Kamloops Chinese Freemasons
| History Kamloops Chinese Freemasons Timeline 1884 Dozens of Chinese Freemason members resided in Kamloops. 1894 August31. The first Chinese Freemasons New Branch started the location on West Victoria Street. In 1910 Chinese Freemasons had the first conference in Kamloops. 1911 Chinese Freemasons built the first new lodge in Kamloops on West Victoria Street. 1928-December 28. Chinese Freemasons had the fifth conference in Kamloops. Guests came from all over Canada and the United States. A parade was held. It was seen by about 500 people. Lion and Dragon dances, drums and symbols were played. There was a big banquet in the evening. 1945 October 24. An anniversary dinner was held in the lodge. It served I l0 people. Don Tong was the master, and Lai Sang the chairman. Reverend Chow attended. Interpreter, Kee Lee. 1953 Chinese Freemasons rebuilt the lodge on West Victoria Street. The lodge built in 1911 was burned down by fire. 1979 The lodge was taken down to the widened West Victoria Street. The Chinese Freemasons office, at the time, was located at 576 Tranquille Road. 1986 Chinese Freemasons bought a duplex at 815-817 Battle St. for the club, unfortunately it did not meet the city by-law, so it was rented out as an investment. 1993 Kamloops Centennial Parade Chinese Freemasons won second place. 1994 The Chinese Freemasons were recognized for 100 years of service with the Centennial Award from the City of Kamloops. 1995 Chinese Freemasons sold the duplex and bought a building at 474 and 476 Tranquille Rd. 1996 Grand opening of the Chinese Freemasons building. 1998 March: Athletic Club formed with the lion dance group, headmaster Pak Chan from Vancouver. . |
| History Kamloops Chinese Freemasons Timeline 1884 Dozens of Chinese Freemason members resided in Kamloops. 1894 August31. The first Chinese Freemasons New Branch started the location on West Victoria Street. In 1910 Chinese Freemasons had the first conference in Kamloops. 1911 Chinese Freemasons built the first new lodge in Kamloops on West Victoria Street. 1928-December 28. Chinese Freemasons had the fifth conference in Kamloops. Guests came from all over Canada and the United States. A parade was held. It was seen by about 500 people. Lion and Dragon dances, drums and symbols were played. There was a big banquet in the evening. 1945 October 24. An anniversary dinner was held in the lodge. It served I l0 people. Don Tong was the master, and Lai Sang the chairman. Reverend Chow attended. Interpreter, Kee Lee. 1953 Chinese Freemasons rebuilt the lodge on West Victoria Street. The lodge built in 1911 was burned down by fire. 1979 The lodge was taken down to the widened West Victoria Street. The Chinese Freemason’s office, at the time, was located at 576 Tranquille Road. 1986 Chinese Freemasons bought a duplex at 815-817 Battle St. for the club, unfortunately, it did not meet the city by-law, so it was rented out as an investment. 1993 Kamloops Centennial Parade Chinese Freemasons won second place. 1994 The Chinese Freemasons were recognized for 100 years of service with the Centennial Award from the City of Kamloops. 1995 Chinese Freemasons sold the duplex and bought a building at 474 and 476 Tranquille Rd. 1996 Grand opening of the Chinese Freemasons building. 1998 March: Athletic Club formed with the lion dance group, headmaster Pak Chan from Vancouver. |
FREEMASONS
The first organization formed by the Chinese date back as early as 1862 in Barkerville. It was a clandestine brotherhood association called the Zhi Gong Tang, which was made up of merchants and gold miners that had its origin in the secret societies of China.
The Zhi Gong Tang, also known as the Hongmen, or better known as the Chinese Freemasons, were a branch of the anti-Qing dynasty secret society. Otherwise known as Triads. They traced their roots back to five monks in China.
The main goal of the brotherhood was to overthrow the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and restore the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), because the Manchu rulers of the Qing Dynasty were Mongolians and were regarded by the Han majority as outsiders, Between 1787 and 1911 chapters of the triad Society participated in several insurgencies against the Qing government.
However, in Canada, the Freemasons were more concerned with providing social welfare assistance to the bachelor workers who laboured in the mines on the West Coast and Cariboo area. At the same time, these social aid programs became important tools for gathering overseas recruits, spreading anti-qing propaganda and raising money for the struggle inside China.
Interestingly, after 1911, the Zhi Gong Tang operated as a branch of the Kuomintang or Nationalist Party in China.
In 1915, the Chinese Empire Reform Association Chinese Freemasons opened its doors at 192 York Street in Toronto. Later on, the Toronto chapter was more of a fraternal association for old and single men.
