Difference between revisions of "MAChina 1927-2003"

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CHINA DISTRICT

Formed in 1927; split into two districts (Shanghai and this North China) at the end of 1947; reunited in 1957.

N: Links to Necrologies.

DISTRICT GRAND MASTERS

• Irvin Van Gorder Gillis, 1927-1935; International
• Vergil F. Bradfield, 1936-1938; International; N
• Nathan E. Lurton, 1939-1942; Ancient Landmark; SN
• Franklin C. Fetté, 1946; International

DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTERS

• Hyman Hodes, 1957-1973; Hykes Memorial; N
• Alphonse Rigod, 1974-1979; Sinim
• Joe A. Diele, 1980-2002; Sinim; N
• Richard Dyck, 2002

REPORTS

DECEMBER 1935

From Proceedings, Page 1925-207:

Right Worshipful Brother Gillis has submitted another of his admirable reports covering the activities of his District for the last Grand Lodge year. Appended are full reports from the Master of each Lodge and the Treasurer's report for the District Grand Lodge.

Right Worshipful Brother Gillis has a very difficult task. The Lodges under his charge are separated from each other and from his headquarters by very great distances. The conditions under which the several Lodges work vary greatly, and their individual problems differ widely. Nevertheless, each Lodge receives his constant sympathetic and efficient supervision. Working as he does with other Masonic obediences which have different laws and different customs, with one of which we are unfortunately not in Masonic relations, many difficult and perplexing questions are constantly arising which call for tact and diplomacy. Right Worshipful Brother Gillis has dealt with these difficult conditions with a devotion and skill which deserve the highest praise. We are indeed fortunate in having his services in this important post.

Political conditions in China are still unstable and unsatisfactory. They do not appear as yet to have directly affected our Lodges. Indirectly, however, they are not without effects which may later be harmful unless means of counteracting them are discovered. Three of our Lodges draw their initiates for the most part from soldiers and marines on duty in China. While no objection whatever exists to the reception of these candidates, the result is a lack of permanence in the membership and sometimes a difficulty in getting properly qualified officers. The withdrawal of these military units, which is by no means impossible, would very seriously deplete these Lodges.

In the spheres of Japanese influence, the Japanese have so far treated our Lodges with the same toleration extended to the British Lodges in Japan. While secret assemblages are forbidden by Japanese law, the authorities ignore the Masonic Lodges on the understanding that Japanese subjects are not admitted to membership. Our Lodges in Manchuria are, however, seriously threatened by the withdrawal of British and American business houses, which dries up our source of supply.

Under present conditions, Right Worshipful Brother Gillis is strongly of the opinion, in which I agree, that we should found no new Lodges in the China District.

The general conditions in the Lodges are good. Under R. W. Brother Gillis' careful and energetic direction, many improvements have been made. The Lodges generally are better organized and administered than ever before. Owing to the changing character of the community from which we draw, it is not always easy to get qualified Brethren to fill the Master's chair, but the average quality of leadership is greatly improved. One of the greatest difficulties in the China District from the very beginning has been found in the matter of Lodge Secretaries. It has been very difficult to get or to keep Secretaries who were well informed and devoted to their work. In this respect a great improvement has been brought about. The secretarial work in the Lodges is better than it has ever been before.

Service committees are being introduced and are functioning well. The two Lodges of Instruction are doing excellent work. They are not only instructing candidates and older members but through the attendance of Brethren from other jurisdictions are doing much to strengthen fellowship.

The general financial condition in China is not good and the prospects are not very encouraging. In spite of this, however, the financial condition of the Lodges is sound without exception. Of seven out of eight Lodges reporting to the District Grand Master, all operate entirely on dues, four ear-mark all receipts from initiation and affiliation for the charity fund, five are on a budget system, and four have their officers bonded. The District Grand Master and the District Grand Treasurer, Worshipful Brother Bradfield, have been unremitting in their efforts to improve the financial administration of the Lodges and their work has met with great success.

As usual, the Brethren have been faithful and generous in the discharge of their obligations for relief. In this regard they deserve great praise. The District Grand Master again sends a generous gift of S250.0U for Juniper Hall, and for it we are very grateful. He again, as last year, expresses his great regret that slides or motion picture films are not available for the purpose of showing the Home and Hospital to our Lodges. He is confident that such visible presentation of our work for our less fortunate Brethren and their dependents would greatly stimulate interest and result in better financial support from China. I repeat the suggestion made by my predecessor last year that perhaps some generous Brother or Brothers will help us to secure this material for use in China.

I feel that our China District has had a year of prosperity remarkable under the conditions which necessarily prevail there. We owe this to the devotion and the untiring efforts of our District Grand Master and the loyal staff of officers whom he has assembled around him. I can not express too strongly my gratitude and appreciation for all they have done.

A special word of appreciation is due to Worshipful Thurston R. Porter, our Deputy District Grand Master. His station at Shanghai is far removed from Right Worshipful Brother Gillis at Peiping, and his duties are very important. He is a most faithful, loyal, and efficient deputy, and is of the greatest assistance to the District Grand Master.

LODGES

1927-2003 Districts Page

Main Districts Page