St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-01
CHINESE FREE MASONS.
There Is a Lodge OF Them in New
York---InteriOr OF the Lodge

AhCTC AS IL LouSo "a AuCIl HI NEW
York---InteriOr OF the Lodge
Hall.
They have lodge of Chinese Free
Masons in New York, of which the
World says: 1t is native organization,
not allied directly to the Free and Ac-
cepted Masons, but said to be founded
on principles very nearly akin.
Th e lodge room Is at IS Mott street,
second floor, front, and has recently
been remodeled and refitted in very
good shape, all newly painted and
cleaned. The lodge furniture is of
Chinese design, and imported
from China expressly for the
society at q great expense. A
tall flagstaff with rope for running up
colOrs is on top of the building. Above
the door as one enters the lodge room is
a red sign in native characters signify
ing "Chinese Masonic Society,"" and
down the sides are two long slips of red
paper bearing notices. One OF these is
do good to one another" and the other
relates to the business of the order.
The interior is like most Chinese quar-
tiers, only lighter and not full of odd
turns and unsupported corners. Imme-
diately on entering one is led into sort
OF ante-rOOm and thence into the main
or lodge room. AT the lower end of this
room is the altar, and very
valuable one 1t is, costing
in China $1,000. Above it is
an alcOve in which colored drawing is
suspended. 1t is not the least curious
thing in the place, the design being
three figures, one seated and two others
bending over his shoulder. The seated
figure represents the venerable father
NJ McC 70 &c,
neavy, placid and adorned with long
black beard. The other two are re-
spectively the spirits of light and dark
ness, who are supposed to be giving
him counsel. In front of the altar
lamp is hung. 1t is never eXtinguished,
and burns in cOmmemOratiOn of the
dead of the order. Another emblem is
two sticks of sandalwOod punk thrust
into box of sand. They keep smoul-
dering away and fill the air with faint
but sweet perfume.
On the wall is long board, and on
this are pasted great number of sheets
of paper covered with Chinese hero
glyphics. These are the lists of men,
Near the roster hang two books. One
of these is sent out from the supreme
lodge at San Francisco and gives de-
tailed account of number of cases of
those in distress and sickness and the
whereabouts of each one who needs
help. The other is subscription book,
in which the various amounts SUBJ
scribed are entered. At intervals these
two books and the amount raised are
transmitted to the supreme lodge, from
which the dependent members are re-
lieved.
Meetings are not held upon regular
nights, but at intervals, decided upon
by the dignitaries of the order, as the
necessities of the business may demand.
The members are notified of meetings,
held generally ON Sunday nights, by the
appearance of triangular flag at the
top of the pole on top of the house. The
flag is white and bears the picture of
huge red dragon, with it's tail towards
the point. There are grips, signs and
passwords exactly as in the American
lodge. "The travelling card'' of this So
ciety is quite curiosity in itself. 1t is
square of red silk, inscribed with Chi
nese characters, and is a document
highly priced by all its possessors.