The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-17 00:00:00

FREEMASONRY IN CHINA.

The initiatory ceremonies take place at night, in 13
secret chamber, in which there is an idol, to which offer-
ings are presented, and before which the oath of secresy
is taken. The Chinese say there are San shih luk s'he,
i.e. " thirty-six oaths." These are, however, probably
so many different particulars, with imprecations against
those who shall disclose the nature and objects of the
society.
A small subscription is given to support the general
expense. Kwo Keaou, or, " crossing the bridge." This
bridge is formed of swords laid between two tables (an
end resting on each), or else set up on the hilts, and
meeting at the points. The persons who receive the
oath, take it under this bridge, which is called " passing,
or crossing the bridge." The pih ko, or chief ruling
brother, sits at the head of this steel bridge (or each
with a drawn sword), reads the articles of the oath, to
every one of which an affirmative response is given by
the new member, after which he cuts off the head of a
cock, which is the usual form of a Chinese oath, inti-
mating "thus let peri,h all who divulge the secret."
But it is said the grand ceremony can only be performed
where there is a considerable number of members per-
sent. They worship heaven and earth on those occa-
sions, and sometimes, when the place is sufficiently
secluded, perform the initiatory rites in the open air.
SECRET SIGNS.—The members recognise each other
by mystic numbers ; the chief of which is the number
th er, probably from their name, " The Triad Society ;"
and adopt odd rather than even numbers, when it can be
done. They say three, three ten times ten, three hundred,
Aroo mvriorl2 nathprthan him fnur times
The word Hung, before-mentioned, contains the num-
ber three hundred and twenty-one, and is often used by
them for particular purposes.
Certain motions of the fingers constitute a second class
of signs; e. g. using three of the fingers in taking up any
thing. If a member happens to be in company, and
wishes to discover whether there be a brother present,
he takes up his tea-cup or its cover (Chinese tea-cups
have always a cover), with the thumb, the fore, and
middle fingers, or with the fore, middle, and third fingers,
and which, if perceived by. an initiated person, is
answered by a corresponding sign. It does not, however,
follow from this that every Chinese who uses three
fingers, in taking up, or holding, his tea-cup, is a mem-
ber of the San ha hwuy, for many of them do it from
mere habit. But there is a certain way of doing it by
the initiated, which they themselves only know. In
lifting anything that requires both hands, they use three
fingers of each hand.
They also have recourse to odes and pieces of poetry, as
secret marks.

CUSTOM-HOUSE SALES.—A question having been
raised respecting the officers of the revenue assuming the duties of
an auctioneer, at the sales by auction at the various ports throughout
the kingdom, at stated periods, of goods of various kinds which
have been wrested from smugglers, or seized in consequence of
some inlbrmality with regard to their importation and entry, or for
being undervalued or otherwise, and which as respects London
took place once a quarter at the Commercial Sale.rooma, Mincing-
lane, as to whether such officers should be required to take out
licenses to enable them to perform the duties required of them in
that capacity, the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have made
a commuuication to the Board of Excise, which has been trans-
mitted to the collectors and comptrollers of Customs throughout
the kingdom, for their information and government,—that they do
not think it expedient that the officers employed in conducting sales
by auction, under the directions of the Commissioners of Customs,
should be required to take out auction licenses for such purpose.
Miss Davenport, the celebrated actress, accompa-
nied by her father and mother, and a theatrical corps,
left London for Hamburgh yesterday morning, by the
General Steam Navigation Company's Mail Packet, John
Bull, on a starring tour

- ywcro--1,- Liffittit •
LIVERPOOL RAGES.
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
The Croxteth Stakes of 15 sovs. each, 10 ft, and 30 added ;
3 yrs old 6st 81b, 4 yrs Bst 21b, 5 yrs Bst 91b, 6 yrs and aged
9st ; mares, ere., allowed 31b. Mile and quarter.
Lord Eglinton's Vaudeville, 3 yrs (Prince) 1
. Mr. Ramsay's Mid-Lothian, 3 yrs
Mr. Jacques's Semiseria, 5 yrs 3
The following also ran : —Sir J. Gerard's Erebus, 3 yrs—
Mr. Meiklam's Trueboy, 5 yrs—Mr. Mostyn's A-la-mode, 4
yrs—and Mr. Worthington's Lancashire Witch, 3 yrs.
Betting--3 to 1 agst Trueboy, 3to 1 agst Mid-Lothian, 5
to 1 agst A-la-mode, and 5 to 1 agst Lancashire Witch.
Won by a length. Mid-Lothian beating Semiseria by a
neck ; Trueboy a respe‘:table fourth.
The Produce Sweepstakes, of 50 Sovs. each, for 3 yrs old colts,
est 61b, and fillies, Bst 31b ; two miles. Off.
The Sefton Stakes, of 30 Sovs. each, for 3 yrs old, mile-and-a-
half.
Lord George Bentinck's Pug, 8.,t 71b walked over
The Mersey, Stakes of 25 sovs. each, with 50 added, fur two
yrs old colts, Bst 71b ; and fillies, Bst 41b ; the second to
receive 50 sovs. out of the stakes. T.Y.C.
Mr. Jones's f Luminary, by Launcelot (Whitehouse) 1
Lord G. Bentinck's Princess Alice
Sir R. Pigot's Birthday
Lord Eglinton's Sotades
Mr. Meiklam's Andrew Brandy
Mr. Mostyn's b c by Phionix, out of L'llirondella
5t04 on Princess Alice, 7to 1 agst Luminary. Won by
a length and a half.
Plate of 60 sovs. for horses that never won 50/. ; the second
to receive 10/. lleats, one mile and a half.
Mr. A. Johnstone's br c by Slane, 3 ye 5......( Lye) 1 4 1
Lord Eglinton's Bretsvalda, 3 yrs
Mr. Mostvn's f Steam, 3 yrs 5 2 3
Mr. Blake's b g by Jack Palmer, 4
.yrs 4 3 dr
Mr. Bennett's Ada, 3 yrs
Lord Chesterfield's Triumvir, 3 yrs
Won in a canter.
LATEST BETTING.
LIVERPOOL Cur.-7 to 2 agst Winesour-5 to 1 agst Lo-
! thario-6 to 1 agst Milton-9 to 1 agst Rowena-10 to 1 agst
Trueboy-12 to 1 agst Extravaganza-10 to 1 agst Corranna
—l5 to 1 agst Ironmaster—and 20 to 1 agst The Dean.
DONCASTER ST. LEGEIZ.---I I tot agst Weatherbit (t)-11
to 2 agst Merry. Monarch (t)—and 40 to 1 agst Mid-Lo-
thian (t).
GooDwooD STAKE-S.-12 to 1 agst Pythia (t)-15 to 1
agst Queen blab-20 to 1 agst Boarding School Miss-20 to
1 agst Warp-20 to t agst Lightning-20 to 1 agst Europa—
and 20 to 1 agst Agis.