Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-20
BOSTON HIGHBINDERS.
CHINESE SOCIETY THAT is CHARGED
WITH ASSASSINATION.


3trength Of the Order at the Hub-Pro
fessed Aim of the Association the Over
throw Of the Reigning Dynasty in the
Native Land-Initiation Ceremony.
In Boston the highbinders are very strong.
for fully 1000 Celessials must surely belong
to the lodge in this city.
As rule they call themselves "China Free
Masons," and in many respects the order dos
resemble that of Free Masonry, although
there's no connection between them whatever
One of the Chinese names for this society i.
the San-ho-Hoey or Triad society, and the
different lodges throughout the United States
are known by distinctive names or titles
The name of the order means tho Society OF
the Three United, /" that Is, Of heaven, earth
and man, which, according to the imperfect
ideas of Chinese philosophy. imply the three
departments of nature.
In the beginning the objects Of the associa-
ton appear to have been allied to something
like Free Masonry and to have aimed simply
to mutual aid and assistance, but as the mum
bers of the order swelled their views degener>
ated from the laudable ends of reciproca.
benefit to violence and robbery, the over.
throw of the government and the acquisition
of political power by the expulsion Of the
ManchowS In all foreign countries thei,
aims are somewhat different than when al
home, for right in the United States, where
30 many branches Of the society exist, their
objects are mutual defense, piundering ani
other dishonesty. They also engage TO defend
each other from the attacks of police officer,
and to assist members in escaping from justice
A BIG CHINESE JOSS
If one member of the society should feel
himself injured by another man not mem
Der, the others are bound by oaths to take
part in his quarrel and help him revenge
himself. Notwithstanding ali this, the pro-
fessed design of the San-ho-Hoey is merely
benevolent, as appears from their motto.
which translated means:
The blessings mutually share.
The woe reciprocally bear.
The management of each lodge of the order
is vested in three persons, who are called
'ko," or elder brethren, which is the Same
manner in which Free Masons style each
other brothers"
The hall of the Boston lodge of these high
binders is located at No. So Harrison avenue,
in the building occupied by Sam Wah Kee,
of the second floor, being Just over the res
taurant of Moy AUX, the Chinese Delmonico,
who, by the way, is quite a prominent man
in the society. The greater portion of his
trade is derived from these brother highbind
ers, or Free MasoNs." as he insists Oh calling
them.
The hall of the highbinders can be distin-
guished from the outside by its having lace
Il !
signs draped in red, are placed outside below
the windows, upon which the notices of the
order are blazoned.
On holidays the flag of the society is dis
played upon the staff in front of the build
ing, and two enormous lanterns are suspend
ed from short poles attached TO the window
sills
1t was only by the greatest of good luck
that the writer got glimpse at their place, |
for from the way they guard it it must be
sacrilege for white man TO step upon the |
floor
The hall takes I'D the entire second floor, !
and on the whole it is rather a bare looking !
place, the only ornament of any great inn
portance being big Chinese joss before |
which the members of the association are al /
lowed to pray for luck at gambling. success /
In business ana many otner Things
This joss, which is alluded TO with great
reverence by all the Celestials connected with
the society, and is said to have cost great
deal of money was directly imported from
China for the purpose of keeping watchful /
eye over the orgies of the Boston lodge of /
highbinders. 1t is said that a prominent /
Chinaman who recently started for China .
with his family is one of the leading elders OF +
the society, and that it was due to his energy /
and perseverance that this lodge was formed /
As one of the main objects of the association |
is to eventually overthrow the power of the
present reigning dynasty in China, it is
thought that Sam would receive anything
but cordial reception upon reaching his na-
tive land should the emperor become &C.
quainted with his connection with highbind
ers in America.
THE INITIATION.
As near as can be ascertained from obser
walton, study and dint of questioning the
ceremony of initiation takes place about as
follows, and must, indeed. be both curious
o,nI