Temple Trust Fund

25 January 1977

TO: All The Members of Far East Lodge No. 1, F.&A.M.
Where-so-ever Dispersed

Greetings, Brethren. May this New Year bring each of you Peace, Prosperity and Happiness.

At the Stated Meeting of the Lodge held on 5 January 1977, a proposal was brought on the floor of the Lodge by WB ROBERT L. WILLIAMS, PM, which deserves the most serious deliberation of each member of the Lodge, particularly if it is your sincere desire that the Lodge continue to exist and to fulfill its Masonic duties and obligations. WB BOB’s proposal focused on a perplexing problem and provides each of us with a positive means of contributing to a solution.

Many of you may be familiar with the situation concerning the Temple and property, others may not. Regardless, for the information of all, the essential facts are:

Your Lodge is one of three Bodies occupying and using the Masonic Temple here in Yokohama. The other two Bodies being Lodge Star in the East No. 640, on the rolls of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and Star of the Orient Chapter No. 2, Order of Eastern Star.
Each of the using Bodies are responsible for an equal share of the cost of maintenance, upkeep and taxes on the temple and property.
The mechanics of overseeing the temple and property is vested in a Committee consisting of one representative from each of the using Bodies and one designated alternate. This committee is named the “Yokohama Masonic House Committee” or “YMHC" for short. It is charged with the responsibility for handling all matters that affect the temple and property, for insuring that the temple building, caretaker’s house and property are maintained and that the taxes are paid when due, and for determining the amount of money each of the using Bodies are to be assesed annually to pay the required expenses.
The current assesment paid by each of the using Bodies is ¥300,000 per annum (or $1055.00 at current exchange rates). Until 1976, each of the using Bodies were paying ¥480,000 per annum (or $1685.00) for reasons which will be explained. All assesments, regardless of the amount, must be paid out of the Lodge’s General Fund.

In addition to the assesments received from each of the using Bodies, in 1975 the YMHC began to derive income from rental of parking spaces on the temple property and from rental of the caretaker’s house. The combined monthly income from these sources is approximately ¥130,000 per month (or $455.00) or ¥1,500,000 per year (or $5460.00). Because of this additional income, the annual assesment for each of the using Bodies was reduced to ¥300,000 in 1976. Now, while this may sound like a substantial amount of money (and it is), the following figures are representative of the normal, minimum, annual operating expenses for the YMHC:

YEAR - 1976	AMOUNT ¥	AMOUNT $
TAXES	¥1,329,300	$4665.00
UTILITIES (Electricity, Kerosene, Water)	218,400	765.00
WAGES (Caretaker and Gardener)	564,000	1980.00
MISC. (Telephone, Laundry, Other)	84,000	295.00
FIRE & LIABILITY INSURANCE (Temple, Caretaker’s House & Property)	99,000	350.00

As you can see, Brethren, the MINIMUM operating expenses WITHOUT ANY MAINTENANCE AT ALL is about ¥2,295,000 per annum (or $8055.00) per annum - or ¥192,000 (or $673.00) PER MONTH!!

The TOTAL amount spent in 1976 for maintenance was the grand sum of ¥30,100 (or $105.00). This was NOT because things didn’t need to be done but simply because there were no funds to do anything with! We live in a building that was FIFTY (50) years old in 1976. The last major renovation of the temple was done in 1948 by the US Army. Considerable work needs to be done but until funds can be made available to accomplish the required repairs/renovations, we will continue to put them off until we are forced to do them — as we were with the roof repairs in 1974.

Brethren, at the risk of belaboring the point, it can be easily seen what WILL happen if one or both of the other using Bodies were to go dark and/or the YMHC were deprived of its current outside income. As a bare, absolute minimum, an unbearable financial drain would be incurred. It is very likely that your Lodge would either cease to function or would have to raise the dues and fees to such a figure as to seriously jeopardize its ability to ATTRACT and HOLD members.

Since neither of the foregoing alternatives are acceptable, WB WILLIAMS proposed that the Lodge establish a “TEMPLE TRUST FUND”. Simply stated, the purpose of the Fund would be to provide income in the form of interest or dividends. The income derived to be used ONLY to pay our share of the temple expenses and to build a reserve of funds to have available in the event of natural disaster or when major repairs and/or renovations to the existing structures may be required. It is estimated that a minimum of $25,000-$30,000.00, invested at 6% per annum, is needed to off-set existing annual expenses and allow for some normal inflationary increases in taxes, cost of utilities, wages, etc. When we consider the potential cost of maintenance and repairs to the temple and caretaker’s house and the devastating effect of one or both of the other using Bodies going dark or the YMHC being deprived of outside revenue, it becomes readily apparent that a Trust Fund in the neighborhood of $60,000-$100,000.00 would be much more desirable and practical.

In consideration of WB WILLIAMS’ proposal, the Worshipful Master appointed a committee to study the matter and to prepare and present for the consideration of all of the members of the Lodge a RESOLUTION that would identify the. Fund, state the reason(s) for its creation, list the aims, objectives and policies that would govern such a fund, and to give form and substance to the proposal. Enclosure (1) is the results of their labors.

The Worshipful Master has further directed that the proposed RESOLUTION be sent to each member of the Lodge with the specific request that EACH and EVERY member of the Lodge that can be contacted signify their approval or disapproval of the proposed RESOLUTION since it would be literally impossible to create the Fund without the active, wholehearted support of every member of the Lodge. He further directed that a simple majority of the membership MUST signify their approval, else the proposed RESOLUTION will not carry. Accordingly, Enclosure (2) has been developed for your convenience and is forwarded, together with a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Each and every Brother of this Lodge is specifically requested to complete Enclosure (2) and return it to the Lodge Secretary as soon as possible but NOT LATER THEN 15 March 1977. He has directed that each and every Brother is obligated to respond and that failure to do so will be considered a failure of Masonic duty. Brethren, it is therefore in yours hands for your will and pleasure.

Before closing, the following points are submitted in consideration of the proposed RESOLUTION:

Money contributed to the Temple Trust Fund will be on a STRICTLY voluntary basis. No assesments what-so-ever will be levied. Each Brother would give according to his own personal means and in accordance with the dictates of his own concience.
All funds would be held in permanent trust and would be used only in accordance with the provisions of the RESOLUTION.
Every member who donates will be identified regardless of the number of times they donate or the amount they donate (the amount donated, however, will not be revealed). Names of doners and the collective amount donated will be published in each edition of the Friendly Tips. A special “TEMPLE TRUST FUND” board, similar to our Life Membership Board, will be established. All those who donate a minimum of $100.00 (or equivalent) will have their name engraved thereon together with the date they achieve the $100.00 goal. Sections will be set aside for those who donate $500.00/$1000.00/$5000.00 or more. All members, regardless of the amount donated, will have their names inscribed on a special scroll which will be suitably framed and prominently displayed in the Lodge.

Brethren, the decision is in your hands. Each of you are requested to search yeur heart and mind carefully before responding. It is doubtful if we will ever be asked to make a decision that will have more far reaching effects of the well being and future of our Lodge. All of us here in Japan are convinced that such a fund is most urgently needed, however, we realize that success can only be realized by the active support and contributions of all members. Each of you are requested to dignify your desire by checking the appropriate block on enclosure (2) and returning it to the Secretary not later than 15 March 1977. Those of you who may wish to signify your approval in the strongest manner possible may include your check, made payable to “The Temple Trust Fund, Far East Lodge No. 1, F.&A.M.”, with your vote. In the event the proposed RESOLUTION does not carry, your checks will be returned.

Sincerely and fraternally,

THE TEMPLE TRUST FUND COMMITTEE

ATTEST
THOMAS H. HODGES, PM
Secretary

Enclosure 1

17 January 1977

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Far East Lodge No. 1, F.&A.M., is a tenant activity of the Masonic Temple located at No. 3, Bluff, Yamate-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Japan; and

WHEREAS, there are presently three such tenant units sharing the use of the Masonic Temple, being, in addition to Far East Lodge No. 1, F.&A.M., Lodge Star In The East No. 640 on the rolls of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and Star of The Orient Chapter No. 2, Order of Eastern Star; and

WHEREAS, these bodies share equally in the cost of maintenance, upkeep and payment of property taxes to the city of Yokohama through a Committee known as the Yokohama Masonic House Committee (YMHC); and

WHEREAS, Far East-Lodge No. 1’s share of these expenses is no less than ¥300,000 per annum and would be considerably more if:

One or both of the other Bodies were to go dark.
The Yokohama Masonic House Committee were to be deprived of revenue being earned by means other than assesment of the using Bodies, currently approximately ¥1,500,000 per year.
Major repairs and/or renovations were required to the Temple and/or Caretaker’s house.
A natural disaster, such as an earthquake or typhoon, were to destroy or seriously damage the Temple or grounds, thereby denying use of the Temple and grounds for Masonic purposes; and

WHEREAS, Far East Lodge No. 1’s share of these expenses are being paid from and amount to a considerable drain on the General Fund of the Lodge and effectively precludes the Lodge from fulfilling its Masonic duties and obligations and could potentially be unbearable; and

WHEREAS, it is the firm desire of the Members of this Lodge that the Lodge be free of the present excessive and potentially crippling financial burden of supporting the Temple and property from the General Fund, thereby enabling the Lodge to fulfill its Masonic duties and obligations and avoiding the necessity of continuously increasing dues and fees and/or resorting to emergency appeals for donations in time of financial poverty; and

WHEREAS, it is the firm desire of the Members of this Lodge that the Lodge shall continue “ad finem” to ensure the perpetuation of Freemasonry in the city of Yokohama; and

WHEREAS, the Temple building is more than fifty (50) years old and requires major maintenance to the roof, externals and internals; and

WHEREAS, the Caretaker’s house will soon require additional maintenance and renovation; and

WHEREAS, the property taxes and other mandatory operating costs can be expected to increase annually; and

WHEREAS, the Yokohama Masonic House Committee has exhausted all sources of additional income, other than assesment of the using Bodies; and

WHEREAS, additional funds, when and as required, will have to be provided by the using Bodies; and

WHEREAS, any increase in the assesment currently being paid by the Lodge would only aggrivate the existing problem and increase the drain on the General Fund, to the further detrament of the Lodge’s ability to fulfill its proper Masonic duties and obligations; and

WHEREAS, it is deemed prudent and wise to provide for all real contingencies in-so-far as it is realistically possible:

NOW, THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED:

That a TEMPLE TRUST FUND is hereby established in accordance with the wishes and desires of the Members of this Lodge.
That the Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer and Secretary and their Successors in office be constituted a Standing Committee to administer the TEMPLE TRUST FUND.
That the source of funds for the TEMPLE TRUST FUND shall be by solicitation of donations from the Members of this Lodge; such donations to be given freely within the means and limits of each member’s ability to give, in accordance with the dictates of each Member’s concience and ability.
That the sum of ¥397,155 be withdrawn from the General Fund of the Lodge and transferred to the custody and control of the Standing Committee, such funds being the excess of funds donated by the members of this Lodge to effect repairs to the Temple Roof in 1974, and that henceforth no funds designated as TEMPLE TRUST FUNDS shall be intermingled with Lodge funds.
That the Standing Committee shall establish and maintain records which shall shown the receipt, use and disposition of the TEMPLE TRUST FUND and shall render annually in January of each year a complete report to each member of the Lodge of all transactions which transpired during the proceeding year.
That the Standing Committee shall cause all donations, hereinafter referred to as the Principal, to the TEMPLE TRUST FUND to be invested at all times in reputable stocks and/or bonds. Such Principal to remain intact and unusable, except as may be provided for herein.
That the Standing Committee shall be free to disburse interest earned on the Principal to pay the Lodge’s share of maintenance, upkeep and taxes on the existing property or such other property as the Lodge may in the future acquire, rent, or use for Lodge purposes.
That all interest earned on the Principal in excess of that required to pay the Lodge’s share of expenses shall be added to and invested with the Principal and will not be used for purposes other than as may be provided for herein.
That the Standing Committee shall be empowered to use the Principal of the TEMPLE TRUST FUND only:
1. To pay the Lodge’s share of expenses when interest earned is insufficient for that purpose, but only when sufficient funds are not otherwise available.¹
2. To acquire ownership of existing property or other suitable property for the purpose of perpetuating the Lodge and Freemasonry in the city of Yokohama, Japan.
3. To extend loans to the Yokohama Masonic House Committee when deemed essential for the purpose of making improvements to the existing building and/or grounds which would result in the YMHC deriving additional income or when determined necessary to pay temple maintenance or repairs costs which may be temporarily unavilable from the other using Bodies. All such loans, when approved by the Standing Committee, must provide for the payment of interest at the prevailing rate of interest that would be realized if the funds were to remain invested in reputable stocks and/or bonds.
That no funds can be withdrawn from the TEMPLE TRUST FUND for any other purposes, except as provided for in paragraphs 7, 8 and 9 of this RESOLUTION, unless and until two-thirds (2/3rds) of all the members of the Lodge shall have consented.

¹Recommended by Brother Frederick H. Barberie and adopted by the Committee on 11 April 1977.

Submitted By: THE TEMPLE TRUST FUND COMMITTEE.

Adopted by the Members:

APPROVED:
JAMES F. McGOWAN
Worshipful Master

ATTEST:
THOMAS H. HODGES, PM
Secretary

Enclosure 2

Date:

To:

The Secretary
Far East Lodge No. 1, F.&A.M.

I have read the proposed RESOLUTION and I:
1. ☐ am strongly in favor. My initial donation is enclosed within.
2. ☐ am in favor and will support the Fund within my means.
3. ☐ am in favor and will support the Fund within my means. I would like to see the following specific provisions included in the proposed RESOLUTION if found worthy for adoption by THE TEMPLE TRUST FUND COMMITTEE (attach additional sheets if necessary):
4. ☐ am in favor of trying to do something about the problem but would prefer the Lodge consider handling the matter in the following manner (attach additional sheets if necessary):
5. ☐ am not in favor.
Sincerely and fraternally,

(Signature)