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