I. The Lodge and its Furniture.
The accompanying lithograph, taken from a native sketch, gives a very good idea of a Lodge arranged for a ceremony of initiation.
Just inside the outer door of the Lodge is the famous Ang-Kun, (19 紅棍) or Red Bâton, (a staff of 36 Chinese inches in length) which is used as an instrument of punishment, and from which one of the office-bearers derives his title.
So-Ang-Kuang (20 蘇紅光) is on guard at the outer door, and any person wishing to enter the Lodge, must take up the Bâton with both hands, and repeat the following verse.
- "In my hands I hold the red cane,
- On my way to the Lodge I've no fear,
- You ask me brother, whither I go,
- You come early, but I walked slow."
Any stranger failing in this test, ought, according to the rules of the Society, to be beheaded at once.
Having gained entry, we come to the Ang Gate[1](21 洪門) guarded on the right by Ban-To-hong (22 萬道芳) and on the left by Ban-To-liong (23 萬道龍),
Above the Gate, on each side, is a Flag, the two together bearing characters meaning, "The barriers are open, the way is clear" (24 關開路現), and on the lintels is the couplet;
- "Situate in the Ko range, where the Khé hills have branched forth for ages.[2]
- "The Gate looks towards the great Ocean, into which the united waters of the three rivers,[3] have flowed during myriads of years.
The next stage, is the "Hall of Sincerity and Justice," (25 忠義堂) guarded by Teⁿ-Ki-iu (26 鄭其由) on the right, and Tan-Teng-Seng (27 陳定成) on the left. The two flags above, have the inscription, "Dissipate revenge, and put away all malice" (28 消冤解). There is also on each side, a horizontal sentence, "Two dragons disputing over a Pearl," (29 二龍爭仇) and "Overturn the Chheng restore the Beng"
On the door-posts is the antithetic couplet:—
- "Though a man be not a relation, if he be just, he is worthy of all honour.
- A friend, if he be found destitute of honour, ought to be repudiated."
The next step takes us to the "City of Willows," (30 木楊城珠) at
