16 CHINESE SECRET SOCIETIES. 



" To bring them to the Flowery Pavilion, that they 

 may be thoroughly instructed in their duties." 



The Sien Hong then goes outside the " Ang Gate," saying 

 on his way, 



" The five Ancestors have bestowed on me this Flag. 

 " Authorising me to bring new members within the 

 City moat. 



" In a true man, sincerity and loyalty are the most 

 important char act eris tie s, 



" You must on no account on returning home, divulge 

 the secrets of this night." 



The new members in pairs, now enter the " Ang Gate," 

 kneeling down in the attitude of prayer, with burning in- 

 cense-sticks between their out-stretched palms, the lighted 

 ends towards the ground. 



Generals Ban To-hong and To-liong, with their swords 

 forming an arch over the Gate, ask their respective candi- 

 dates. 



1. " What is your surname and name?" 



2. "In what Province, Prefecture, and District, were you 

 born ?" 



3. " What is your age ?" 



4. " Y/hat is the cyclical character of the hour of your 

 birth?" 



These questions being satisfactorily answered, each Sin 

 Kheh repeats the following formula after the General who 

 prompts him. 



" 1 now of my own free-will, enter the branch 



" of the Ghee Hin Society established in the British Coun- 

 " try of Singapore, and will use my utmost endeavours, to 

 " drive out the Chheng, and establish the Beng dynas- 

 " ty. I promise to obey the laws of the British Government, 

 " and to follow the instructions of the Registrars of our 

 " Society, The Inspector General of Police and the Protector 

 " of Chinese. I also promise to obey the 86 articles of the 

 " Society's oath, and to appear whenever called upon by the 

 " Head men of this Lodge. If I fail to carry out each and 

 " and every particular of this my oath, may I perish, and be 

 "extinguished as this incense-stick is now extinguished." 

 At thi,s the incense sticks of both new members are plunged 

 into the earth, and extinguished. This formula is gone 

 through three times, by each Sin-Kheh, after which the 

 Generals say ; 



" What are these we hold over you ?" 



