Bros Suzuki and Bro Erickson, the Lodge's newest Fellowcraft Masons
April 2, 2011May 14, 2011June 4, 2011
As mentioned in previous News reports, Far East Lodge No. 1 continues to receive an encouraging number of petitions for membership. Initiating these petitioners and conferring upon them the higher degrees of Masonry resulted in long waiting times and stretched the Lodge's resources to the limit. Two years ago it was decided to separate business meetings from degree conferrals and since then the Lodge has been holding two meetings on most months of the year: a Stated Meeting at which we take care of business, and a Special meeting at which we confer a degree.
Recently, however, more and more members have been finding it difficult to adjust their work schedules to include a second meeting each month, and attendance at our conferral meetings has been low. The May Stated Meeting of the Lodge was unusual in that we combined a regular business meeting with a Second Degree conferral upon EAs Bros Shea Erickson and Shunji Suzuki.
Bros Suzuki and Bro Erickson, the Lodge's newest Fellowcraft Masons
To save time, a proposed discussion of the new Grand Lodge Head Tax and the Lodge's response was shelved until our June meeting. In addition to the usual items on the agenda, a ballot was held on the application for membership of Mr. Junichiro Mukai and the Brethren of Far East Lodge No. 1 duly elected him to receive the degrees of Freemasonry in our Lodge.
Bro Sagara, Acting WM, congratulates Bros Suzuki and Erickson
Because of the unavoidable absence of WB Inomata on a business trip to the Philippines, Bro Sagara (SW) took over in the East and WB Buda (Treasurer) replaced him in the West. Bro Tatara (Tyler) acted as Junior Deacon and Bro Yutaro Suzuki as Tyler.
The candidates were conducted by Bro Taniuchi (SD), the Obligation and Secrets were given by Bro Sagara, the Working Tools by Bro Yutaro Suzuki, and the G Lecture by Bro Jordan. All work was conducted in English. The Staircase Lecture had been assigned to Bro Anderson, but two weeks before the meeting he informed Bro Secretary that he would be out of the country on the day of the meeting and Bro Tsujii (JW) agreed to step in and deliver the lecture. Despite being given only two week's notice, Bro Tsujii gave an exemplary lecture, guiding the newly obligated FCs through the porch of King Solomon's Temple, up the winding staircase and through the outer and inner doors of the the Middle Chamber. His perfect rendition of the lecture was greeted with applause. The Charge, again in English, was given by WB Buda, after which the Lodge was called free from restraint for the purpose of congratulating our newest Fellowcrafts. After they had departed the Lodge, Bro Sagara resumed labor in the Third Degree for the dispatch of outstanding business.
The Brethren of Far East Lodge No. 1 after the closing of the Lodge
From the West, WB Buda reported that their had been a theft of items of old regalia from Lodge Star in the East's half of the glass cabinet in the Conference Room. He was still investigating the circumstances of the theft. He suggested that all Masons using the Temple could help with security by keeping a careful eye on Temple furnishings and reporting anything unusual to the Secretary or WM.
From the South, Bro Tsujii reported that he and Bro Yutaro Suzuki had visited Kokusai Lodge No. 15 and brought fraternal greetings from WB Carrano, the WM of that Lodge. Bro Tsujii also reported that he and Bro Suzuki were coordinating the activities of the Temple Maintenance Committee.
There being no other business on the Secretary's Table or from the floor of the Lodge, Bro Sagara (acting WM) closed the Lodge in due and ancient form.
Our next meeting will be the Stated Meeting for June to be held on the first Saturday of the month. Although the agenda items of this meeting have not been finalized, WB Inomata has invited WB Buda to give another in his series of short Masonic Education lectures.