The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-12
CHINA'S TRIAD LEAGUE
An Ancient and Law-Defying
Secret Organization.
While ProcIaining High principles
the Societies Absolutely Defy All
Government Authority - Initiation
Into Their Lodges-CeIestiaIs Who
Part with Their Qucues-An Adj
junct to the Boxers.

The Triad Secret Society, which, accord
ing to the dispatches is in league with the
Boxers, is the oldest and most Infamous OF
the many Chinese organizations OF SINH
lar character. Its origin is so remote that
the societys book of rites contains the
statement that it has existed "since the
foundation of the earth" The real name
OF the league is T'ien-Tf Hwey, or Hung
League; the name "Trisd' comes from
"sam-Hop Hwey," the popular title given
to the organization. The society's teaI>i-
ings are exalted to such q degree that many
of them seem TO come bodily out CT the
Sermon on the Mount. Unfortunately,
howver. their practice is different from
their teaching. a more disreputable or
ganization was never created to become
thorn in the flesh of all workers in the
cause of law and order.
About $50 years ago the Ming dynasty
was overthrow by the Tartars. Shortly
after this event the Triads reorganized to
oppose the Manchu conquerors. Since
that time the league has enjoyed a repu-
tation for lawlessness unparalleled even IN
the history of China. its members spread
over the whole of the Far East. Manila
knew of them, to her sorrow. The Dutcn
colonies suffered from their depredations.
AT length when the residents OF Mania
had endured long enough the outraees Oh
the society (Which had made necessary
many times the calling out OF the garrl-
sonl. members of the Triad League were
by law forbidden to come into the colony
The Dutch followed the example OF the
Spanish without loss OF time. Thus driven
ont from their former happy hunting
grounds the T'riads looked for fresh fields,
and found them, as :hey supposed, in Sa-
rawak They descended, 1000 strong, on
the Malays, burned their houses, seized
their ships, and were about to emoarK on
what promised to be career of bloody pi-
racy when Rajah Brooke appeared with
force of Dyaks and defeated them. Singa-
pore has suffered as severely as any colo
ny from the outrages of this society, and
more than once the Triads have taken pos
session of the city. They were officially
suppressed in 1878, but practically existed
until a much later time. In Hongkong
they were from the foundation OF the COZ
ony forbidden to enter, but they have from
time to time creDt in, and have required
the full force OF the law before they could
be restrained.
There is practically no doubt that he
Tatping rebellion was due to the Trlads
About the time of the instigation oil ne
rebellion the Triads had SO openly opposed
the Government that armed resistance was
the only course open TO them. They were
then as lawless a band as at any perlou
of their history, but the leader of the re-
wolf Hung Sau-Tsun, obtained some
knowledge of Christianity, and endeaVore
to purify the society and to urge the s.
adjustment Of a dynasty which sho1i1
rule according to the high principles OF
Jesus and Confucius. king Of the Hea-
ysnly Kingdom of Universal Peace wa 8
the title he gave himself. To his standaI
, fiocked enthusiasts and malcontents OF All
classes; TO prevent desertion these were
branded on the cheeks with the words
'sTsi Ping" But the good resolutions oil
the leader came to naught, as history
tells. The morals of his followers and the
[. iIl-success OF his armies disheartened him.
He became crazed, and the coming OF Cen
| eral Gordon to command the Chinese Army
| completed the overthrow OF the rebellion.
The society is governed by five grand
| masters, equal to one another in power.
| The lodges are ruled by subordinate mas
| tiers. whose power Is absolute. Members
are required to take an oat- OF inpicit
| obedience; they also promise to support
| one another even against the law. Mem
| bers are known to fellow-members by an
| elaborate system of signs. These are so
! many and express such different meanings
/ that communication between the members
/ OF the society is easily carried on and IN
I possible Of detection by an outsider. Dur
/ ing the worst riots ;ouses were mystic
I riously protected by signs that the ordi-
/ nary mortal could not discover, and intor-
nation of the society's doiDgs simply MES
! from enc end of China to the other In
! fact 1t is impossible to exaggerate the ex-
| tent and mystery of the Triads' power
It is said on good authority that a part
| of the initiation ceremony consists In the
cutting off of the queue. 1t must be borne
IN raind that the queue is the badge OF sub
! rission to the Manchu conqueror; hence
the daring of the act and its deep signih-
/ canoe The deed is, In fact, so rash that Il
Is often omitted, and when the ceremony !:
carried out the new member wears false
| queue, or in other ways DISCUSSES the fac
| that the outward and visible sign Of hi
| loyalty is no more.
The perfect organization OF the society
| its we'll known hostility to law and order
and its past career of crime make the an.
nouncement that it has Joined forces Will
the Boxers one of the most serious item
of information that comes from trouble
China.-New York Tribune.