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  • The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine
  • Feb. 25, 1865
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  • FREEMASONRY IN CHINA.
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Feb. 25, 1865: Page 1

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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Freemasonry In China.

FREEMASONRY IN CHINA .

LONDON , SATURDAY , FFBJiVABT 25 , 1805 .

The subject of British Freemasonry ia China , and the proper legislation to meet the exigencies which have arisen in that country , from the rapid growth ofthe settlements at the Southern Treaty Ports , is one well Avorthy the serious contemplation

of the brethren at large , and Ave , therefore , plead no excuse for bringing it under notice . It appears that the Prov . Grand Lodge ( with the Grand Master ) is at present located at Hong Kong , where it was placed in 1846 but the field over Avhich its

jurisdiction extends , reaching now to ports situated in the extreme north of the Chinese coast , would seem to call for some change which may equally distribute over the country the benefits of active Provincial Grand Government . There are iu

Hong Kong at the present time two lodges , one of which has been established for some time ( since 1846 ) , and the other newly established ( 1863 ) . In Shanghai there are at present three lodges under the British Constitution , one

established in 1850 ( the Northern Lodge of China ) , one established at Hong Kong in 1844 , and transferred here in the early part of 1863 ( the Royal Sussex Lodge ) , and one started in 1863 . Already there is in Shanghai one more English

lodge than there is at Hong Kong , and around the place are many ports where lodges would be at once started , and zealously carried on , if they could be placed under a central authority , to give them information and protection . A reference to the geography of China Avill show that Hong Kong , the present seat of the

Provincial Grand Government of China , is the most southern of the ports now open to the trade with foreigners . Commencing Avith Hong Kong , we touch the mainland of China at Canton , and , proceeding northward , jjass successively the ports of

Swatow , Foochow , Amoy , Ningpo , Shanghai , Chefoo , Tientsin , and Newclrwang , covering an extent of country requiring , for the exercise of an able and live Provincial Grand GoA ernment , a position in the empire which , at once central and

of constant ready access , shall be enabled to afford those advantages which must be called for by an extended-sphere of subordinate lodges . The system as at present worked is one Avhich must soon lead to great and serious evils . The want of a Provincial head at a place like Shanghai , Avhere , it being a centre of trade and population , it may

be enabled to Avork effectively for the interests of different lodges , has already begun to be felt . We are informed that a memorial has been addressed to the M . W . Grand Master by the Masonic bodies of Shanghai , praying that a "

Provincial Grand Lodge of Northern China and Japan" may be established , and the empire of China thus divided into two provinces—the former jurisdiction of the Provincial Grand Master at Hong Kong being restricted , say , to the country

as far north as FoochoAV , and the new Provincial Grand Lodge having its headquarters ' at Shanghai , to exercise jurisdiction from Foochow to the northern boundary of China , and to include the ports in Japan ; but Avhat has been the result

of that memorial Ave have not yet heard . Shanghai has , during the past few years , made remarkable strides in commerce and population . The opening of the ports in the north of China and on

the Yangtze River , coupled Avith the trade Avhich passes through Shanghai from Japan , has placed this settlement at the head of the commercial emporiums of China . In almost daily communication Avith the several ports on the Yangtze ,

with a regular mail communication with the North , South , and Japan , the position of Shanghai is one in the highest degree calculated to afford the means of an active and useful operation for a Provincial Grand Lodge . The large increase

of population caused by the great traffic throAvn into the place from the different outlying parts Avill necessarily call for the establishment of new lodges ; and one effect of the want of a powerful Provincial Government has been already shown

by the establishment of one lodge Avorking under the American Constitution , and alsc one established , or about to be established , under the Scotch jurisdiction .

The weakness of the rule of a Provincial Grand Lodge for China , Avorking , as it does at present , from the most extreme southerly point , has not been apparent in past years ; but its effects must be necessarily detrimental should there

be any great extension of authority . A Provincial Grand Lodge at Hong Kong could Avith efficiency exercise authority over a district extending as far north as Foochow , for instance , and perhaps embracing within its

jurisdiction the Philippine Islands , Avhere there are as yet no lodges established ; but a Provincial Grand Lodge placed at Shanghai , Avith a jurisdiction embracing China north of FoochoAV , and including

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1865-02-25, Page 1” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 13 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_25021865/page/1/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
FREEMASONRY IN CHINA. Article 1
ALGERNON, DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, K.G., IN CONNECTION WITH ART. Article 2
A FIRST REHEARSAL. Article 5
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 6
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 8
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 9
GRAND LODGE. Article 9
METROPOLITAN. Article 10
PEOVINCIAL. Article 11
ROYAL ARCH. Article 12
MARK MASONRY. Article 13
IRELAND. Article 13
INDIA. Article 13
LITERARY EXTRACTS. Article 14
Poetry. Article 16
THE WEEK. Article 17
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Freemasonry In China.

FREEMASONRY IN CHINA .

LONDON , SATURDAY , FFBJiVABT 25 , 1805 .

The subject of British Freemasonry ia China , and the proper legislation to meet the exigencies which have arisen in that country , from the rapid growth ofthe settlements at the Southern Treaty Ports , is one well Avorthy the serious contemplation

of the brethren at large , and Ave , therefore , plead no excuse for bringing it under notice . It appears that the Prov . Grand Lodge ( with the Grand Master ) is at present located at Hong Kong , where it was placed in 1846 but the field over Avhich its

jurisdiction extends , reaching now to ports situated in the extreme north of the Chinese coast , would seem to call for some change which may equally distribute over the country the benefits of active Provincial Grand Government . There are iu

Hong Kong at the present time two lodges , one of which has been established for some time ( since 1846 ) , and the other newly established ( 1863 ) . In Shanghai there are at present three lodges under the British Constitution , one

established in 1850 ( the Northern Lodge of China ) , one established at Hong Kong in 1844 , and transferred here in the early part of 1863 ( the Royal Sussex Lodge ) , and one started in 1863 . Already there is in Shanghai one more English

lodge than there is at Hong Kong , and around the place are many ports where lodges would be at once started , and zealously carried on , if they could be placed under a central authority , to give them information and protection . A reference to the geography of China Avill show that Hong Kong , the present seat of the

Provincial Grand Government of China , is the most southern of the ports now open to the trade with foreigners . Commencing Avith Hong Kong , we touch the mainland of China at Canton , and , proceeding northward , jjass successively the ports of

Swatow , Foochow , Amoy , Ningpo , Shanghai , Chefoo , Tientsin , and Newclrwang , covering an extent of country requiring , for the exercise of an able and live Provincial Grand GoA ernment , a position in the empire which , at once central and

of constant ready access , shall be enabled to afford those advantages which must be called for by an extended-sphere of subordinate lodges . The system as at present worked is one Avhich must soon lead to great and serious evils . The want of a Provincial head at a place like Shanghai , Avhere , it being a centre of trade and population , it may

be enabled to Avork effectively for the interests of different lodges , has already begun to be felt . We are informed that a memorial has been addressed to the M . W . Grand Master by the Masonic bodies of Shanghai , praying that a "

Provincial Grand Lodge of Northern China and Japan" may be established , and the empire of China thus divided into two provinces—the former jurisdiction of the Provincial Grand Master at Hong Kong being restricted , say , to the country

as far north as FoochoAV , and the new Provincial Grand Lodge having its headquarters ' at Shanghai , to exercise jurisdiction from Foochow to the northern boundary of China , and to include the ports in Japan ; but Avhat has been the result

of that memorial Ave have not yet heard . Shanghai has , during the past few years , made remarkable strides in commerce and population . The opening of the ports in the north of China and on

the Yangtze River , coupled Avith the trade Avhich passes through Shanghai from Japan , has placed this settlement at the head of the commercial emporiums of China . In almost daily communication Avith the several ports on the Yangtze ,

with a regular mail communication with the North , South , and Japan , the position of Shanghai is one in the highest degree calculated to afford the means of an active and useful operation for a Provincial Grand Lodge . The large increase

of population caused by the great traffic throAvn into the place from the different outlying parts Avill necessarily call for the establishment of new lodges ; and one effect of the want of a powerful Provincial Government has been already shown

by the establishment of one lodge Avorking under the American Constitution , and alsc one established , or about to be established , under the Scotch jurisdiction .

The weakness of the rule of a Provincial Grand Lodge for China , Avorking , as it does at present , from the most extreme southerly point , has not been apparent in past years ; but its effects must be necessarily detrimental should there

be any great extension of authority . A Provincial Grand Lodge at Hong Kong could Avith efficiency exercise authority over a district extending as far north as Foochow , for instance , and perhaps embracing within its

jurisdiction the Philippine Islands , Avhere there are as yet no lodges established ; but a Provincial Grand Lodge placed at Shanghai , Avith a jurisdiction embracing China north of FoochoAV , and including

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