Masonry And The Asiatics.

them " San-ho-huwce "—i . e . Triad society—is a very powerful association in the Celestial Empire . For about a thousand years it was called the " Company of Heaven and Earth ( Teen-de-huwoe ) . " Its design was purely benevolent , and a kind of

secret protest against the prevailing superstition and idolatry of the masses . When the present Tartar dynasty ascended the "Dragon" throne , the conquered Chinese were forced to conform to the Tartar fashion of wearing

the cue , and shaven head ; this the Teen-des refused to do , in accordance with an oath of taken to that effect . As they thus became marked men , easily distinguished from other citizens , they were thus persecuted with so furious a rancour , that at

last the members dissolved the society , the members outwardly conforming to the Tartar rule , but secretly vowing vengence to the Tartar . It has thus become a political association . The leading men of all the rebellions against

the present Government of China were all Triads , a fact perfectly well known to the Chinese Government . Renegades , or members expelled from the Triad society , have betrayed their brethren so often that the Tartar officials profess to be fully

acquainted with the minutice of this society . The writer has been informed by a high Tartar official , that the word , held sacred by the Triads , is " Sanpahurh-she-ih , " i . c . meaning 321 , pronounced " Hung . " As Chinese characters are ideographic ,

the component part of the word may be full of mystic meanings , only known by the initiated . No member of this society is ever to be known by his family name , but simply by " Ivo " brother , thus avoiding the danger of denunciation by

faithless renegades or eaves-droppers . The officers simply add a number to their names , as —— presiding officer , Bro . No . 1 , etc . Many of the Chinese of California belong to this society , but being perfectly aware that they are surrounded by

spies in the service ot their Tartar masters , they make no demonstration of their brotherhood , for fear of compromising their families residing in China . This is especially the case among the " cohongs " or " companies . " Their business in

China would at once be arrested if they showed any sympathy with members of the Triad society . The ceremony of initiation is as follows : —The candidate is blindfolded , and led into a room , in the centre of which stand a circle of Triads ; a bridge of swords is then formed over his head ,

Masonry And The Asiatics.

when he takes a kind of obligation , binding him to secresy and ceaseless hatred to the Tartar ; he is then released , and taught the secret signs by which Triads make themselves known . These signs consist in employing three fingers in a

peculiar way ; for instance , in taking up a tea-cup , the fore , middle and third fingers are used , the thumb and little finger not being used . As for the Chinamen , Hindoos , and Parsees met with in English Lodges at Singapore , India ,

Amboyna , etc ., they are all well educated gentlemen , speaking English , and educated in Europe or India . They are the sons of wealthy families , sent to Europe for the sake of its culture , and living in their native country

more or less Europeanized . They all profess belief in Deity , speak the English language perfectly , and are remarkable for exactness in their knowledge of Masonry . It is therefore error of the most serious kiud , to suppose for a

moment that Masonry tolerates atheism for a moment , —because that complete realization of unit } '' , gathers under her standard all nations , all colours , all creeds , all politics—in fine , all mankind . San Francisco Mirror .

Revile Not Masonry For Its Secrecy.

REVILE NOT MASONRY FOR ITS SECRECY .

There are a few who , in this present age of enlightenment , make objection to Secret Societies ; more especially to the Most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons . We had supposed that the vituperations which had

been cast upon it , some forty years since , when traders in politics ( too lazy to earn an honest living otherwise ) endeavoured to ride upon what they presumed they had made a skeleton , into offices of honour and emolument , had been

exploded . Nevertheless , there are some whoevidently from ignorance of its tenets—object to it . Firstly , on account of its -secrecy ; Secondly , on account of its oaths ; Thirdly , in consequence ( as they say ) of its being regarded by its members

as a substitute for religion , and consequently antagonistic thereto ; and lastly , for its exclusion of females . Now , its secrecy we regard as one of the great elements of the success of the society ; for since its organisation this secrecy—so often vauuted , so