12 CHINESE SECRET SOCIETIES. 



of pure water, sprinkles the altar at the four points of the 

 compass, to cleanse the offerings from all impurity. After 

 this, the Master takes ont the five stalks of grass, and light- 

 ing them as (incense-sticks) replaces each with a profound 

 obeisance, in the " Precious Censer" before the Tablet of the 

 '• Five Ancestors." 



This being done, he lights 15 incense-sticks, and holding 

 them between his outstretched palms, kneels down, making the 

 following invocation to the Chinese Pantheon, and knocking 

 his head on the ground at the mention of the names of the 

 most august deities or spirits. 



"At this moment, being the hour, of the 



day, of the moon of the Cyclical year, , I 



, open this our Lodge, of the Ghee Hin 



Society, established in— —Street, in the British coun- 

 try of Singapore, for the purpose of expelling the ' Cheng' 

 and of re-establishing the 'Beng' dynasty, — humbly im- 

 ploring Heaven that its intentions may flow in unison with 

 our own.'' 



" In the ' pear garden' of the Lodge, of the Ghee 



Hin Society of Singapore, our leader will this night bring 

 new brethren to receive the commands of Heaven, and with 

 iron livers and copper galls, to unite themselves in an oath 

 by the mixing of blood, in imitation of the ancient worthies 

 Lau, Koan, and Tiu n " 



M We are all agreed with our whole hearts, to obey Hea- 

 ven and walk righteously, and to use our utmost exertions, 

 to restore our native hills and rivers to the c Beng' dynasty, 

 that its heir may sit on the Imperial Thone, for ever and 

 ever." 



The Buddhist and Tauist Gods, angels, and spirits, with 

 the five Ancestors, the five Tiger Generals, and the four 

 ancient worthies, are then invoked to descend, at such a 

 monotonous length, that I must refer the reader again to 

 M. SchlegeFs book for a minute account. 



The invocation concludes as follows : — 



" This night we pledge that the brethren in the whole 

 universe, shall be as from one womb, as begotten by one 

 Father, and nourished by one Mother ; that we will obey 

 Heaven and work righteousness ; — that our faithful hearts 

 shall never change. If august Heaven grants that the 

 * Beng' be restored, then happiness will return to our land." 



After this, the Sien-Seng pours out libations of tea and 

 wine, and sacrifices to the Standard ; this being done, he 



