Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-03-09
MASONRY EVERYWHERE.
OF THE GRANDEsT MASONIC
TEMPLES IN THE WORLD.
Interview with a Magician Who has
Used Grips and Passwords in
All Lands

All Lands.
Next year I shall have been Master
Mason for fifteen years, and during that
time / have travelled every continent on
the globe, and l have visited Masonic
lodges in nearly every civilized country,
writes Kellar in the Brooklyn Eagle. 1
was made Mason in May, 1875, in Pelo-
tas, Brazil. took my first three degrees
in lodge room that had frequently been
honored by the presence of the deposed
Emperor Dom Pedro, who was at one time
an active member of the Scottish Rite
body. The Masonic temple was plain,
substantial building, erected for the pur-
pose it was used for, and stood in the very
center of the town. 1t was plainly ar
ranged and economically furnished. 1t not
only served as the meeting place of the
Blue lodge, but it likewise sheltered the
Scottish Bite bodies, which are much
stronger in Brazil than any of the higher
Masonic bodies Although for many years
the Catholic church in Brazil has been
bitterly opposed to Masonry, think that,
in proportion of her inhabitants, Brazil
has more Masons than any other country
in the world.
After leaving Brazil and South America
l turned my face toward the East, and for
several years after that time lived in the
Orient, studying Masonry and practicing
cenjuring, both to my entire personal and
financial satisfaction. While 1 was in
Port Louis, on the Island of Mauritius, on
the South African coast, l felt the need of
more light, and accordingly received the
| degrees of Mark and Most Excellent Mas
ter and the Royal Arch in Friendship
Lodge. 1 completed my chapter degrees
by taking the Past Masters in Keystone
Lodge, Shanghai, China. This lodge is
under obedience to the Grand Orient of
the United States, and it is composed of
some of the brightest men in China.
While | was in Shanghai l frequently at
tended a native lodge with an unpro-
nounceable name, the translation of which
was the Rising Sun. This was presided
over by Mandarin of one of the highest
ranks. The Senior Deacon was prince,
and the way the work was done would be
revelation to a Western Mason Of
course the Chinese language was spoken,
but the work is almost identical the world
over, and had no difficulty in following
it. | have seldom seen work that was any
smoother or more impressive. 1t was in
the lodge that met Kwong Ii Mel, the
spendthrift son of rich banker, of whom
| shall have more to say before / have fin
ished this article.
In 1880 1 took my Scottish Rite de-
gree in the Triple Esperance Lodge in
Port Louis, Mauritius. This is one of the
largest and oldest lodges in the world. 1t
celebrated its centennial while l was
there. Its building is one of the finest
temples in the fraternity. 1t is constructed
of white marble, only one story high, and
stands in the center of a block. Its roof
covers four acres of land, and it contains
rooms enough to allow every degree in ma
sonry to be conferred the same night and
in different room. The banqueting hall
is as large as the dining-room of the Fifth
Avenue Hotel. The grounds surrounding
shut in from the public gaze by a stone
wall ten feet high. The lodge contains
500 active members and quite as many en-
congo.
Masonry is prohibited in the Philippine
islands, and therefore all lodge meetings
are held in secret. | once attended a meet
ing of the Blue Lodge in the dining-room
of Mr. Barnard, wealthy carriage manu-
facturer, whose house is directly opposite
the Hotel Bala. In Manila, as well as in
China, there are many native lodges, but
the ones / have especially alluded to are
English, although many natives are en-
rolled as members.
On one of my first visits to South Africa
/ accompanied a party of English officers
on hunting expedition. We were on the
plains at the base of the hills and were
having great sport. We had about a dozen
white men in the party and not less than
thirty natives to drive the wagons, take
care of the horses and beat up the game.
We had passed number of springboks
and antelopes, and Lieutenant Miles, who
was my hunting mate, and | bagged our
share. Among the natives l noticed one
man whom I thought l recognized. He
had charge of the teamsters and appeared
to be fellow of more than ordinary intel
ligence. When we broke camp the next
| morning l had little difficulty with one
| of the men whose duty it was to look after
my horse. But when We had mounted and
started out for the days sport forgot all
about the occurrence. 1t appears, how
ever, that the native had better memory.
think it was the third or fourth night
after this l started out on a little tour of
exploration 1t was a glorious night, and
the moon made the landscape as light
as day. l had hardly gone quarter of
mile when felt sharp blow on the head.
The next moment l was unconscious.
When l recovered my senses / found the
| foreman kneeling over me rubbing my
hands.
"What is the matter" I gasped.
"What has happened ?"
at is lucky for you | was near you,"
/ mysteriously replied the negro, in excel
| lent English A few minutes later he ex-
planned to me that he had heard the host
| Ter / had quarreled with made threats
against my life, and he had consequently
| kept close watch upon him. He saw him
follow me this night, and therefore joined
in the chase. Before he could reach me,
though, he saw the fellow hit me on the
back of the head with club. He fred
shot from his revolver and hurried TO my
side, but the would-be assassin had es-
capped. On our way back to camp asked
him why he had taken so much interest in
| III ICpiy hC lCAo Out LIS hfiio, oA4N "
my amazement gave me the grip of Mas
ter Mason. He was member of the ma
tive lodge in Grahamstowp, and knew me
to be member of the craft by the gold
watch charm / always wear.
l have visited Parsee lodges in Bombay,
Persian lodges in Malaga and Bagdad,
English lodges in Great Britain, French
lodges in France, native lodges in Mexico,
Dutch lodges in Java, Spanish lodges in
Cuba and South America. / have seen the
work in Arabia, Egypt, Australia and
South Africa, and it is needless to say that
/ am acquainted with the lodge rooms of
the United States. | mention the range
of my experience to show you that | am
prepared to speak authoritively upon the
subject, and when say that the three first
Masonic temples in the world, according to
my Judgment, are in Philadelphia, Pa;
Port Louis, Mauritus, and Cape Town,
South Africa, 1 expect the statement to
have some weight.
| / have already described to you the Port
Louis temple. The one in Cape Town
rivals it in beauty, and in certain particu-
lars it excels. 1t is the property Of Krap
Lodge. 1t is situated in the center of a
large grove of oak trees, and its various
I 81 l.