, 1889-04-18
a CHINESE MASONIC LODGE.
the Yearly ConYscation at the Opera
House Last Night.

The white people having had monop-
oily of entertainments in the city the
Cinnamon OF Port Townsend decided to
break the monotony OF the sconc and
have a little fling Of their own. Accord
ingly, Hoo Sam. member OF the great
Ghee Kung Tong company OF San Fran
cisco and the grand master OF the Ma
sonic order of that city, came over from
Victoria TO hold convocatioR at the
opera house. At half past seven groups
of Cinnamon were seen struggling along
Adams street to Waship~' some OF
them carrying bags, sat uckets,
etc, and one who from -arance
has been well fed, carriet e mensa
paper sacks and two ngpoles. An AR,
GUS reporter was accorded the privilege
of entering within the sscred precincts ol
| the hall and there found the chairs re-
moved from the center of the floor and
wires stretched across the room bearing
banners on which were Chinese charac,
ters. There wore three sets of these
banners on as many wires, and SO placed
as to form gateway in the center OF the
| hall. To the left of tho entrance was 4
| small lunch counter presided over by
| the stout Individual who was seen carry
ing the long poles which proved to be
sugarcane, direct from China About hall
4 kn Ill Ill
| were hung strips of brown muslin on
which were more Chinese letters and be,
meath one was printed number OF
| pagodas, evidently intended to represent
the temples, and an individual sitting on
his "hunkers who was supposed to
represent King Solomon The reporter
sought an introduction to his nibs, Hoo
Sam. His request was granted and al
ter giving the usual sign, Sam, in the
most pure and flowery Chinese told the
reporter that these meetings were held
once each year whenever there WAS a
| sufficient number of candidates. In July
last. when the meeting was at the court
house there were ten mon initiated while
at this meeting there would be twenty.
The Caucasian branch of the first de.
gree was considered shade higher than
the other two. Conducting the reporter
to the front Of the stage, his attention
was drawn to an immense piece of red
and white bunting. on which was painted
| large Chinese sign, which. he was in
formed, represented the square and com
pass, the sign of the order. The grand
master then pointed to table, on which
there were bowls of rice and several tes
pots and cups. The reporters eye wand
cred to the floor and rested on a bucket
also containing rice and q quantity oi
sticks; these were also used in putting
through the candidates. Hooe San
started to explain their uses, but he
switched off on to the Canton dialect
| with which the reporter is not familiar
and he consequently lost the thread oi
the discourse. The high mucks muck
then drew = long stem pipe from his
pocket, and filling it with brand of Chi
nese tobacco, passed it to the scribe, and
upon the invitation of the gentleman,
seated himself by the side OF the table
and was helped to a cup OF the choicest
Oolong. The attentions paid the reporter
by this high-toned heather was evidence
that he WAS not enc of tho people who
complained of the local columns of the
paper he represented.
Finishing his tea tho reporter was then
handed bowl of rice and pair of chop
| sticks, but be drew the line at this po-
lits attention and continued bis pipe at
this moment be was startled by rolling
sound and then bv 3 crash. The cause
was the tire of sn Immense wheel, this
he WA informed vas to represent a
coffin, also used in the first degree.
Presently the crowd increased in num-
| bers and pieces of mating were laid on
the floor and some of tho members
stretched themselves out for q smoke.
By eleven o'clock two men worked
themselves up to q high pitch and got
! into wrangle, which for time, sefmed
as though it would end in free-for-ali-
| fight. Efforts were made TO put the
| unruly members from the hall but the
| attempt failed. One man on reaching
the hallway received an uppercut which
| for a moment staggered him. The fight
grew monotonous, and as the reporter
| was told that "actiye work" would not
begin until after midnight he withdrew.