Wichita eagle., 1889-01-25
CHINESE MASONRY.
Brief History Of a Powerfus Organ
iZatiOn of Rebels.
The Laws. Regulations and Influence OF
the Order of Chez Kung Tonx-Ths
Terrible Punishment Melted Out to
Unfaithful Members.
tSan Francisco Alta.1

iSan FRANCISCO Alta
''Tell me; what is the story contained in
hose papers in your iapr' said the report
er, instinotively producing his note book
and pencil.
''It's brief history Of the Chinese order
of Masons. Now, / suppose you think
theirs is like all other Masonry, and a
branch of the great organization estab-
lished by King Solomon. You must dis
abuse your mind on that score, if such is
your opinion. To be sure it Is a society for
mutual benefit and protection, but its orig
inal and present purpose as well, is entire
ly revolutionary. The birth of the order
occurred soon after the Mongoians in
vaded China and established the present
Ming dynasty, which is nearly four hundred
years old. The society was composed of the
old Chinese mobiles and their followers
who were opposed to the new Emperor.
Their numbers were naturally small at
irst, but the years added to their strength.
Each member educated his children to
belief in the doctrines of the order, until
low their numbers include nearly one
third of the entire population of the En-
pire. There are also about thirty thou
sand in the United States. The influence
of the society is naturally very great
From its inception, four centuries ago, the
tociety has instigated innumerabie rebell-
ions, and all the members naturally i'm
Dibed strong martial spirit. AS conse-
quence the order has developed many
famous soldiers, and among them the
great General 10y zee, who, at the age OF
eighty years, was the Commander-in-Ch Chief
of all the forces of the Empire. His APP
pointment to this position was, of course,
a measure adopted by the Emperor TO con-
ciliate the society TO which be belonged.
Many of China's foreign Ministers alsoowe
their positions to this policy. Being states
men of great ability they naturally be-
come power to be feared by the Govern
ment, and are accordingly appointed as
Ambassadors to some foreign court in or
der to get them out of the way. Chin Lin
Pan, the first Minister TO the United States,
was one of these, and il the truth were
known, would not be surprised IL every
Minister since was a Chinese Mason, or n
member of the Chez Kung Tong, as the
society is called. You will gain some idea
of the strength of this organization when
inform you that the great Tai Ping re-
bellion of 80 was brought about by its
leaders and fought by its soldiers. The
famous armies known as the Black Flags
and Yellow Flags, which performed such
bloody work in Tonquin during the recent
war with France, were also composed en-
tirely of the members OF the Chez Kung
Tong and led by its officers The head
quarters of the order are in the district Of
Quong Ton, or Canton, as it is known TO
Us. The queue worn to-day by the Chinese
people is a symbol of their bondage 70 the
Monaghan Emperor, and is constant re-
minder to them Of their subsection
The rites Of the society," Yes. know
something Of them, though there ara
so many and in such infinite variety
that my knowledge OF them is neces-
sarily limited. There ars thirty-thres
oeths 70 be taken, and regular castiron
ones, too, before an applicant can become
q fully constituted member OK the society.
he can, however, withdraw before taking
the last oath, provided be promises eternal
secrecy about what he had previously seen
and heard Of the ritual II this agreement
should be violated, or q member Of tbs
order should in any way disgracs himself
in the eyes Of his brothers. punishment,
swift and terrible, is rns.ed oct 20 him Ia
China II is death, bat in this country ths.
Is impossible, though they 20 through ali
the formula Of az execution without tbs
FINAL elimination The accused IL always
allowed . trial, but is seldom acquitted 1
The wise men and patrtarchs Of the order i
assemble together upon ths. occasion IL 4
some one Of tSeir toss-houses and there 4
the accused aud sccnsers are brought
before them The latter step forward frs: i
and, proe.rating Themselves upon the I
floor a. the feet of TIE oldss. OF The wise
men they present their charges The az
c1sed then pr0s.r&tes himself and places
tie foot Of the wise men upon bis reek as
o sign Of submission After tbs he tells
bis versioz OF the story, ski fat upon his I
stomach OF tie eoor When this Il ovsr
the head man ANNOUNCES h.s decision In a
hong arS impressive speech, which IL IN
te-r1ptsi 81 the sEd Of every sentence By /
The others prcs;rAing themselves AID at
tsY5nz words Of assent TIE Judge rerf
eaaps his hsods aud IN Comes the sxsrzs-
.io.er With eng sxors AID q ~oossa
bo~L the latter being for TIE pary.ess a.
catching sks blood that IL nos sDslIs4 Go