The District Grand Lodge Of Northern China.

into England in the time of the Commonwealth , they immediately imposed such a system upon a nation that had barely learnt to tolerate them . On the . other hand , it would seem difficult to accept as a theory , without further evidence , that the wandering masons were Jews . But there was a strong similarity between the symbols of Masonry , those of the Egyptian hierophants , and of Brahmanism . There was also a similaritbetween Brahmanism and

y many of the religious symbols of China , which was , of course , allied to Brahmanism , being in fact Buddhism ; ancl he had often noticed symbols in China that were common to all these cults . It was , therefore , a fact that Chinese religions symbols very much resembled those of Masonry . W . Bro . Kingsmill , D . G . S . W ., had not seen or heard the contents of Bro . Alabaster ' s letter till that eveningand was therefore in his remarks speaking

, without book aud from memory . He was , however , able to testify to the early use of the Kwei-chu , the square and compasses , amongst the Chinese to express those principles of order and morality to which in speculative Masonry these emblems are dedicated . He did not agree with his friend Bro . Alabaster as to the antiquity to which he desired to assign them , for the reason that Chinese literature took its rise not more than five or six centuries before

Christ . At that time there was in China a rich store of myth ancl legend , much of which was fortunately , owing the love for antiquity of the founders - of Chinese literature , preserved for the perusal of subsequent ages . Deep clown in this store was , he believed , to be found the origin of this symbolic use of the square ancl compasses . The "Emperor" Shun bore , amongst his other attributes , the Siuen-ki and the Kuh-wang , the circle ancl rule ; and

these in origin , as well as etymology , must be identified with the Chakra and Cangkha of Vishnu . Both Shun ancl Vishnu were associated with the ancient solar cult , a wide wave of which , probably three thousand years ago , seems to have swept over Asia from west to east . He thought that to this early period must be referred the symbolic use of the square ancl compasses , ancl that in the discus ancl conch of Vishnu ancl the corresponding circle and gemmous rule of the Chinese Shunwe have to acknowledge the germ of the principal

, symbols of modern Freemasonry . Some years ago when they met in their old . domicile . in the Canton Road , they consulted with Bro . Medhurst as to an appropriate title for their place of meeting , and acting on his advice they called the old building the Kwei-chu-t ' ang , Square-and-Compass Hall . That title he had himself always considered as the correct designation of a Mason ' s Lo clge . When they moved to their new premises the name was unfortunatel

y not carried with them . Discussions were raised in the lodges as to the proper title , and he regretted that Bro . Medhurst , passing over the earlier ancl more appropriate title of Square-and-Compass Hall , had brought in some more vague phrase such as T'ung-jen-t ' ang , the Hall of Universal Benevolence , to express the objects of the Craft . He had so strenuously opposed tihs latter nameas being much less appropriate from a Chinese as well as from a Masonic

, point of view , that the proposed title had never been adopted , and the building in which they were meeting continued still without a distinctive name . He was glad , therefore , that Bro . Alabaster ' s letter gave them the opportunity of discussing the matter afresh , and supported full y his own view , and trusted that the lodges would again take the question of the proper appellation into consideration .

W . Bro . Evans , D . G . Treasurer , proposed , and W . Bro . Marshall , D . G . S . D ., seconded , a vote of thanks to Bro . Alabaster for his very able and interesting letters . The R . W . D . G . M . was sure there would be but one opinion on the subject , ancl that was that the lodge should send Bro . Alabaster a most hearty vote of thanks . The proposition was adopted with acclamation , ancl the letters were ordered to be entered on the minutes .