Bro Sato | WB Buda | Bro Kajiwara
The Special Meeting held on April 18, 2009 was called for the purpose of conferring the Third Degree of Masonry on Bros Kajiwara and Sato.
The Lodge was honored by the visit of WB Donald Zamora of Yokosuka Lodge No. 20, who had recently been appointed Grand Lodge Inspector for Far East Lodge No. 1. WB Zamora graciously declined the privilege of being received with Grand Honors or taking a seat in the East, and asked the WM if he could sit on the level with the Brethren of the Lodge, as he had done on previous visits. After the Lodge had been opened in due and ancient form with WB Buda, WM, in the East, Bro Inomata, SW, in the West, and Bro Sagara, JW, in the South, WB Buda recognized WB Zamora and MWB Watanabe and then welcomed Bros Takigami and Sugita from Yuai Lodge No. 11, presenting first-time visitor Bro Sugita with one of the Lodge's distinctive visiting cards.
Bro Sato | WB Buda | Bro Kajiwara
After giving three distinct knocks at the door of the Lodge, Bros Kajiwara and Sato, FCs, were admitted and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. Most of the ritual was conducted in Japanese, with Bro Sagara giving the Obligation, Bro Tamado the Working Tools, and Bro Inomata the Lecture of the Degree. The Charge was delivered by MWB Watanabe and Bro Tamado read the final exhortation. Bro Sato received the Tragedy in Short Form, and Bro Kajiwara in Long Form.
Before closing the Lodge, WB Buda asked MWB Watanabe to advise the Lodge of its upcoming schedule of degree work. MWB Watanabe said that it might be possible to combine our Stated Meeting of May 9, 2009 (postponed because of Golden Week) with a Second Degree for Bro Anderson, who had already proved his First Degree proficiency. Although we have two elected candidates waiting for Initiation, WB Buda remarked that if we held a Special Meeting in May, it should be to confer an English-language Third Degree on Bro Jordan. He directed Bro Secretary to ascertain the availability of Brethren for a Special Meeting in late May.
WB Zamora | Bro Sato | WB Buda | Bro Kajiwara | MWB Watanabe
Finally, WB Buda once again thanked WB Zamora for visiting our Lodge as Grand Lodge Inspector, and invited him to give his comments on our ritual, floorwork, and any other aspect of our degree work.
Bros Kajiwara and Sato, the Lodge's newest MMs, with Bro Takigami and Bro Sneathern
WB Zamora kindly praised the Brethren for an excellent Japanese-language Third Degree and said he hoped to familiarize himself more with this version of our ritual. He also expressed the hope that stronger fraternal ties could be forged between Far East Lodge No. 1 and Yokosuka Lodge No. 20, with Brethren of each Lodge visiting each other freely and often.