March 26, 1896.]
already mentioned, the Royal Sussex afterwards removed to Shanghai:
In 1863 a general renumbering of the Lodges working under the English Constitution took place, and the number of Zetland Lodge was changed from 768 to 525. Meantime the mem bership of the Lodge had largely increased, other Masonic bodies had come into existence, and the accommodation afforded by the old bunga low became too limited for the requirements of the Craft. In 1864, therefore, the question of rebuilding was discussed, and, a scheme having | at length been decided upon, the work was un- dertaken, and the present building was opened in October, 1865. No ceremony was observed on this occasion, and several brethren in Lodge expressed their disappointment at the omission. To this the answer was made that the building | had been opened without ceremony in deference to the wishes of the Right Wor. Prov. Grand Master, Bro. Mercer, who desired in no way to derogate from the celebrations of 1853.
Having thus provided itself with handsome and commodious premises the Lodge's subse- quent history offers few events that call for special mention. The working has gone on steadily, smoothly, and prosperously, and since the foundation of the Lodge 1,350 members have joined it, either by initiation or as joining members, and the number on the roll at the present time is 117.
The exercise of charity, incumbent upon all Masons, has been continuously kept in view by Zetland Lodge. Formerly a sum was annually voted to the home Charities, but it being con- sidered that the money could be applied to greater advantage locally, the following resol7- tion was passed, on the 3rd September, 1889:-
"That a Committee be appointed to consider the advisability of discontinuing the large subscriptions to the Royal Masonic Institution
for Girls and to confer with other Lodges on
the possibility of raising a local fund, to be administered by the District Grand Lodge, for the benefit of necessitous children of Masons deceased in the District."
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
259
the Institution ask permission to again bring to the notice of His Excellency the Governor the reasonable claim to assistance from the public funds, in consideration of the services they are directly and indirectly rendering to the community, and to renew their application for a grant of money to enable them to avail themselves of the munificent offer made to them by the Honourable E. R. Belilios (and quite recently renewed) to present them with a piece of ground in a convenient situation, and to erect upon it at his own expense a building in every way fitted for the purposes of a College, upon the condition that the Colonial Government would provide an endowment of equal value.
The land to be given by the honourable mem- ber has been valued at $10,000. The buildings to be erected thereon are estimated to cost $30,000, completely fitted and furnished. The
stood at $9,900, a reduction of $3,250. From that year up to 1889 extensive repairs and other causes prevented an equal reduction, the debt on 31st December, 1889, standing at $8,500, or a reduction of $1,400 only. In this year Wor. Bro. Gillies purchased scrip to the value of $700, which he subsequently presented to the Lodge in 1892. Here it may not be out of place to enumerate the donors of scrip to the Lodge-Bro. Rawling, $500; Bro. D. Rut- tonjee, $500; Bro. G. F. Norris, $200; Bro. W. H. Foster, $200; Bro. M. D. Ghandy, $150, Wor. Bro. D. R. Caldwell, $100; Victoria Chapter, $400; Wor. Bro. D. Gillies, $700; total $2,750. In 1892 Wor. Bro. Gillies was the most active promoter of a scheme for paying off the scrip holders by obtaining an advance from the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank. This scheme was perceived to have many advantages and was consequently adopted by the Lodge and on the 4th July, 1892, a cheque was sum therefore asked from the Government handed to the Trustees of the Freemasons' is only $40,000, and the Court of the College of Hall Building Fund in full discharge of all Medicine most respectfully request that His claims of scrip holders whose whereabouts were Excellency will be pleased to grant to them for known, the Lodge taking the responsibility the use of the College this sum of $40,000. It of the future redemption of scrip to the amount is proposed to invest the monies and devote the of $1,150 standing in the names of various sub-income derived therefrom to the payment of scribers whose addresses were unknown Breth- the permanent staff of the College. ren, members of Zetland Lodge, that advance from the Bank has been repaid, the building is in a thorough state of repair, our funds are in a prosperous condition, and by the help of the G. A. O. T. U. we have every reason to be thank ful for the propitious circumstances under which we celebrate this our Jubilee. But, brethren, let us all beware that our prosperity does not cause us "to be weary in well doing." Hay- ing accomplished so much with a sense of gratitude to those who have preceded as let us continue to "act in the living present" for those who may follow us, in the hope that those who celebrate the centenary of Zetland Lodge (now 525) may have equal cause for self-con- gratulation and praise for those who have gone before. (Applause.)
Hearty good wishes and congratulations to Zetland Lodge were then offered by Wor. Bro. E. C. Ray, Deputy District Grand Master, on behalf of the District Grand Lodge; Wor. Bro. Ellis on behalf of Victoria Lodge, Wor. Bro. Robertson, on behalf of Perseverance Lodge, Wor. Bro. Spafford on behalf of United Service Lodge, Wor. Bro. Howell on behalf of St. John's Lodge, Wor. Bro. Ormiston on behalf of St. George's Lodge, No. 1152; Bro. Galsworthy on behalf of No. 1,139, South Nor wood; and Bro. Naismith on behalf of the Star
The other Lodges heartily responded to the invitation and the result was the foundation of the Masonic Benevolence Fund of Hongkong and South China, of whose present position and the benefits it has conferred all Masons in the District may justly feel proud. Wor. Bro, Gil- lies was elected the first President of the Fund, an office he filled until his recent departure for Europe, and the zeal and ability with which he discharged the duties of that position, while exercised for the benefit of the District in general, must be regarded by members of Zet-of Southern China Lodge, Canton. land as adding one more to the many substantial benefits he has conferred on this Lodge.
Having thus noted the most prominent events in the annals of the Lodge, it will be interesting to glance at its financial history and present position.
The principle of the scheme decided on at the meeting held on 2nd May, 1864, for the rebuild- ing of the Lodge was that of inviting subscrip- tions to what has since been known as the Freemasons' Hall Building Fund and to issue debentures to brethren so subscribing. The conditions of subscription were set forth on the scrip so issued. The original scrip held by Bro. H. Kingsmill, already mentioned, reads as "follows:- In response to this invitation 53 brethren subscribed various amounts rang- ing from 850 to $1,000, the total being $13,150. Of this amount $12,000 was deposited in the Chartered Mercantile Bank on the 1st July, 1864, an interval of two months only from the date of resolution, a result conclusively show- ing the earnestness and enthusiasm of the brethren then constituting the members of the Lodge. The same energy that initiated the scheme appears also to have urged the builders of the structure to a speedy completion, for on December 23rd, 1864, Chun A Tack, contrac- tor, was paid for work done $3,000; April 22nd, 1865, $4,000; August 8th, 1865, $200; Novem- ber 1st, 1865, $2,450. In 18 months retaining walls, foundations, and a superstructure (which if not perfect in all its parts is one we may still be proud of) were completed. In the years, too, immediately following the building of the Hall the reduction of the debt went on surely, if slowly, by means of donations of sorip from holders, and payments for redemption made from the Lodge funds. In 1870, five years from the date of the first meeting in the Hall, the debt
Wor. Bro. Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON was then elected an honorary member of the Lodge, and on being asked if he would accept the member- ship His Excellency replied that he would esteem it a great honour to belong to Zetland Lodge and to have taken part in the proceedings on this interesting occasion.
The Lodge was then closed and the brethren afterwards assembled again in the banquetting hall, where the remainder of the evening was spent in song and toast, the toasts being the health of Wor. Bro. E. C. Ray, Deputy Dis- trict Grand Master, of Wor. Bro. Arthur, Wor. Bro. Macdonald, and that of the com- mittee who had carried out the arrangements for the celebration, namely, Wor. Bro. G. A. Caldwell, Bro. M. Mitchell, and Bro Sayer.
The brethren who contributed songs were Brothers Crispin, Spriggs, Thomas Gilchrist, Wor. Bro. Arthur, and others. Bro. G. P. Lammert presided at the piano. Shortly after twelve o'clock the proceedings were brought to a close by the singing of Auld Lang Syne," led by Bro. Aitken.
34
When this matter was before the Govern. ment on a previous occasion His Excellency was so good as to recognize and admit that the College of Medicine for Chinese was deserving of support and encouragement, and that it was capable of rendering very valuable service to the Government and to the public by providing a constant succession of qualified Chinese medi- cal practitioners for the use of the steadily increasing population, and by dissipating the darkness of ignorance that rested over the Chinese in regard to modern medical science. If the position of the colony had at that time justified the expenditure it is believed that the grant now asked for would have been made, and the Court very respectfully submit for His Excellency's consideration that the events of the last three years have, if anything, strength. ened rather than weakened the presumption in their favour. It is beginning to be recognised that in the interest of good govern- ment and of sanitary science the Chinese can- not any longer be permitted to ignore the existence of Western medicine and to continue to treat their sick, and especially the sick poor, in accordance, with the dictates of an antiquated and wholly discredited system. A demand has arisen even in the colony itself for Chinese medical practitioners with a knowledge of the modern system of surgery and medicine. It has been proposed to open dispensaries in the Chinese quarter, and qualified Chinese will be required to take charge of them. The Government are in need of better and more reliable statistics as to health and disease in the colony, and only trained Chinese doctors can, for many years to come, provide the figures and the information required. The College of Medicine for Chinese has already turned out seven qualified Chinese medical practitioners, and with the assistance
now asked for it will be enabled to train & greater number annually and to give them a more thorough education.
If this assistance is not granted it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for the College to continue in existence. It is depending for house room for its students and for class rooms
for their instruction upon the Alice Memorial Hospital. Its Professors and Lecturers are volunteers, wholly unremunerated in any way for the time and skill they give to the instruc- tion of the pupils, and they have to attend at the same time to the increasing demands of their own professional practice. It is getting more difficult every day to fill up the places left
THE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE FOR | vacant by the absence, temporary or perma
CHINESE.
PROPOSED ENDOWMENT,
DIVIDED OPINIONS.
•
We are authorised to publish the following correspondence :-
College of Medicine, Hongkong, 29th January, 1894. Sir,-Referring to recent correspondence on the subject of an endowment for the College of Medicine for Chinese, the Governing Body of
nent, of the original holders of the Chairs. The medical men through whose self-sacrificing labours the good work has been started and carried on 80 far are beginning to feel that, now that they have successfully demons- trated the practicability of training Chinese in Western medicine and surgery, and that Chinese are willing to be trained, it is time that the colony and the community took up the work and recognised in some way that the pro- fit is to the public and not to the professors. With a suitable building at their disposal the Court and Senate can secure more students and
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