DeltaC
Contents
DELTA (CHINA)
Location: Canton, China
Dispensation Granted By: Dudley H. Ferrell
Charter Date: Never chartered; dispensation surrendered at the March 1927 Quarterly Communication.
Precedence Date: 03/21/1925 (1925-143)
Current Status: dispensation returned and charter not granted (Page 1927-43).
REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS
HISTORY
A MASSACHUSETTS LODGE IN CANTON
In December 1924, Bro. Graham Kearney, a Canadian engineer resident in Canton, China, wrote a letter to Rt. Wor. Irvin Van Gorder Gillis, District Grand Master for Massachusetts lodges in China, who resided in Peking. Bro. Kearney was a relatively recently made Mason; he had been raised in May 1921 in Star of Southern China Lodge #2013, English Constitution. He was a charter member of Hykes Memorial Lodge in Tientsin, where he was then resident.
His letter to Gillis inquired about the possibility of establishing a Massachusetts lodge in Canton, where there was only one lodge at that time - Star of Southern China #2013. He noted that the lodge owned its own building, had a Masonic Club, and counted "quite a number of Americans" among those who "took an interest" in it as visitors "and some as members. Many more do not, as you can understand from our experience in Tientsin." Two Americans had served as Master, and one of them discussed the possibility of an American lodge in Canton; these two, and the incoming Master of the English lodge, would be among "at least twenty petitions" from the American community. He believed that some English Masons might join and in any case, he felt "sure of the the whole-hearted support" of the English community.
In addition, he noted another advantage of having an American Lodge; Star of Southern China accepted applications from American Masons, but did not act on them "until they receive reports and waivers of jurisdiction . . . This is a hangover from war conditions in England."
Brother Kearney concluded his letter with a note that he would also write to a friend, Charles Burleigh, who had served in 1923 as Deputy Grand Master, to "get, entirely unofficially, the view of the Grand Lodge."
Gillis replied promptly by telegram:
"Referring to your letter of the 19th ultimo authorize you to take immediate action organize lodge in accordance with Massachusetts constitutions mailed to you to-day hearty congratulations all success to you."
He followed this up with a letter on January 11, 1925, expressing pleasure at the news, noting that "not ever having been in Canton I did not fully realize its possibilities from the Masonic viewpoint." With his best wishes, he encouraged Bro. Kearney to "get busy" in preparing a petition for a dispensation, and instructed his District Grand Secretary, Bro. Conrad Anner, to provide information.
