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His Excellency's time and attention are many and various, but we know also that he is always ready to respond to them. (Applause.) We are enjoined in one of our charges to abstain from every topic of political or religious discus- sion within the precincts of the Lodge and I am therefore precluded from referring to the political services His Excellency has rendered and is rendering to the colony-(applause)-but I am at liberty to speak of him in his social capacity, and I am sure you will all agree with me when I say that no Governor could identify him. self more completely with the people of the colony over which he rules. (Applause. He mixes with them as one of themselves, we meet him in all our sports and pastimes, and any movement having for its object intellectual improvement or social enjoyment at once secures his patron- age and support. (Applause.) To-night he comes here as a brother amongst Masons (applause) and his presence here I am sure will increase, if that were possible, the respect we owe to the dignity of his high office. (Ap- plause.) Brethren, give you the toast of the sister Lodges and visiting brethren coupled with the name of Brother Sir William Robinson.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The toast was drunk with musical honours. His EXCELLENCY-If the honour to which I alluded previously was unexpected this is still more 80. I thank Wor..Bro. Cox for the very | kind manner in which be has referred to me. I have had really a very happy time in Hong- kong, I have just come away from the Athletic Sports, and I think the Wor. Brother has not overstated my love for sports and all forms of amusement. (Applause.) As for the sister Lodges, I am
sure they will appreciate the manner in which the toast has been received and
although I do not remember how many sister Lodges there are I will be happy to attend all of them if my neighbour Wor. Bro. Jordan will introduce me.. (Applause.) But there is a limit to all things, even to a bottle of Louis Roderer-(laughter and applause) and I believe the time for adjourning to the lodge room has arrived.
THE LODGE AND ITS HISTORY.
The brethren having assumed their regalia and assembled in the lodge room, the Lodge was opened in due form, Wor. Bro. W. M. B. Arthur occupy- ing the Worshipful Master's chair and Wor. Bro. L. Mallory that of the Immediate Past Master. It had been intended that all the offices should be filled on this occasion by Past Masters in order of seniority, but the owing to the absence of Right Wor. Bro. Chater and others this had to be varied to some extent and the actual arrange- ment was
as follows:-S.W.. Wor. Bro. R. Cooke: J. W., Wor. Bro. A, D. Death Chap lain, Ero. S. St. A. Baylee. D.G. Chaplain; Treasurer, Bro. G. J. B. Sayer: Secretary. Wor. Bro. G. C. Cox; $.D., Wor. Bro. G. C. Ander- son, J.D., Wor. Bro. G. A. Caldwell; Organist,
Bro. G. P. Lammert; D.C., Bro. J. Lockhead; I.G.. Wor. Bro. D. Macdonald; Tyler, Bro. J. Maxwell.
A special prayer for the occasion having been offered by the chaplain.
Wer. Bro. W. M. B. ARTHUL said:-One of the anticipated pleasures of this evening was that this unique meeting would be presided over by the Senior Past Master in the Lodge, our esteemed Right Wor. District Grand Master. Under his genial and courteous presidency we had a guarantee that all things would work smoothly and in harmony. But it is always the unexpected that happens and much to our regret Right Wor. Brother Chater can. not take the place which would most appropri- ately Lave been filled by him. At an interview with him yesterday he desired me to express the deep regret which his enforced absence caused him and also gave me a brief outline of what he
intended to do, and which we know he would have done so well, With every opportunity given me I could not aspire to vie with him in discharging the very high and honour- able task expected of me this evening, and the very
short notice I have had will I fear Le to fail more signally in that respect. This day fifty years, brethren, was dated the warrant under which Zetland Lodge has been working up to the present, and as you know this is nearly coincident with the beginning of Masonry in this colony. A ball was given a little prematurely in consideration
cause
|
[March 26, 1896.
of the conscientious scruples of some sections from that day to this. He accepted the Máster- of the brothern and society generally, and a ship of the Lodge and during two years he desire arose amongst the members of Zetland came punctually from Canton for every meet Lodge to especially commemorate the exact ing, not only on regular nights, but also date of the Jubilee of our warrant, which we for Lodges of Emergency, and when his rightly consider the first established step towards term of office ended he had the satisfac the spread of Freemasonry with its enlightened tion of seeing the Lodge firmly established, tenefs in this colony of Hongkong. The with Master in charge well fitted to meeting of this evening was accordingly ar- follow in his footsteps, and with a fair ranged.
prospect of that success which has ever After some further remarks Wor. Bro. since attended the Zetland Lodge. Bro. Mercer, ARTHUR proceeded to read the following histo- who succeeded Bro. Rawson in the District rical sketch of the Lodge :---
chair, ably carried on the work so well begun and his influence will be long felt by Masons in China. He brought to the discharge of his high position the union of many qualifications. A gentleman, both by descent and nature, a scholar, a man of the highest principles, and an ardent Mason, he contributed in no slight degree to the consummation of Brother Rawson's work, of which the assembly this evening is so sound a proof."
The first entry in the minutes of Zetland Lodge is as follows:-
16
Hongkong, Victoria,
* 31st December, 1845.
The petition to the Grand Lodge of Eng- land, signed by Bros. Goldsmith, Fagan, Car. penter, Bruce, Campbell, Lambert, Young, Pakensan, and Sansom, and recommended by the Master and Wardens of the Royal Sussex Lodge, No. 735, for a Warrant to hold a Lodge in Hongkong, to be entitled the Zetland Lodge, was forwarded to the Grand Secretary this day with the undermentioned fees, which were advanced by Bro. Goldsmith."
The charter of the Royal Sussex dates back to a period associated with the old factories at Canton, and that Lodge is the senior Lodge in China, Zetland ranking second. The Royal Sussex subsequently removed to Shanghai, and when in 1876 the district of China was divided into two, the District of North China and the District of Hongkong and South China, Zetland became the senior Lodge of the latter. The Warrant of Zetland Lodge is dated the 21st March, 1846, that is, exactly fifty years ago to-day, and the first meeting was held on the 24th Jane, 1846, Bro. Goldsmith being appointed the Wor. Master. For some years the Lodge met in hired rooms, which were more or less inconvenient, and changes were frequent. In the course of a few years, too, difficulties and dissensions arose within the Lodge. We find, nevertheless, indications of a laudable zeal in the pursuit of Masonic knowlege and in the exercise of charity. Lodges of instruction were held and the subject of a Masonic library was mooted, while to meet the Lodge expenses funds appear to have been raised by loans from members, some of whom relinquished their claims to re- payment and it was ordered that the money so relinquished should be formed into a charitable fund, from which the Wor. Master was authorised to grant relief to the extent of $10 without reference to the Lodgė.
The difficulties above alluded to, however, endangered the existence of the Lodge, and in 1848 there was a suggestion of closing it, because no duly qualified brother was willing to accept the chair. The matter was arranged at that time. but again in 1851 the same pro- posal was made and was seriously considered, a Lodge of Emergency being held to arrive at a decision upon it. It was resolved, however, to keep the Lodge open until the following St. John's day. Right Wor. Dro. Rawson, the Porvincial Grand Master, who resided at Can- ton, was then elected a member and also to the chair. Here it will be interesting to quote from a speech made by the late Brother Kings- mill at a District Grand Lodge banquet held in 1875. Brother Kingsmill said Finding himself once again amongst the brethren, his memory was carried back to the time when he first saw light within the foundation of the room in which they were assembled, though not in the very building, in the old Zetland Lodge, then ruled by Past Provincial Grand Master Brother Mercer. The nature of the toast and the circumstances of the gathering recalled to his mind the memories of Past Provincial Grand Musters and their services to Masonry. He particularly mentioned Right Wor. Brothers S. Rawson and W. T. Mercer It was difficult to say to which of these brethren Masoury in China is most indebted. There was a time when Masonry in Hongkong was like the dying flame of a candle flickering in the socket, and there was no one to work the solitary Lodge Bro. Rawson was which existed in the place. then resident in Canton, and at cost of great trouble, inconvenience, and expense to himself, he took energetic measures to gather the almost dying embers together and fan the flame of Masonry, whch has burned clearly in the colony
The encomiums passed by Bro. Kingsmill on the two lights in Masonry and Rulers in the Craft to whom he referred were well deserved. With Right Wor. Bro. Rawson's assumption of office an era of prosperity dawned for the Lodge and to the foundation then laid we are indebted for much of our present well-being. Right Wor. Bro. Rawson, as stated in the above extract from Bro. Kingsmill's speech, was suc- ceeded in the chair by Wor. Bro. Mercer, of whom we still have a memento in the Lodge in the columns on the Master's and Warden's pedestals. At this period original lectures and addresses on the subjects of our science and cognate subjects were given from time to time.
Having moved about from place to place the Lodge at last decided to build premises of its own, and the site we now occupy was acquired by lease from Bro. Tarrant. The foundation stone was laid on the 1st February, 1853, with full Masonic honours by Right Wor. Bro. Rawson, Provincial Grand Master, the occasion being made the most imposing Masonic func- tion which has ever been held in the colony. The Lodge was opened at 11 o'clock in the morning, a large number of members and visitors being in attendance. The secretary "having read the dispensation, dated Canton, 9th January, 1853 permitting the brethren to wear Masonic clothing at the ceremony and at the ball to be held in the evening, a procession was formed, headed by the bands of the 59th Regiment and the United States man-of-war Susquehanna, and proceeded to the site of the projected building. Amongst the brethren of Zetland Lodge present, it may be mentioned, was His Highness Prince William of Hesse, who was then an entered apprentice. the Secretary, read the inscription, and exactly After the prayer to the G: A. U., Bro. Tarrant, as II.M.S. Cleopatra made the signal that tho claimed high noon, the upper stone descended was at its meridian and the bells pro-
to its place and was properly adjusted, the band playing God save the Queen." The Prov. Grand Master then tried the stone with plumb, level, and square, poured in corn, wine, and oil, and declared the building dedicated to Freemasonry. Prayers was again offered to the G. A. U. and grand honours given, and the ceremony was brought to a conclusion by a most interesting address by the Prov. Grand Master. The procession then re-formed and returned to the Lodge room, where an address was given by the Wor. Master, Wor. Bro. Mercer, and a presentation of a handsome epergne
sun
was made to the Prov. Grand Master as a testimonial of the sincere regret of the Lodge at his approaching departure.
The plate let into the foundation stone was subsequently removed to the present lodge room when the building was reconstructed and another storey added. It may now be seen in the N.E.
corner.
The first meeting in the new building was held on the 13th October, 1853. Subsequently disputes arose with the lessor, but these were satisfactorily arranged and the ground is now. held direct from the Government on a Crown lease at a nominal rental of $1 per annum. In 1856 the Lodge had the pleasure of offering its hospitality to the Royal Sussex Lodge, which was invited to hold its meetings in the Hall, owing to the troublous state of Canton and most of the members being then- in Hongkong. As
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