Far East Lodge No. 1 News

November 27, 2010December 4, 2010January 8, 2011

After opening the Lodge in due and ancient form, WB Inomata asked the Brethren to be upstanding and observe a moment of silence in memory of WB Francisco Yule who passed away in February 2009, news of his death having reached the Lodge only recently.

WB Inomata then took care of the usual items of business; the Minutes, Treasurer's Report and Payment of Bills all being approved unanimously. He then read the required section of our By-laws concerning the election of Officers.

Three of the Lodge's Master Masons having announced that they were ready to take their MM Proficiencies, Bro Tsuji, SD, tested Bros Adams, Anderson and Ishibashi in English. The WM pronounced all three Brethren completely proficient as MMs.

This being our Stated Meeting for December, the main item of business was the Election and Appointment of Lodge Officers for 2011. With MWB Watanabe and Bro Honda acting as tellers, the following Brethren were elected to their respective offices:

Worshipful Master	Bro Norihiro Inomata, PM
Senior Warden	Bro Masanori Sagara
Junior Warden	Bro Takashi Tsuji
Treasurer	Bro Janusz Buda, PM
Secretary	MWB Kazuhiro Watanabe, PGM

The elected Officers then retired to consult on the remaining offices and the following Brethren were duly appointed to their respective positions:

Chaplain	Bro Masumi Ishibashi
Marshal	Bro Tomio Ogawa
Senior Deacon	Bro Tsuyoshi Taniuchi
Junior Deacon	Bro Taiki Ogawa
Senior Steward	Bro Eric Anderson
Junior Steward	Bro Alawn Jordan
Tiler	Bro Akihiro Tatara

Asked if there was any further business on the Secretary's Table, MWB Watanabe reported the following:

The First Saturday in January 2011 falling on a National Holiday, our Stated Meeting for that month would be held one week later, on Saturday, 8 January 2011. It would consist of a short business meeting followed by an open Installation Ceremony. As in previous years, an Installation Banquet would be held at the Yokohama Country & Athletic Club. The times of our Stated Meeting, the Installation Ceremony and the Banquet would be announced when finalized.
Bro Jordan reported on the status of Bro Jason Kraker, EA, who was under threat of suspension for non-progression. Bro Kraker had been transferred to on-board duty and had been unable to attend Lodge. Considering the unavoidable circumstances, MWB Watanabe suggested that Bro Kraker's status be frozen until his tour of duty ended, and it was so decided.
Bro Secretary reported that a parcel of Masonic publications had been received from Bro Ed Lawson. After the Lodge had been duly closed, the parcel was opened and the contents drew the enthusiastic attention of the Brethren present.

The Brethren examine the contents of a parcel of Masonic books donated by Bro Ed Lawson

Apologies were received from WB Buda and Bro Tamado. A total of 18 Brethren (all MMs) were present and for refreshments we were joined in the Conference Room by candidates-elect Mr Hoshi and Mr Suzuki, and by Mr Mukai, a potential candidate.