The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-02-04
CHINESE MAS0NS.
A Curious Lodge Of Them in New
York-Thcir Meeting Place.

Old Masons we're, until late, of the
opinion that no such thing as Chi
nese Mason existed. One gentleman
said he had seen Arabs and Turks who
were good Masons, but to the best Of
his knowledge, no Chinaman was in the
order. Nevertheless, there are not only
Chinese Masons, but also in New York
there is Chinese Masonic lodge in full
blast with q membership of over three
hundred. 1t is native organization,
not allied directly to the Free and Ac-
cepted Masons, but said to be founded
on principles very nearly akin.
The lodge room is at No. IS Mott
street, second floor, front, in New York
city, and has recently been remodelled
and retitted in very good shape, all new
ly painted and cleaned. The lodge fur
nitire is of Chinese design, and i'm
ported from China expressly for the So
ciety, at great expense. A tall flag
staff, with rope for running up colors,
is on the top of the building. Above
the door rs 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 business of the order.
The interior is like most Chinese
quarters, only lighter, and not full of
odd turns and unsupported corners.
Immediately on entering one is led into
a sort Of ante-room and thence into the
main or lodge room. At the lower end
of this room is the altar, and q very val
liable one it is, costing in China 1900.
Above 1t is an alcove i'll which n colored
drawing is suspended. 1t is not the
least curious thing in the place, the de-
sign being three figures, one seated and
two Others bending over his shoulder.
The seated figure represents the veneer
able father of Chinese Masonry. The
face is heavy, placid and adorned with |
q long black beard. The other two are |
respectively the spirits of light and !
darkness, who are supposed to be Civ
ing him counsel. In front OF the altar |
lamp is hung. 1t is never extinguish.
ed, and burns in commemoration Of the |
dead of the order. Another emblem is
two sticks of sandalwood punk thrust
ihto 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 mem
bers voted on in the New York lodge.
Near the roster hangs two books. One
of these is sent ont from the Supreme
Lodge at San Francisco, and gives
detailed 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 subscribed
are entered. At intervals these two
books and the amount raised are trans
mitted to the Supreme Lodge, from
which the dependent members are re-
ieved.
Meetings are not held upon regular
nights, but at intervals decided upon
by the diSnitaries of the order, as the
necessities of 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. This
fiaS is white and bears the picture of q
huge red dragon with its tail towards
the point. There are grips, signs and
passwords exactly as in an American
lodge. "The travelling card of this
society is quite q curiosity in itself. 1t
Is square of red silk inscribed
with Chinese characters, and is q
document highly priced by all its pos.
SCISSORS.