Weekly Trinity journal., 1871-10-07
SATURDAY. /, OCTOBER =, 1871
LETTER FROM "JACINTO."

DOUGLAS CITY, October g. 1871.
DEAR JOURNAL Tuesday evening last, while
was quietly sitting in the dollhouse, thinking
of home and friends far away, Chinaman in
truded himself and, without further ceremony,
commenced interviewing me in the following
style:
4" You alice same Jake Pausen ?"
"Not exactly" informed him t'if the Court
knows itself. Mr.. Paulsen is a Democrat, and
am Republican-quite a difference" He then
said:
"Jake Paulsen one apron-man John Kellogg
alice same me see him Weaver"
began to comprehend him, and told him
that did belong to the Ancient Order of Free
and Accepted Masons--Kelogg and Paulsen
" alice same"
He informed me that he was delegated and en-
powered with authority to extend me an invita-
ton to visit their Lodge that evening, at pre-
cisely 8 o'clock.
Thinks | to myself here s good thing if |
can only save it. had often heard of Chinese
Masonry, but had my doubts of such n thing
having any existence whatever. l went over to
Douglas City and found one Mason (Chares
Lobdell) willing and in fact as anxious to test
this matter as myself. At the precise hour, we
presented ourselves at the door of their Lodge
for admttance but was rather viciously told to
"gitl" Resolved not to be bluffed off in that
fashion, we went in search of our friend, Ching
Wong Pung, who told US to follow him. We
did so. We were ushered into Lodge and es-
corted around the room.
The first thing shown US was their Constitu-
ton. After surveying this instrument, Won
dered to myself, " Can this be the sacred docu-
ment the Democrats blow so much about2" We
praised it and passed on to their Chart This
was really handsome. Their church, ships,
houses, flags, doors with sentries stationed on
the outside, and many other things could not
understand adorned the face of it. A countless
number of candles and tapers were burning a
carpet partly covered the floor a huge table
was spread with, as our landlords have it, " the
best the market affords ~ in the center was an
old Chanticleer roasted whole and looking quite
inviting.
1t was about o'clock when the Master, dress
ed in priestly robes and with red sash around
his head, made his appearance. AS he paced
the floor with firm and stately tread, he re-
minded me of Bertrand colt at a Kentucky State
Fair.
The Master, or High Priest as | shall call him,
approached the altar, kneeled down, and thought
he was never going to get up any more. He
was all the time muttering something which |
of course did not understand, but it must have
been solemn and impressive, judging from the
countenances of the " brethering." got tired
and asked Charley if he thought it was paying,
and as every Chnaman seemed to smoke when
and as much as he pleased, we pulled out our
" dudeens," filled and lit them and set back to
enjoy ourselves until mething of more interest
to us could be seen.
The High Priest remained on his knees about
and hour and a-half He then got up and taking
several pieces of red paper covered them all over
with hieroglyphics, set them on fire and scat
tered them on the loor Then taking up bowl
containing some fluid substance sprinkled the
contents over us, and then down he went on his
knees again.
This old fellow so far had been the center OF
attraction. AS yet had seen no other officer
except one old chappy in the corner who seemed
to be very busy with pen, and whom I took to
be the Secretary.
Finally the High Priest called Chinaman, who
came forward and dropping on his knees COM
menced chant which reminded one of a Dig
ger Funeral, lasting about five minutes. He
then tied a red sash about his head and raising
up was presented with little red flag, similar
to those we had seen on the Chart, and a huge
sabre walking toward the West end of the
Hall, he brought the point down to the floor and
drove it into the plank with thud that made
my flesh crawl. We raturely enough took this
fellow to be the Tyler, but several more went
through the same thing, arranging themselves
in two rows across the Hall.
Other officers to the number of fifteen or six
teen went through about the same thing as near
as we could tell, but were retained longer upon
their knees and their chant was louder and
longer the High Priest presenting them whilst
n this position with first one, then two then
four, and then six tapers. In presenting them