
WM then recognized the Distinguished Brethren as listed in the Tyler's register of this date.
And he that this being our Stated Meeting for the month of June 2011, the first order of Business would be the reading of the minutes of our last Stated Meeting and all subsequent Special Meeting. The Secretary read the minutes of our Monthly Meeting held on 14 May and was APPROVED AS READ.
The treasurer report for the month of May reported by the Treasurer which he moved and it was seconded that the report 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 followings:
RECEPTION OF PETITIONS: After the Lodge has closed, Candidate, Mr. Miyauchi submitted his petition for degrees with his Initiation Fee.
BALLOTTING: None.
CORRESPONDENCE: The secretary announced the Monthly Bulletin of 25 May and draft GLEC Minutes of 26 March had tapped on the Bulletin Board in the conference room.
And Secretary announced following correspondences; May 21 from GM on Mr. Ikegami had sentence expulsion by his un-masonic conduct; May 17 from Children Fest. Com. For their thanking mail for donation and May 28: from TMA, asking for nomination of Counselors.
CHARITY: Amount of ¥12,993 was collected from Brethren present.
SICK AND VISITATION: Negative report.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Annual Dues of this Lodge: The Lodge returned to its ongoing discussion of the necessity for increasing its annual dues to cover the Grand Lodge's 'head tax'. WB Inomata summarized the discussion thus far by noting that most Brethren had voiced their approval of a substantial increase in annual dues. He then asked WB Buda, Treasurer, for his opinion. In response, WB Buda informed that many US Grand Lodges changed their head tax from year to year, creating much confusion among daughter lodges. To avoid this confusion, a majority of lodges under such constitutions raised their dues in infrequent but relatively large increments, these increments being sufficient to cover several consecutive head tax increases and obviating the need for frequent changes to lodge bye-laws. WB Buda voiced his support of an increase in annual dues from the current 6,000 yen to approximately 10,000 yen, a sum comparable to that charged by many other lodges, and sufficient to cover several future increases in head tax. MWB Watanabe, Secretary, said he fully agreed with WB Buda and further suggested that changes to our Bye-laws could be kept to a minimum if the annual dues were expressed as a multiple of the current Grand Lodge head tax. He would draft a provisional revision to the relevant section of our Bye-laws and present it for consideration at a future meeting.
DONATION FOR TSUNAMI DISASTER: Bro Tsujii, JW of this Lodge handed amount of 36,000 JPY plus 22.00 USD to Secretary and donate it to the said fund for disaster. The amount which supposed to be a fee for Hanami Party of families has been canceled by the disaster.
NEW BUSINESS:
FC PROFICIENCY TEST: At 14:10 hours, the Lodge lowered to FC degree and the test upon Bro Ericson and Bro Suzuki. They were tested separately in English by Bro Anderson. At the conclusion of the examinations, WB Inomata declared both Brethren fully proficient in the Fellowcraft Degree and called the Lodge free from restraint for the purpose of congratulating Bros Erickson and Suzuki and also taking a short break.
MASONIC TALK: After the break, with the Lodge still free from restraint in the Second Degree, WM Inomata invited WB Buda to give another in his series of Masonic talks. WB Buda chose the topic of "Masonic Authority" to complete and conclude an earlier talk on "Masonic Behavior". WB Buda noted that the answer to the question, "What is Masonic Authority?" can, like the answers to so many other questions, be found in our ritual, in our Bye-laws, and in the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Japan. Quoting from the First Degree Charge as given in Lodge Star in the East, WB Buda noted that all Entered Apprentices are charged to exhibit a 'perfect submission to the will of the Worshipful Master and his Wardens when acting in the discharge of the duties of their respective offices.'
'Perfect submission' to someone's will may sound ominous and undesirable, but it is important to place it the context of the second part of the quotation. All Masons are obliged to accept the authority of the Worshipful Master and his Wardens and, at a higher level, of the Grand Master and his Grand Lodge officers, but only when those Brethren are acting in their elected or nominated capacities. Many younger Brethren are unclear about the chain of Masonic authority and assume that authority comes with age, experience and seniority. Such is not the case, and this misunderstanding can lead to dissent and disharmony in lodge.
No matter how senior or respected a Brother may be, unless he is acting as a Worshipful Master or one of his Wardens, his orders and opinions have the same authority as those of any other Brother, all being on the level. WB Buda then gave two examples of problems arising when younger Brethren blindly follow the lead of senior Brethren on the assumption that they are acting with Masonic Authority. WB Buda urged all Brethren to be cautious and to use their common sense when advised or instructed by senior members. He encouraged them, when in doubt, to discuss the matter with the WM.
COMING SCHEDULE: After WB Inomata had resumed labor in the Third Degree, a discussion was held on the scheduling of future degree work. However, the conferral of the First Degree on Mr. Mukai, the raising of Bros Erickson and Suzuki, and the Second Degree Proficiency examination of Bro Yamada were all dependent on the availability of the candidates and members of the lodge. A Special Meeting was tentatively set for 25 June, and a provisional First Degree work assignment made by the WM to initiate Mr. Mukai.
CLOSING: At 15:35 hours, there being no other business from the West, South, Secretary's desk or floor of the Lodge, our distinguished visitors were invited to say a few words. WB Zamorra said he had thoroughly enjoyed serving as the Lodge's Inspector in the previous year and was delighted to have been re-appointed to the same position. RWB Takeda brought fraternal greetings from Yuai Lodge No. 11 and hoped that today's visit by several members of that lodge would serve to strengthen fraternal ties. Finally, MWB Smith noted that Far East Lodge No. 1 continued to attract a constant stream of new petitioners and was being kept busy with degree work. He hoped that this gratifying tendency would continue. He praised the quality of the Lodge's work and its program of Masonic education and expressed his intention of again visiting Far East Lodge No. 1 in the near future.
WM Inomata then asked MWB Smith to accept the gavel and close the Lodge in short form.
Peace and harmony prevailing, this lodge was closed at 15:55 hours with WB Inomata, WM in the East, Bro Sagara, SW in the West, and Bro Tsujii JW in the South.
There were total 21 MMs (in which 13 were of this lodge, MWGM with his GL Officers, RWB Takeda, JGW and WB Zamora, GLI and 5 MMs form Yuai Lodge No. 11). We had also 2 FCs of this lodge and one potential Candidate.
Regrets had received from Bro Taiki Ogawa and Bro Al Jordan.
APPROVED:
NORIHIRO INOMATA, PM
Worshipful Master
ATTEST:
KAZUHIRO WATANABE, PGM
Secretary