Shanghai

SHANGHAI LODGE (CHINA)

Location: Shanghai, China

Chartered By: Baalis Sanford

Charter Date: 09/14/1904 1904-104

Precedence Date: 08/11/1903

Current Status: unknown; no longer working. Originally named 'Orient'.

PAST MASTERS

Samuel R. Gale, 1903-1908
John D. Bentley, 1909-1911
F. J. Wetherstone Melville, 1912
Samuel Hewkin, 1913
Carlton Roeper, 1914
Charles Houghton, 1915, 1916
Charles Powell, 1917
Herbert W. Strike, 1918
Ervan O. Thomas, 1919
Charles S. Hepburn, 1920
William E. Dearn, 1921
John J. H. Dearn, 1922
Walter S. Bardeson, 1923, 1924
Charles Kliene, 1925, 1936
William A. Skuse, 1926
Thurston R. Porter, 1927
Thomas H. Richardson, 1928
Edgar T. M. Van Bergen, 1929
Charles E. Larsen, 1930
William Golding, 1931
Frederick A. Naylor, 1932, 1948-1951
Ivey G. Riddick, 1933
Calvin E. Horsman, 1934
William B. Meredith, 1935
William A. Wolnizer, 1937
Frank Boorman, 1938
Walter Lebrun, 1939
Leonti P. Podpakh, 1940-1942
IN RECESS 1943-1945
Gerrasime D. Chelmis, 1946, 1947
Marcus A. Ferras, 1952, 1953 acting
IN RECESS SINCE 1954

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

Petition for Dispensation: 1903 Dispensation name was "Orient"
Petition for Charter: 1904

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

1922 (Prince)
1930 (H. Dean)

BY-LAW CHANGES

1914 1924 1929 1931 1933 1936 1948 1950

HISTORY

TYPESCRIPT HISTORY, 1938

The following is a transcription of a typescript history in the archives of the Samuel Crocker Lawrence Library, Boston.

SHANGHAI LODGE, Mass. Const.

SHANGHAI

Date of Charter: 14th September, 1904.
Place of Meeting: American Masonic Temple, 178 Route Dufour, Shanghai.
Dates of Meetings: 1st. Friday of each month, usually excepting July and August.
Installation Meeting: 1st. Friday in September

The early history of the Lodge with list of Masters to 1913 ia included in the previous volume, pages 193-4.

The Lodge was consecrated on 6th January, 1905, in the former Masonic Hall, No. 30 The Bund, and held its meetings there until just before the building was demolished in 1928.

Until 1912, the Installation Meeting was held in January; By-Laws were then amended and the election of officers took place in September to be followed by the Installation Meeting in October.

As with the other Lodges of the Massachusetts Constitution it had been the custom, with but few exceptions, for a Senior District Grand Lodge officer to install the Master-elect, and it has also been the custom to vote a Past Master's jewel to the retiring Master. In earlier years the Lodge voted a small cash honorarium to the Secretary, but this was discontinued and jewels were voted to the Secretary, Treasurer and the Tyler, with an additional bar for each extra year of service in special cases.

Until 1923 it was the custom for the Master to rise three times before closing the Lodge: after that year, however, the practice of one rising was adopted.

Very friendly relations were maintained with the Lodges of other Constitutions and considerable interest was evinced in their form, of ceremonial working. In February, 1913, the desire was expressed to visit Lodge Germania and witness their Third Degree Ceremony; Lodge Germania courteously invited the brethren of the Lodge to attend their meetings in March and/or April, which they did, and, in due course, Wor. Bro. Mittag and the Officers of Lodge Germania paid a return visit to Shanghai Lodge in March, 1914.

As with almost all Lodges in Shanghai, from about 1913 onwards the meetings were often very long, and it became a regular custom to call�off for refreshment for ten or fifteen minutes between 10 and 11 P.M. This practice has almost disappeared, largely in favour of earlier meetings with an interval for supper.

In November, 1913, the Lodge formed a "Permanent Advisory Committee" consisting of the resident Past Masters; the By-Laws were amended about t the same time, increasing the fees.

At the Annual Meeting in October, 1915, the Treasurer reported that the Lodge funds were in healthy condition, with a better balance in hand. In December of the same year a vote was passed in favour of "some festive re-union among the members, their wives and children", but, although a committee was formed, the effort did not materialize awing to short notice and lack of support.

A complete set of new Regalia, with a new Lodge Banner, was ordered from London in July, 1917, and was received about the end of that year.

At the meeting on 1st. March, 1918, a Chaplain's jewel was presented to Wor. Bro. G. E. Marshall, a founder of the Lodge, for "long and faithful service". The Lodge was a regular contributor to the Masonic Scholar�ship Fund, and on 3rd. May, 1918, congratulations were extended to Wor. Bro. G. E. Marshall on the success of his son in passing the Cambridge Local Examination, Gaining Honours, and thereby winning the Masonic Scholarship for that year.

On 4th April, 1919, the brethren paid tribute to the memory of Bro. G. W. Bennett, M. C., Captain of the Yorkshire & Lancashire Regiment. After experiencing severe fighting and recovering from several wounds, Bro. G. W. Bennett died from influenza while still on active service.

In November, 1919, the suggestion was made that a full list of members should be printed on the Lodge circular; this was done for the first time in the history of the Lodge on the circular dated 26th November, 1919, but for various reasons the practice was discontinued about 1932.

A senior member of the Lodge in January, 1920 drew attention to the habit the Lodge had fallen into of opening some fifteen to thirty minutes later than stated in the summons; nothing, however, was done, and the practice continued.

On 1st April, 1921, it was suggested that the first Honorary Member of the Lodge should be Rt. Wor. Bro. Rev. John R. Hykes, D. D., District Grand Master, and he was duly elected on that date. On 15th June, 1921, however, the Worshipful Master referred to the District Grand Master's death on the previous day, and the brethren paid tribute to his memory.

At the meeting on 2nd. September, 1921, on behalf of the Lodge, the Wor. Master accepted the gift of a gavel from Bro. W. D. Kadri, one of the members.

The Installation banquet in October, 1921, was held at the Astor House Hotel, for a change.

A somewhat rare incident occurred at the meeting in January, 1922, when three candidates were initiated. The first one was admitted in due form and received light; in the next part of the ceremony it was discovered that he was in possession of M. substance, and the ceremony had to be repeated. Before the Lodge was closed the Tyler was admitted to the Lodge and tendered apologies: but the Wor. Master also apolo�gized for remarks (possibly overheard by the candidate) which may have led up to the occurrence.

The Lodge authorized the purchase of a new Trestle Board at the Meeting on 5th May, 1922.

The Lodge was honoured by its first visit from a Grand Master of Massachusetts on 6th October, 1922, when M. Wor. Bro. Arthur D. Prince visited officially, accompanied by Rt. Wor. Bro. F. H. Hilton, Grand Sword Bearer, Acting Grand Marshal, and installed the Master-elect, Bro. W. S. Bardarson. The M. Wor. Grand Master also delivered the charges to the Master, Wardens and brethren. At the same meeting the Lodge voted to support a new "Research Lodge" which was sponsored by Wor. Bro. E. T. M. van Bergen (Master Designate), but the petition was not granted by the Grand Lodge.

After a number of candidates had been Rejected in the ballot, one of the senior Past Masters, in November, 1922, suggested modifications to minimize the regrettable practice of "black balling". Thereafter, applications were submitted for acceptance before being entered on the circular for ballot, and the number of rejections fell off considerably.

In February, 1923, the Lodge presented a set of Working Tools to the newly formed Chin Ling Lodge, Nanking, which was gratefully acknowledged.

There was no degree work on 5th September, 1924, but an instructive address on Grand Lodge activities was given by Wor.Bro. W. B. Pettus.

The May 30th affair in Nanking Road in 1925 caused the postpone�ment of the June meeting until 28th July, 1924. After that meeting the brethren adjourned to the Plaza Hotel for dinner with the ladies of their families.

A special guest of honour at the meeting on 4th December, 1925, was H. Wor. Bro. Nat. M. Washer, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas, who spoke at length of the "Principles of Freemasonry", and congratulated the Master, Wor. Bro. W. A. Skuse, on the excellent work.

The idea of forming special "teams" to carry out the degree work was adopted early in 1926, and added much to the smooth working.

In May,1927, Bro. Dr. Frederick Reiss (initiated in the Lodge on 27th June, 1924), present to the Lodge a very handsome Volume of the Sacred Law, which was gratefully accepted by the Worshipful Master.

A Founder's jewel was presented on 7th October, 1927, to Bro. George Wood, the Lodge's first Secretary and only Founder still on the list of active members.

Wor. Bro. A.Q. Adamson, Deputy D. G. M., reminded the brethren in January, 1928, that 1929 would be the 25th anniversary of the founding of both Shanghai and Sinim Lodges, and the District Grand Master, Rt. Wor. Bro. I. V. Gillis, suggested a joint celebration. The minutes for 1929, however, do not record any celebration in Shanghai Lodge.

The former Masonic Hall, Ho. 30 The Bund, was sold in 1926, to be vacated in 1928; several discussions occurred about new accommodation for the Lodge, but it was not until 2nd March, 1928, that the Lodge adopted a resolution to participate in the project of a new American Masonic Temple, in accordance with a scheme presented by the Scottish Rite Bodies, dated 15th February, 1928, under which the Lodge had to make a first invesrment of TS. 2,500.

The meeting on 2nd March, 1928, was the last one held in the Masonic Hall, No. 30 The Bund, where the Lodge had been consecrated. The Lodge then moved to temporary quarters in the South Room of the former Municipal Town Hall in Hankin^ Road, where three meetings were held, on 6th April, 4th May, and 1st June, 1928. At the meeting in May, the Lodge voted not to support the proposed new International Lodge, to be known as Chung Hua Lodge.

The Lodge's first meeting in the new American Masonic Temple was held on 7th September, 1928. On that evening a new ballot-box was presented to the Lodge by Bro A. W. Cleaver-Browne, and the By-Laws were amended to increase the fees.

The Installation of Wor. Bro. E. T. M. van Bergen as Master for' 1928/9 was not recorded in the Lodge Minutes; he was installed at a "joint" meeting with other Massachusetts Lodges. At the meeting on 5th October, 1928, however, he delivered a lecture on the revised working furnished by the Grand Lecturer of Grand Lodge, with details of the floor work of the three degrees.

After the meeting on 2nd. November, 1928, the brethren dined together at the French Club (Cercle Sportiff Français) to bid farewell to the Worshipful Master, who was shortly leaving for the U. S. A.

The Treasurer’s statement for the year 1928/9, submitted on 4 October, 1929, showed a cash balance of Ch.$1,463.55 and Debentures of Ch$ 1,300.

In January, 1930, the style of the Lodge circular was altered, and for about three years the front page of the circular bore a picture of the central portion of the Shanghai Bund. About that time contributions were asked to the "Juniper Hall" Fund. This building had been presented to the Craft by Mrs. Whittall, widow of a Past Grand Master of Massachusetts (Ed. Note: this is inaccurate; Bro. Whittall was a Director), and some U. S.8200,000. were required to convert the building into a Hospital for Masons. Shanghai Lodge contributed U. S. $100. In order to avoid misunderstanding, it was pointed out later that the Massachusetts Masonic Home and the Juniper Hall Hospital were not available to members in China, and more particularly not available to non-American members of Massachusetts Lodges.

An Exemplification Meeting was held on 13th June, 1930, for members of the Massachusetts Constitution only, when the Second Degree was worked by Shanghai Lodge. On this occasion M. Wor. Bro. Herbert W. Dean, Grand Master of Massachusetts, paid an official visit accompanied by Rt Wor. Bro. Charles C. Balcom, Grand Marshal. At the request of the M.Wor. Grand Master, Rt. Wor. Bro. Charles C. Balcom criticised the ceremony, pointed out the differences from that followed in Massachusetts, so that these differences might be eliminated.

On 7th November, 1930, Wor. Bro. W.A. Skuse (W. M. 1925/6) presented the Lodge with a Collection Plate of blackwood, suitably inscribed.

The Lod0ge gave its full support to social events, arranged by the American Masonic Temple Association, on 19th December, 1930, and 30th. January, 1931. The former was a "Social and Dance", and the latter event an "Entertainment, Supper and Dance", with special features of community singing, Paul Jones dances, songs, monologues, banjo solos, etc.

In December, 1931, Wor. Bro. Thurston R. Porter, Deputy D. G. M., visited the Lodge officially, and emphasised some eight important points in connection with the welfare of the Lodge. He pointed out that the Lodge was the second wealthiest in the China District, having assets of Ch.$93 per member, but that its charitable contributions were only six per cent of its income, while a large proportion was spent on refreshments. Following this, a Resolution was passed that Lodge income should not be used for entertainment or refreshment, those items to be covered by voluntary contributions.

On 8th January, 1932, the members voted to hold one meeting a year when the work would be conducted by Past Masters.Shanghai Lodge lost one of its members in tragic circumstances in the days of tension just before the outbreak of Sino/Japanese hostilities in Chapei, at the end of January, 1932, On 24th January, 1932, Bro. Dr. Albert Porges was driving near Lunghwa Pagoda and stopped his car to be searched by a Chinese sentry when another young Chinese sentry fired his rifle - said to be amistake. In over-zealousness-killing Bro. Porges. A special Meeting of the Lodge was called at 2.35 p.m. on 28th January, 1932, and the brethren proceeded to the parlours of the International Funeral Directors where a Masonic Funeral Service was held over the remains of the late Bro. Albert Porges. That same evening open hostilities commenced in Chapei, and the State of Emergency which prevailed for some time cause the Regular Meeting, which should have been held on 5th February, 1932, to be abandoned. Meetings were held on 4th March and 1st April, 1932, but were summoned at 6 p. m. and closed at 8 p. m. owing to curfew restrictions.

The Lodge's first "Past Masters Night" v/as held on 6th May, 1932, at 8 p/m., when Wor. Bro. W. A. Skuse occupied the Chair and appointed his team to raise three brethren. Bro. G. Wood, the remaining Founding member of the Lodge, was also welcomed on that occasion.

At the Annual Meeting held on 2nd September, 1932, it was decided not to have a banquet after the Installation, but a simple cold collation (recorded by the Secretary as a "simple coalition."!).

There was no degree work on 4th November, 1932, but the brethren were much interested in a Lecture given by Wor. Bro. Charles Kliene (W.M. 1924/5 on the subject "Masonic History and Symbolism". Starting at a period said to be some 50,000 years ago, Wor. Bro. Kliene traced down through the ages to the present era the numerous mystic symbols inherited from early Egyp�tian and Chinese periods now used in speculative masonry. Wor.Bro. Kliene also illustrated his Lecture on a blackboard.

Again on 2nd. December, 1932, there was no degree work, and Wor. Bro, Thurston R. Porter, Deputy D. G. M., delivered a Lecture on the History of Massachusetts Masonry at Home and Abroad; at the conclusion of the Lecture he mentioned having heard from Wor. Bro. A. Q. Adamson, P. D. D. G. M., at that time the Junior Warden of a Lodge In Jerusalem, Palestine, whence he had sent one Rough Ashlar and one Smooth Ashlar, for Sinim Lodge and the District Grand Lodge respectively.

The Lodge revised its membership rolls at the end of 1932, and in January, 1933, thirty-seven brethren were discharged from membership over the period 1914-1930.

Ten gold bars for his Treasurer’s jewel were presented to Bro. J.W. Chadderton on 3rd February, 1933, in appreciation of ten years service as Treasurer.

More interesting papers were read in 1933. On 3rd March, Wor. Bro. C. Matthews, P. D. G. W., D. G. TYLER (E. C.), read papers on "The Reception and Introduction of Visitors" and the"Preparation of Candidates". At the next meeting, after the Second Degree ceremony, Wor. Bro. A. J. Hughes - P. M. of Royal Sussex Lodge, No. 501, E. C.- read a paper entitled "Masonry a Moral Force" .•"The Installation meeting on 6th October, 1933, was notable for the fact that the Worshipful Master, Wor. Bro. I.G.Riddick, installed his successor, Bro. C.E. Horseman.(On this occasion ot was recorded that two P. Ms. were "delicated" as Commission to receive the D.D.G.M.!)

Another "Past Masters Night” was held on 6th April, 1934, when a team of Past Masters worked the Third Degree ceremony.

Wor. Bro. Charles Kliene delivered another interesting Lecture on 2nd November, 1934, on the "Seals of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts"; he was assisted by Bro. Case, who illustrated the Lecture with lantern slides.

In 1934, the Installation Meeting was delayed until 7th December, when the Wor. Master, Wor. Bro. C. E. Horsman, installed the Master-elect, Bro. W. D. Meredith. That sane evening a silver salver, suitably engraved, was presented to Bro. J. W. Chadderton in token of appreciation for his ser�vices as Treasurer of the Lodge for fourteen years.

The social life of the Lodge was not overlooked, and from time to time the Entertainment Committee arranged social events vhich were highly appreciated. Brethren were also encouraged to attend the monthly "Cemen�ters" tiffins at the Masonic Club, and so become better acquainted.

In 1935, amendments to the By-Laws were approved, altering the annual Election meeting from September to June, and the Installation meet�ing to September. (The latter was held in October in 1936.)

In April, 1935, the Lodge voted a present to be sent to Wor. Bro. Walter F. W. Taber, for eight years Proxy for the Lodge at Grand Lodge, Boston This took the form of a silver Pagoda, kindly delivered in person by Wor. Bro. V. F. Bradfield, and acknowledged at the meeting on 4th December,1936.

A high honour was conferred on one of the Lodge’s Honorary Members in 1935, when the Grand Lodge of Scotland appointed Rt. Wor. Bro. E. J. Hudson to be their representative near the Grand Lodge of California, and conferred on him the rank of Honorary Junior Grand Warden <Sf the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

By special arrangement the W. M., Wor. Bro. W. D. Meredith, Installed the Master-elect, Wor. Bro. Charles Kliene, on 6th September, 1935, and Wor. Bro. W. A. Sims , P. D. D. G. M., occupied the S. W. Chair, with Wor. Bro. Thurston R.Porter, D. D. G. M., in the J.W. Chair. After his installation, Wor. 3ro. Kliene stated that he was deeply touched by having these brethren in the Wardens' Chairs, because they were his Wardens when he was previous�ly Master in 1924/5. What made the event more remarkable, and never likely to occur again, was the fact that the "Acting S. W." was a "P. D. D. G. M." and the "Acting J. W." was then the "D. D. G. M." of the District Grand Lodge, Massachusetts Constitution.

Officers were elected as usual in June, 1936, when Bro. W. C. A. Wolnizer became Master-elect. No record was made, however, in the Minute book of his Installation, which took place at a joint installation with other Lodges of the Massachusetts Constitution in October, 1936.

A special visitor attended the meeting on 4th December, 1936, in the person of M. Em. Sir Kt. Andrew D. Agnew, M. Eminent Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the U. S. A., who was introduced by Wor. Bro, C. E. Horsnan, D. D. G. M. Rt. Wor.Bro. V. F. Bradfield, District Grand Master, visited the Lodge on 7th March, 1937, when he gave an interesting discourse on "Friendship", and again on 4th March, 1938, when he spoke on the "Tenets of Freemasonry" and how they should be applied.

The Sino/Japanese hostilities which broke out in August, 1937, and raged violently round Shanghai for some three months, fortunately did not stop the usual meetings, though many members had to attend in uniform, and the meetings were summoned at an earlier hour owing to Curfew restrictions, then imposed at 10 p.m.

The Lodge finances have been maintained in satisfactory condition and the membership at the end of August, 1937, numbered seventy-eight.

The following brethren were elected Honorary Members of the Lodge:

1st April, 1921:
- Rt. Wor. Bro. Rev. John R. Hykes, D. G. M.
6th May,1921:
- Rt. Wor. Bro. F. W. Hamilton, Grand Secretary, Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, Boston
- Rt. Wor. Bro. F. W. Thayer, Proxy in Grand Lodge
3rd March 1922:
- Rt. Wor. Bro. C. S. F. Lincoln, D. G. M.
6th June, 1924:
- Bro. L. R. O. Haven
3rd April, 1925:
- Wor. Bro. G. E. Marshall, a Founder of the Lodge
4th March, 1927:
- Wor. Bro. Walter F. W. Taber, Proxy in Grand Lodge
8th January, 1932:
- (Rt.) Wor. Bro. E. J. Hudson (Hon. J. G. W., Scotland)
- Rt. Wor. Bro. I. V. Gillis, D. G. M.
2nd December, 1932:
- (Rt.) Wor.Bro. V. F. Bradfield, D. G. M.
3rd. March 1933:
- Bro. George Wood, a Founder of the Lodge
6th September,1935:
- M. Wor. Bro. Arthur D. Prince, Past Grand Master of Massachusetts
- Rt. Wor. Bro. P. M. Streit, Grand Inspector of the Grand Lodge of Ireland
4th February, 1938
- Wor. Bro. Laurence M. Jackson, Proxy in Grand Lodge