MWB Watanabe | Bro Tei | Bro Honda | MWB Katagiri | Bro Tatara | Bro Takeda | WB Kanemitsu | Bro Ogawa | Bro Sagara
The second meeting of Far East Lodge No. 1 this month was a Special Meeting to confer the Second Degree of Freemasonry on Bros. Akihiro Tatara and Yoshikane Tei.
Several last-minute apologies necessitated urgent reshuffling of the work assignment for this degree but at 1:00 pm the Lodge was opened with WB Buda, acting Worshipful Master in the East, MWB Katagiri, acting Senior Warden in the West, and MWB Watanabe, acting JW in the South. The Senior Deacons' place was taken by Bro. Sagara and Bro. Takeda took over as Junior Deacon.
After the Lodge was opened in the Third Degree, Bro. Buda thanked the Brethren for taking time from their busy schedules to support the Lodge and come to the Temple on such a hot and humid day.
MWB Watanabe | Bro Tei | Bro Honda | MWB Katagiri | Bro Tatara | Bro Takeda | WB Kanemitsu | Bro Ogawa | Bro Sagara
WB Buda then lowered the Lodge to the First Degree for the purpose of hearing Bro. Tei's proficiency test. He was examined by MWB Watanabe in Japanese and at the end of the examination WB Buda declared Bro. Tei proficient in the Entered Apprentice Degree. Bro. Buda then raised the Lodge to the Second Degree and Bros. Tatara and Tei, having been duly and truly prepared, gave three distinct knocks at the door of the Lodge and were admitted.
Bro. Sagara conducted the candidates with the help of Bro Takeda, and briefly assumed the office of WM to give the Obligation in Japanese. The Working Tools of the degree were presented by Bro. Honda.
For the Second Section of the Degree, MWB Watanabe took over as Senior Deacon and Bro. Honda replaced him in the South. MWB Watanabe gave the Staircase Lecture, the Letter G Lecture, and the Charge, all in Japanese. At the end of the ceremony, MWB Watanabe returned the gavel of the Lodge to WB Buda and WB Buda proceeded to raise the Lodge to the Third Degree and then close it in short form.
Bro Tei | WB Kanemitsu | MWB Katagiri | MWB Watanabe | Bro Tatara | Bro Takeda | Bro Honda | Bro Sagara | Bro Ogawa
The double Second Degree conferred today has reduced somewhat the number of brethren and petitioners waiting for degree work, but the Lodge promises to be extremely busy for many months to come. We now have three Entered Apprentices and three Fellowcrafts making steady progress, and two candidates are waiting to be initiated. We hope to confer the First Degree of Freemasonry on those two candidates at our Regular Meeting on July 7, 2007.
Bro. Secretary also reports that he has received enquiries from four possible petitioners. With so many Japanese members joining the Lodge, the burden of performing degree work in the Japanese language continues to fall on the able shoulders of MWB Watanabe, MWB Katagiri, and WB Masaki. It is reassuring to note, however, that many of our youngest Master Masons are willingly and enthusiastically helping out with degree work, and should soon be taking the weight from the shoulders of their illustrious mentors.