Freemasonry in China

Early Days in China

Freemasonry spread rapidly throughout Europe in the 18th century and to America, India and to the East. There were numbers of Freemasons who were administrators or armed forces personnel among the expanding sea-borne empires of Britain, Sweden, Holland and France. Also, some merchants trading with Asian countries were members of the Craft. It was with a ship of the Swedish East India Company, the 'Prince Carl', that freemasonry first reached China. The masons on board had a document giving them permission to hold meetings 'wherever they came ashore' and they did so in Canton (now called Guangzhou) in late 1759. Apparently, there are no records of the working of the lodge at that time. The engraved list of lodges of 1768 under the Premier Grand Lodge of England shows No. 407, the Lodge of Amity, meeting in Canton. It is not well documented but there is some conjecture that this English lodge may have met in the Swedish Factory of the Swedish East India Company. The merchants were keen to trade for Chinese porcelain, silk and tea. Some commissioned China decorated with Masonic emblems and bowls still exists in museums. This period saw greater discontent over restrictions on trade between the Chinese and the 'barbarian' European merchants in Canton. The foreign merchants, possibly buoyed by the victories at Trafalgar and Waterloo, felt that they should press the Chinese for greater concessions. Another factor was the growth in opium trading and the increasing demands for tea and silk. These differences over trade between the Chinese and particularly Britain led to the 'opium wars', resulting in the Treaty of Nanking in 1842 and with the ceding of the barren rock of Hong Kong to the British.

Hong Kong

Soon after the British acquired the territory of Hong Kong, two lodges were established. The first was Royal Sussex Lodge No. 501 EC warranted on 18 September 1844, named after the Duke of Sussex, who was then the Grand Master in London. The first meeting was held on 3 April 1845. Later, the Lodge moved to Guangzhou and then on to Shanghai, returning to Hong Kong in 1952. The first senior warden of the Lodge was Richard John, Viscount Suirdale, the Fourth Earl of Donoughmore. The second lodge, Zetland Lodge No 525 EC, warranted on 21 March 1846 was named after the Marquis of Zetland, Grand Master 1844 to 1870. Zetland claims seniority, as it has remained in Hong Kong since its formation. The formation of other Lodges and Orders followed. Zetland Lodge undertook the first purpose built Masonic hall for its meetings on the upper part of Zetland Street but it was destroyed in the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong. After the war, the site of the first hall was sold to the Hong Kong Electric Company and there is an electric sub-station still on the site. A second Masonic hall was erected on the site of an old hotel on 1, Kennedy Road and the dedication of the building was held on 30 January 1950. The first Irish Lodge to be consecrated in Hong Kong after the Pacific War was Shamrock Lodge No 712 in 1947. A former member of Shamrock Lodge No 712, W. Bro. William Lamprill, was present at the Foundation Stone Laying in 1947. He was initiated in May 1947 and is now ninety-nine years of age residing at the China Coast Community in Kowloon. The rededication of Zetland Hall took place on 30 January 2000.

District Grand Lodge of Northern China

In China, a warrant was granted to the Northern Lodge of China No. 570 EC in 1849. The first meetings were held in houses of Chinese construction in Shanghai not far from the Cathedral compound. The first Masonic hall in Shanghai was constructed on Nanking Road (formerly known as Park Lane) but later another was built on Canton Road in 1861. Thereafter, lodges were formed in Kiukiang, Qingdao, Wei Hai Wei and Tianjin, and eventually in most of the ports of China were open to foreigners (the Treaty Ports) and the inland cities of Nanjing, Beijing, Harbin and Chengdu. These operated under charters granted by various countries including England, Massachusetts, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and later the Philippines. The first Irish lodge to be erected in China was Lodge Erin No 463 warranted on 8 October 1919 in Shanghai. The Lodge transferred to Hong Kong in 1952. The District Grand Lodge of Northern China was strong and active and many of the Masonic halls constructed in the early 1900's are still standing but now in use for other purposes. The one in Tienjin is now being used as a restaurant entitled 'The Cat Doesn't Care'. There were about six different Constitutions operating in China with the utmost cordiality.

Chinese Members

During the Qing Dynasty, the Imperial Government imposed restrictions on Chinese persons and it was almost impossible for a Chinese to become a freemason although in 1873, the leader of a Chinese educational mission in Massachusetts may well have done so. The first known Chinese to become a mason in China was a lieutenant in the Imperial Chinese Navy who was initiated into Star of Southern China No. 2013 EC in Guangzhou in 1889. In Hong Kong, early Chinese Freemasons included Sir Kai Ho Kai and the Honourable Wei Yuk who were initiated into Lodge St. John No 618 SC and took an active part in the formation of the University of Hong Kong. By the beginning of the Sino-Japanese War, many lodges in China had an increase in Chinese members, especially those meeting under the Grand Lodge of the Philippines.

Initially, the effect of hostilities on Masons by the Japanese in China was not great. Later, the Japanese authorities began a Nazi inspired investigation into freemasonry in Shanghai and harassed many prominent members who were held in custody for many weeks. In Japan, there were well-established laws against secret societies but lodges of foreigners had been assured originally that these would not affect them. Japanese nationals at that time were not permitted to join lodges. Freemasons in some of the occupied areas of China were able to continue and meet but it became gradually more difficult for the lodges to operate. Foochow Lodge No 1912 EC in Fuzhou met for the greater part of the war until 1944.

Hong Kong fell on December 1941. Several of the Hong Kong lodges met informally and under dangerous conditions in prisoner of war camps. Cathy Lodge No. 4373 EC met in Stanley prison where a minute book was kept.

The End of Hostilities and Formation of the Grand Lodge of China

With the end of hostilities, the lodges in China and Hong Kong revived, although some moved from the provinces into Shanghai, Tianjin and Hong Kong. With the Japanese occupation over, there was a new enthusiasm towards Freemasonry and the intention of forming a new Grand Lodge of China. There were six Philippine lodges meeting in China which were entirely Chinese. They were desirous of forming a Grand Lodge of China and the members of other Constitutions led by the English supported this cause. A Concordat was drafted in early February 1949. Eight points were laid down and two special notes were added:

Permission to open one Lodge under the Chinese Constitution in Hong Kong to enable some forty Chinese Masons to practice under their own forms and ritual, and in the sincere belief that this will promote harmony and friendship between Chinese and English Masons
A restriction of jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of China to 'the three symbolic degrees'.

This Concordat was communicated to Grand Lodge in London in 1949 with the informal agreement of the Irish and Scottish colleagues in Shanghai. The new Grand Lodge was consecrated on 18 March 1949 at the Masonic Temple, Route Dufour, Shanghai. Members of various Constitutions were present at the consecration.

Communism

By January 1949, the northern cities of Beijing and Tienjin were in the hands of the Communists. By the end of the year, the whole of China was under their authority. The Chinese did not intend to have the main facilities of their port and main facilities left into foreign hands and this is still the case today. With the establishment of the People's Republic of China, most of the lodges continued to meet, but those that met in the American Masonic Temple in Shanghai decided to close down. The Korean War had commenced and America was opposed to Communism. The English District Grand Master of Northern China offered to close if the Central People's Government requested it, affirming that regular Freemasons always give obedience to the lawful government of whichever country they are in. No request was made and the British lodges meeting in at the Masonic Hall in Beijing Road West in Shanghai continued to meet. The earlier enthusiasm waned and the chances of survival became doubtful. The policy adopted in respect of foreign enterprises would have the effect of Europeans leaving China and with it many brethren. This was because its largely foreign membership had by then left China and not because of any outward conflict with the authorities. Many of the lodges transferred their warrants to Hong Kong as it was under British rule. The last lodge, Northern Lodge, meeting there did so until 1962 when it transferred to Hong Kong (now extinct). It seems that a more stringent policy was soon adopted towards the Chinese and the authorities were taking an increasing interest in the Craft. The Ministry of the Interior required the Grand Lodge of China to register. One understands that the Grand Lodge was constantly under interference and molestation by the authorities and was unable to register. Therefore, the files and regalia were transferred surreptitiously to Hong Kong. Many Chinese brethren also followed the Nationalist Government to Taiwan.

Freemasonry in China

Free Masonry first saw Light in China in the province of Guangzhou during the late 1700’s with the establishment of Amity Lodge No. 407, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England, in 1767; and met regularly for 46 years until going into darkness in 1813; when for some unknown reason it’s charter was not renewed when the two Grand English Lodges united in London.
Upon the departure of Bro. R.F. Gould from China, In 1886, he says that there were in existence at Victoria (Hong Kong), and in the Chinese treaty ports : 13 English Lodges, 4 Scottish Lodges, 1 American Lodge and 1 Irish Lodge.
It should be mentioned that membership of Foregoing Lodges in China, had been mainly confined to specific Foreign Nationals by the Manchu Government and succeeding Governments, and it was not until 1930, when a group of American and Chinese Master Masons, all of whom had been raised abroad, decided to form a Lodge in Shanghai, for the purpose to bring Free Masonry to Chinese aspirants.
Charter Members of the first Chinese Lodge included Brothers George A. Fitch (later G.M. of the G.L.O.C, in Taiwan), Judge N.F. Allman, Alfred T.C. Kao, Mei Hua-Chuan. I.J. Rawlinson and James L.E. Chow, all of whom had been members of Lodges in the U.S.A. with the exception of Bro. Chow who was raised in an English Lodge in Jamaica.
The group first petitioned the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts for a Dispensation, but this was denied. They then successfully applied to the Grand Lodge of the Philippines who looked upon their request favourably and granted a Dispensation.
The new Lodge 106 was chartered on 27th January 1931, at Peking and by coincidence also named Amity Lodge, as had been the first Masonic Lodge in China, nearly 200 years earlier.
The creation of Amity Lodge No. 106 was followed by the creation of Nanking Lodge No.108 (Nanking), Pearl River Lodge No. 109 (Canton), Szechwan Lodge No. 112 (Cheng-tu), West Lake Lodge No. 113 (Hanzou) and Sun Lodge No. 114 (Shanghai).
During the Japanese invasion of China and for the duration of the Second World War, a small but courageous group of Master Masons of many nationalities gathered together in the unconquered Free Chinese town of Chungking, in the province of Szechwan, and initially formed a Square and Compasses Club.
By early 1943, the Square and Compasses Club, had despite the many hardships of a town under constant aerial bombardment, developed a nucleus of Brothers who felt the need to establish a recognised Lodge. A Dispensation to forma Lodge was submitted to the Grand Lodge of California, who in due course granted this, and fortitude Lodge U.D. was established during 1943. Fortitude Lodge was indeed an appropriate name, as the Lodge met regularly despite the inclement weather, unceasing air raids and almost every conceivable difficulty. In 1945, whit the cessation of the hostilities, the personnel were dispersed, and inevitably this led to the closure of the Lodge, therefore, it’s dispensation was returned to the Grand Lodge of California. It is interesting to note that Fortitude Lodge in it’s somewhat brief existence was to provide in the future four Grand Master for the Grand Lodge Of China : M. W. Brothers William H. T. Wei, Ting Chien, Theodore L. Way and George W. Chen.
Whit the return of the Brethren to their respective abodes, Masonic activity was resumed throughout China. The six Lodges which were Chartered under the Grand Lodge Of Philippine, held discussions concerning the future of free Masonry in China, and it was proposed that a grand Lodge Of China, should be established. These labours came to fruition on 18th March 1949, when the Grand Lodge Of China was consecrated at the Masonic Hall in Shanghai. The six Lodges were transferred and re-chartered with their original names, but were re-numbered as follow:

Amity Lodge No. 1
Nanking Lodge No, 2
Pearl River Lodge No. 3
Szechwan Lodge No. 4
West Lake Lodge No. 5
Sun Lodge No. 6

Unfortunately, within a short time great problems were to beset the newly established Grand Lodge, when the communist Government came to power, and by 1951 the Grand Lodge of China had ceased to function in Shanghai, and the second Grand Master M.W. Bro. T.F. Wei decided to declare darkness had fallen upon the Grand Lodge Of china.
The Grand Lodge was then temporally moved to Hong Kong, with little more than a few files and, through the effort of the first Grand Master M. W. bro. David K Au, the grand Lodge regalia.
Following the fall of the Mainland China to communism, a number of the Chinese and other Nationalities followed the Government of the Republic of China, to Taiwan. Early in 1951 those Brethren discussed the formation of a Square and Compasses Club. Brother Olivier Todd, Past Senior Warden of the International Lodge in Peking was elected as President.
Such was the success of the first « Club » in Taipei, that later Square and Compasses were formed in Tainan in 1956, and Taichung in 1965.

Back in 1951, a petition was submitted to the Grand Lodge of China, in Hong Kong, for the creation of a new Lodge, appropriately named Liberty Lodge. In August 1952, M. W. Bro. T. F. Wei travelled from Hong Kong with an escort of several Brethren, and duly consecrated the Liberty Lodge No. 7. In 1953, after several difficulties to obtain permission to conduct Masonic Business, from the Authorities, Bro. T. T. Tuan has the honour, of being the first Mason, ever to be raised in Taiwan.
The Grand Lodge of China was reactivated on Taiwan in 1955, as was Amity Lodge No. 1 in the same year, followed by Pearl River Lodge No. 3 at Tainan in 1956, Sun Lodge No. 6 at Taipei in 1956 too, and Szechwan Lodge No. 4 in Taichung in 1957.
In 1961, the Deputy Grand Master George W. Chen, accepted the position of Chairman of a Committee, to translate the Masonic Ritual and Monitor into the Chinese Language. Without further delay and not knowing that it would be a decade of hard labours before the task was completed.
The Brethren of Han Lodge, applied for a dispensation in 1971 and Han Lodge No. 8 was granted it’s Charter on 28th October 1972 and has the distinction of being the first Lodge to conduct it’s entire business in the Chinese language.
In the eve of Christmas 1985, Tang Lodge No. 9 was chartered.
In 1997, Harmony Lodge No. 10 was chartered in Taipei and was followed 3 years later by High Sun Lodge No. 11, chartered in Taipei County.
Lodges in China (under the Grand jurisdiction of Philippine Grand Lodge)
1931 Amity Lodge No.106 (Philippine Grand Lodge) in Shanghai
1933-39 Nanking Lodge No.108 in Nanking
1931 Pearl River Lodge No.109 in Guangzhou
1936 Szechwan Lodge No.112 in Cheng-Tu
West Lake Lodge No.113 in Hanzou
1937 Sun Lodge No.114 in Shanghai
1943 Fortitude Lodge (California Grand Lodge)
History of Grand Lodge of China
1949 Grand Lodge of China in Shanghai
Amity Lodge No.1
Nanking Lodge No.2
1949 Pearl River Lodge No.3 (re-chartered under the Grand Lodge of China)
1949 Szechwan Lodge No.4(re-chartered under the Grand Lodge of China)
West Lake Lodge No.5
1949 Sun Lodge No.6(re-chartered under the Grand Lodge of China)
1953 Liberty Lodge No.7
History in Taiwan
1951 Friends of China Club in Taipei
Taipei Square and Compasses Club
Modern History in Taiwan
1955 Amity Lodge No.1 reactivated in Taipei
1956 Pearl River No.3 reactivated in Tainan, now in Kaohsiung
1957 Szechwan Lodge No.4 reactivated in Taichung, moved to Lung-Tan County, Tao-Yuan, now in Taipei
1956 Sun Lodge No.6 reactivated in Taipei
1956 Liberty Lodge No.7 reactivated in Taipei
1963 The First Temple of MW Grand Lodge of F&AM of China erected
1972 Han Lodge No.8(chartered under the Grand Lodge of China) in Taipei
1985 Tang Lodge No.9(chartered under the Grand Lodge of China) in Taipei
1994 Lodge Room renovated in Temple
1997 Harmony Lodge No.10(chartered under the Grand Lodge of China) in Taipei
2000 High Sun Lodge No.11(chartered under the Grand Lodge of China) in Taipei County
Other organizations
The Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Southern Jurisdiction, USA, Valley of Taipei, Orient of Taiwan
David Au Chapter No.1 RAM
Concordia Chapter No.2 RAM
Taipei Council UD, Royal & Selected Master
Taipei Commandery UD, Knights Templar
The Ali Shan Oasis Shrine Club of Taipei
Yangmingshan Chapter No.5, OES

Grand Lodge of China
Freemasonry in China

Freemasonry in China

Since immemorial time, China has always been a mystery in the eyes of Westerners. This is especially so with regard to Freemasonry. Masonic scholars are already rare anywhere in the world and Masonic scholars in China are virtually non-existent.
This paper traces how Freemasonry was introduced into Imperial China by various Constitutions in the Quig Dynasty, how it developed at the time and how it survived two World Wars and the political changes in China.
It is fascinating to see how the Grand Lodge of China was constituted in Shanghai, and then moved to Taiwan, how Freemasonry developed in Macau, how Freemasonry flourished in Hong Kong and finally how Hong Kong has become not only the Masonic hub of the Far East, but also the Masonic pillar in the People’s Republic of China under the “One Country Two Systems” principle.
Since immemorial time, China has always been a mystery in the eyes of Westerners. This is especially so with regard to Freemasonry. Masonic scholars are already rare anywhere in the world and Masonic scholars in China are virtually non-existent.
This paper traces how Freemasonry was introduced into Imperial China by various Constitutions in the Quig Dynasty, how it developed at the time and how it survived two World Wars and the political changes in China.
It is fascinating to see how the Grand Lodge of China was constituted in Shanghai, and then moved to Taiwan, how Freemasonry developed in Macau, how Freemasonry flourished in Hong Kong and finally how Hong Kong has become not only the Masonic hub of the Far East, but also the Masonic pillar in the People’s Republic of China under the “One Country Two Systems” principle.
The disintegration of the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc of countries, the reunification of East and West Germany and the opening up for former communist countries, including People’s Republic of China, has led to a re-establishment of Freemasonry is no longer a secret of these countries, thereby leading the people of these countries from complete darkness into full Masonic light.
More people from China are traveling abroad for education, business and leisure and more foreigners, including Hong Kong Masons, are traveling to China for similar reasons.
This, coupled with the open policy advocated by the Masonic Authorities, means that Freemasonry is no longer a secret and the urge to re-establish Freemasonry in Mainland China is accordingly felt by those people still in darkness.
Co-operation between Masonic Constitutions and the Central Government in the People’s Republic of China will help us to arrive at a mutually acceptable superstructure. The bright morning star that is the Pearl of the Orient, Hong Kong, can be used as a springboard and bridgehead to finally allow Masonic light to shine once more in the Chinese Mainland. This is the obvious challenge ahead for all Masons.

The Qing Dynasty

"The reception of the Diplomatique (Macartney) and his suite, at the Court of Pekin". Drawn and engraved by James Gillray, published in September 1792.

"A caricature on Lord Macartney's Embassy to China and on the little which the Ambassador and his government are presumed to have known of the manners and tastes of the people they wanted to conciliate (the purpose of the visit was to propose the creation of a permanent English mission to the court of Peking). Chinese etiquette is, that extreme prostrations should be made before the Emperor, which it was intimated Lord Macartney would not conform to. The whole contour of the Emperor is indicative of cunning and contempt and his indifference to the numerous gifts displaying the skill of British manufacturing, is evident. The German face bringing in the cage is Mr Huttner of the Foreign Office, who acted as an interpreter and published his own account of the visit. As soon as Lord Macartney had declined to make the required prostrations, only going down on one knee, he was dismissed from the presence of the Emperor. He was later ordered to quit Peking within two days and was given a letter addressed to George III wherein the Emperor states that,'As your Ambassador can see for himself, we possess all things. I set no value on objects strange or ingenious, and have no use for your country's manufactures'. An attache, Aeneas Anderson, later recalled that "we entered Pekin like Paupers, remained in it like Prisoners and departed from it like Vagrants".

The Vatican Appointed Bankers' "The Rothschilds'" in China

Rothschild’s Presence in China Dates Back to 1838!

Rothschild’s long-standing presence in China dates back to 1838

View of Old China Street, Canton

While Commodore Matthew Perry is best known for his two visits to Japan, he also spent time in China.
Engraving from Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the China Seas and Japan,performed in the years 1852, 1853, and 1854, under the command of Commodore M.C. Perry, United States Navy, 1856.

[Americans had been trading with China since 1844, so a way station in the Japanese islands for purchasing coal and supplies now became imperative. Protection for American seamen engaged in whaling in the northern Pacific Ocean was also needed. Perry carried a letter to the Japanese emperor from the American president requesting a treaty covering those matters as well as the right of Americans to trade in Japanese ports.

Perry set out from Norfolk, Va., on Nov. 24, 1852, with four ships and arrived at Edo (modern Tokyo) on July 2, 1853. He demanded of the Japanese officers who came out to meet his vessel the right to take the President's letter to the Emperor, but he was told he must go to Nagasaki, the only place open to foreigners. Perry refused, and when the Japanese saw his decks cleared for action, they relented. So Perry went onshore and, in an elaborate ceremony, delivered the letter to two princes representing the Emperor and promised to return in 12 months for the answer.
Rumors of French and Russian naval activity in Japanese waters brought Perry back in February 1854 (he had gone only to Hong Kong). This time, his reception was friendly (chiefly because he had seven well-armed ships in his squadron), and the Emperor appointed five commissioners to treat with him. At Yokohama the representatives of the two nations began negotiations and, on March 31, 1854, concluded a treaty which opened two ports, Hakodate and Shimoda, for trade and supplies and guaranteed fair treatment for shipwrecked American sailors.
His mission completed, Perry returned to New York in January 1855, a hero receiving "warmcongratulations" from the secretary of the Navy, $20, 000 from Congress, gifts from several cities, and acclaim on all sides. The parties and receptions over, Perry turned his attention to preparing the report of his expedition, which he completed in late December 1857. He died on March 4, 1858.]

Ying Fu – Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. (China)

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Thursday, April 24, 2014