Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-01-25
LODGE OF CHINESE MAsoNs.
A Native Organization Not Allied
Directly to the Well known 4.
\. NJ.

Old Masons were until late of the
opinion that no sucn a thing as Chi
1ese Mason existed. One gentleman
said he had seen Arabs and Turks who
were good Masons, but. to the best of
his knowledge, no Chiniman was in
Order. Nevertheless, there are not
only Chinese Masons, but right here IN
New \ Iork there is a Chinese Masonic
Lodge in full blast with membership
of over 800. 1t is a native organIZa-
tion, not allied directly TO the Free and
Accepted Masons, but SAID tolbe founded
on principles very nearly akin.
The lodge room is at No. Is Mott
street, second floor, front, and has re-
Gently been remodeled and refltted 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 a
great expense. A tall flagstaff, with a
rope for running up colors, is on top of
the building. Above the door as one
enters the lodge room is red sign in
native characters signifying "Chinese
Masonic Society,"" and down tie sides
are two long slips OF red paper bearing
notices. One of these Is, "Do good
to one another" +" and the other relates
10 Iue business OF the OrQeI.
The interior is like most Chinese
quarters, only lighter, and not full of
odd turns and uususpected corners.
immediately 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 81, 200. Above it is an alcoYe in
NJ iah a 1e
1t is not the least curious thing III the
place, the design being three figures,
one seated, and two others bending
over his shoulder. The seated figure
represents the venerable father of Chi
nese Masonry. The face IS heavy,
placid, and adorned with a long black
beard. The other two are respectively
the spirits of light and darkness, who
are supposed to be giving him counsel.
In front of the altar lamp is hung.
1t is never extinguished, and burns III
commemoratIon of the dead of the
Order. Another emblem is two sticks
of sandal wood punk thrust into a box
of sand. They keep smOulderlng away
and fill the air with faint but sweet
perfume.
On the wall Is a long board and on
Ibis are pasted a great number of
sheets of paper covered with Chinese
hieroglyphIcs. These are the lists of
members voted on in the New York
lodge. Near the roster hang two books.
One Of these is sent out from the Su-
preme Lodge at San Francisco, and
gives a detailed account of a number
of cases of those in distress and sick
ness and the whereabouts of each one
who needs help. The other is a SUBJ
scription book in which the various
| amounts subscribed are entered. AT
intervals these two books and the
amount raised are transmitted to tn..
Supreme lodge, from which the depei.,i.
ent members are relieved.
Meeting are not held upon regular
nights, but at intervals decided upon
by the dignitaries of the order, as the
necessities of business my demand. The
members are notified of meetings, held
generally en- Sunday nights, by the
appearance of a 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 its tail to-
ward the point. There are grips, signs
and passwords exactlyas in an American
odge. The travelling card" of this
society is quite curiosity in itself. 1t
IS square of red silk inscribed with
Chinese characters. and is a document
highly priced by all its pOssessors.