February 26, 2011March 5, 2011April 2, 2011
The absence of Bro. Erickson from our Stated Meeting for March meant that he was unable to take his First Degree Procifiency test. Conversely, Bro Taniuchi, who had been scheduled to deliver the First Degree Lecture at our Special Meeting on February 26, was present, and after WB Inomata had lowered the Lodge to the First Degree, Bro Taniuchi delivered the Lecture in Japanese to the Lodge's newest Entered Apprentices, Bros Hoshi and Suzuki. Despite a mild attack of 'stage fright' before the meeting, Bro Taniuchi gave the lecture in a relaxed manner and was later congratulated on a fine performance.
In addition to the usual items of regular business, MWB Watanabe announced that he had received a Petition for Membership, along with the necessary fee, from Mr. Junichiro Mukai, who joined us for lunch in the conference room of the Temple.
At the conclusion of the First Degree Lecture, WB Inomata called the Lodge free from restraint for a short break, and to allow the EAs, FCs and Petitioners waiting in the conference room to join us for a short talk in WB Buda's series of Masonic Education presentations.
WB Buda chose "Recognizing a Brother" as his topic. With the aid of a simple handout containing the text of quotations from Masonic and historical sources, he examined some of the ways one Brother Mason could recognize another, beginning with that defined in our Ritual.
He reminded the Brethren of their solemn obligation to keep the modes of recognition secret and deprecated the practice, among some Masons, of using Masonic handshakes to distinguish Masons from non-Masons. In describing other methods of recognizing Masons such as lapel pins, badges and accessories, or distinctive vocabulary and phrases, WB Buda warned that none of these was one hundred per cent reliable.
The last in WB Buda's list of modes of recognition was behavior. He examined closely the high standards of private and public behavior to which all Masons should aspire. Horizontals and verticals, as well as squares, levels and plumbs were all symbols of straight, honest, and selfless behavior.
In concluding his talk, WB Buda noted that whereas not everyone exhibiting such Masonic virtues of character was necessarily a Mason, any Mason who did not exhibit such virtues, or acted in contradiction to them, was not entitled to receive full recognition as a Brother, even if he had been regularly initiated, passed and raised and was otherwise in good standing.
A number of questions were asked after the conclusion of the talk, particularly about ways of differentiating between regular and clandestine Masons.
After WB Buda had answered questions from the floor of the Lodge, WB Inomata invited all those below the rank of Master Mason to retire from the Lodge Room, after which he resumed labor in the Third Degree.
Bro Secretary once again raised the matter of the increase in the 'head tax' levied by Grand Lodge. MWB Watanabe pointed out that of the Lodge's 117 current members, no less than 87 were Life Members from whom we did not receive annual dues. He noted that lodges were free to set their own annual dues and that Far East Lodge No. 1's fee of 6,000 yen was one of the lowest in the jurisdiction. Several questions and comments followed and WB Inomata suggested that the matter be given full and detailed examination by an ad-hoc working group.
In other business, MWB Watanabe reported that the coffee-maker in the kitchen had finally broken down after giving years of excellent service. He proposed, and it was seconded and approved, that the Lodge purchase a replacement, the cost to be no more than 10,000 yen. Bro Jordan offered to purchase a large coffee-maker at the base commissary and WB Buda noted that Lodge Star in the East No. 640 would be happy to bear half the cost of the new appliance.
The final item of business was a roll-call of members who could attend this year's Annual Communication. A gratifyingly large number of Brethren announced that they would be able to attend on one or both of the Communication's two days.
Before closing the Lodge, WB Inomata thanked WB Buda for another enlightening Masonic talk and said he looked forward to the next in the series.