Difference between revisions of "Sungari"

Latest revision as of 18:12, 25 November 2015

SUNGARI LODGE (CHINA)

Location: Harbin, Manchuria

Chartered By: Herbert W. Dean

Charter Date: 03/13/1929 tbd

Precedence Date: 05/29/1928

Current Status: surrendered charter 1939

NOTES

REPORT ON DISPENSATION, DECEMBER 1928

From Proceedings, Page 1928-348, December Quarterly Communication, Grand Master Simpson's Address:

"In accordance with the recommendation of the District Grand Master dispensation has been issued for Sungari Lodge in Harbin, North Manchuria. The field in this city seems to be promising, and there is every evidence so far as we can now see that the new Lodge will have a successful future."

PAST MASTERS

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

• Petition for Dispensation: 1928
• Petition for Charter: 1929
• Surrender of Charter: 1940

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

• 1930 (H. Dean)

BY-LAW CHANGES

1930

OTHER

• 1936 (Mentioned in Grand Secretary's report, 1936-268)

EVENTS

REPORT, MARCH 1932

From New England Craftsman, Vol. XXVII, No. 7, March 1932, Page 176:

From far away Harbin, in China, near the center of the Sino-Japanese "war that
is not war", comes regularly the notice of meeting of Sungari Lodge (Massachusetts Constitution), and it is refreshing to notice that in spite of the inevitable turmoil with which the members are surrounded, they go calmly about their work, meeting regularly once a month, receiving reports, raising candidates, caring for the welfare of the brethren, all in the regular order.


A significant thing, this. Wherever men of the white race are, Freemasonry functions calmly, conservatively. Illustrating that truth is indeed a mighty thing, that fraternity binds indissolubly men of similar minds, and that there is an oasis in every desert even among the destruction into which men and nations in the madness of their ambitions sometimes seek to plunge themselves.

SURRENDER OF CHARTER, FEBRUARY 1940

From New England Craftsman, Vol. XXXV, No. 6, February 1940, Page 113:

Sungari Lodge, located in Harbin, which is in Manchoukou, or more properly China, is passing into oblivion as an organization. Chartered July 5, 1928 under the Massachusetts constitution, during the administration of Most Worshipful Herbert W. Dean, the lodge membership consisted principally of agents or men connected with the agencies of American and British business concessions functioning in that part of the Far East.

Changes in the political and economic complexion of that country, however, since the advent of the little brown men of Nippon have forced many of these agencies out of the field, with consequent transfer of the personnel to other places, and with so few remaining it seemed the part of prudence to discontinue lodge activities.

Apropos the business changes in Harbin the answer made to this writer by a prominent Sungari Lodge member as to the truth of the Japanese statement that they were maintaining the "open door" in China: "Yes the door is open all right, but every space is occupied" is not without significance.

These Masons in the outposts are interesting men. Their business contacts bring them in touch with a great variety of other nationals. They are to a degree hardly understood by the stay-at-home American much more cosmopolitan, with a totally different perspective. They are to a considerable extent hand-picked, chosen for qualities of personality, persistency, integrity and business acumen, not to mention physical fitness, that make them outstanding. Their feelings toward visitors from the United States and particularly toward their fellow Masons from Massachusetts are warmly hospitable.

DISTRICTS

1928: China District

LINKS

Massachusetts Lodges