Back: Bro Tanicuchi | Bro Tatara | Bro Wachi | WB Otani | Bro Sagara | Bro Honda | Bro Tsujii
Bro. Inomata | MWB Katagiri | HWB Johnson | MWB Setzer | WB Buda | MWB Watanabe | WB Masaki
Far East Lodge No. 1 was honored by a visit from Most Worshipful Brother Michael D. Setzer, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Japan. After WB Buda had opened the lodge, MWB Setzer was received with Grand Honors and invited to take a seat in the East, where WB Buda offered him the gavel of the lodge. After receiving it symbolically, MWB Setzer returned the gavel to the WM and asked him to continue the regular business of the Stated Meeting for July.
Back: Bro Tanicuchi | Bro Tatara | Bro Wachi | WB Otani | Bro Sagara | Bro Honda | Bro Tsujii
Bro. Inomata | MWB Katagiri | HWB Johnson | MWB Setzer | WB Buda | MWB Watanabe | WB Masaki
After raising the lodge for a minute's silence in memory of WB Kazuyuki Kunioka, a member of the lodge who had passed away in 2002, WB Buda directed that the lodge's charter be draped for one month. Among the important items of business that day was a ballot on the petition of Mr Alawn Jordan to receive the degrees of Masonry in our lodge. The ballot proved favorable and it is hoped to initiate Mr Jordan as soon as possible. WB Buda reported on the situation of Bro Booms, a member of our lodge resident in Moriyama City, Shiga Prefecture, who was experiencing difficulties in arranging care and accommodation for his disabled wife and himself.
After concluding all outstanding business, WB Buda invited MWB Setzer to address the lodge. MWB Setzer asked and received the WM's permission to address the Brethren on the level from the floor of the lodge.
MWB Setzer spoke of his plan to visit all lodges under the jurisdiction of the GL of Japan, and commented on the excellent standard of floorwork he had found in many of them. He also spoke of his visits, as GM, to the GL of the Philippine Islands and the GL of Massachusetts. He then turned to the subject of declining membership and pointed out that the prohibition of solicitation did not exclude talking with friends and acquaintances about Masonry. He encouraged Brethren to wear Masonic lapel pins and other identifiying marks, and set an example by the quality of their own life and work. He also stressed the importance of DeMolay in introducing young men to Masonry.
WB Otani congratulates Bros Tei and Bro Suzuki
He encouraged Brethren to hold parties, barbecues and other social events that would enable non-Masons to get to know members of the Fraternity. He said that he would be only too pleased to respond to all invitations to join such events. Finally, he mentioned that he had been moved to see a Past Grand Master kneeling on the floor of the lodge to help an incapacited Brother cast his ballot. This, said MWB Setzer, was Brotherly Love in its truest sense.
After a brief break for photographs, MWB Setzer bid farewell to the Brethren of Far East Lodge No. 1 and the lodge returned to the main item of business that day, the conferral of the Third Degree of Masonry on Bros Tei and Suzuki. The Obligation was given by Bro Sagara, the Working Tools by Bro Honda, the Lecture by MWB Katagiri, and the Charge by MWB Watanabe, all in Japanese.
At the end of the meeting, discussion was held on the possibility of holding a Special Meeting in August, for the purpose of initiating Mr Jordan. Several dates were considered, but as many of the Brethren were unsure of their availability, the WM directed that all Brethren check their schedules and report to Bro Secretary by email as soon as possible.