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Post by cherrybomb on Feb 7, 2010 21:01:20 GMT -5
Does anyone know if the Chinese Free Masons have a global website? I know there are various branches across Canada and the world - Vacouver, Toronto, Boston, etc.
I know membership in North America is dwindling because the "jook-sings" aren't interested in the old cultures. My dad and his cousin are members but only pays the membership fee because his dad was a huge monumental force in the Free Masonary in Ontario, Canada.
Also I learned not to long ago about how my great great grandpa used to set the Chinese characters for a newspaper for the Toronto Chinese Free Masons back in the 1950s. I haven't found out much information on him because we can't find his tombstone in the Woodland Cemetary in London, Ontario, Canada.
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Post by Ah Gin on Feb 20, 2010 4:01:14 GMT -5
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Post by harc3 on Feb 20, 2010 8:53:18 GMT -5
great article
Thanks Ah Gin
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Post by Ah Gin on Feb 21, 2010 1:14:38 GMT -5
PS: Some of my best friends are Masons, Chinese Masons including. Some famous Chinese personalities (of the heritage period) were also Masons. Dan Brown loves them too.
Regards, Ah Gin
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Post by douglaslam on Feb 21, 2010 2:37:29 GMT -5
The Chinese Masonic Society is always regarded as the dragon head among the many clubs and societies in Sydney's Chinatown because of its long continuous history. Whenever there is a festival such as the New Year, Chi Kung Tong always gets first pick to parade its lion dance troupe. I shall take notice in tonight's ( our time) NY Parade, and look out for Chi Kung Tong's lion dance performers on show.
I remember in the "old days" if you wanted to see a Chinese movie, there were three venues in the city; Chi Kung Tong club house, KMT (Nationalist Oceania HQ ), or the Chinese Youth League ( a staple of mainland China fare). It was inexpensive, but you had to put up with interruption between reels. If you were hungry and homesick as I was for things from HK, it was no big inconvenience.
When the city's produce market moved from the Chinatown precinct in the 1970s, the whole area was a depressed sight. No one could foresee the rush in Chinese immigration and tourism development. For those who are familiar with Sydney's Chinatown , I believe Chi Kung Tong was within an ace of acquiring a prime site to re-locate in Chinatown proper to a more convenient and far larger premises. A golden opportunity to re-invent itself to a new populace. .Negotiations broke down over a few thousand dollars. The building now houses the Golden Century Restaurant, probably the most upmarket and pricey Chinese eatery in town. No, you won't see me dine out there.
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Post by geoff on Feb 21, 2010 18:13:06 GMT -5
Cherrybomb & Ahgin,
Thank you Cherrybomb for raising the subject & to ahgin for highlighting the "interesting article about the Chinese Masonic Society" on 20 Feb.
In the Australian part of that article I see my maternal grandfather's name William Ling, storekeeper.............
"After the affiliation of William Yinson Lee on 14 October 1909, nothing more was of importance in this regard until William Ling, storekeeper, aged 35 years, and Raymond Lee, horsebreeder, aged 28 years, both initiated on 11 April 1912".
How did I discover that my gfather was a Mason?
While I was searching for gf's death & funeral notices in Sydney Morning Herald newspaper in 1936, I saw a funeral notice placed by Lodge 91 inviting bros to attend Bro William's funeral. I wondered what this Lodge was? Later received info from Bro Peter Court that gfather was a Master Mason & one of the earliest chinese members.
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Post by williamochee on Aug 14, 2010 7:59:56 GMT -5
How active is the Chinese Masonic Society these days? Is it limited to Sydney or are there other branches elsewhere in Australia?
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Post by mugenpower168 on Aug 14, 2010 9:51:17 GMT -5
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Post by douglaslam on Aug 15, 2010 4:00:49 GMT -5
Hi Williamochee, Are you the Bill O'chee from Qld? siyigenealogy.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=news&action=display&thread=1170If you are the one, what do you think of this news item which appeared some weeks ago. You have done research on Chinese diggers amongst the original ANZACs. And I heard Tony Delroy interviewed you on the same subject. It is outrageous the film makers treating Billy Sing with disdain. What can you or we do about it? Do you know what the RSL think of the farce? Douglas |
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Post by Ah Gin on Aug 15, 2010 4:53:07 GMT -5
Welcome Williamochee. If you are Bill O Chee of Qld, double welcome.
I am from Melbourne. I not sure how active the Chinese Masons in Melbourne are these days, but I do have an older friend who seems to be still active. The meeting place is still quite well known in Chinatown. (My english grammar is never that good).
Regards, Ah Gin
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