History of Taipei Bodies

Like all other Consistories under the Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction, U S.A.; we are no exception and are dependent upon the full loyal support and cooperation of the Symbolic Lodges the basic Foundation of Masonry and especially to the Grand Lodge for our future growth and prosperity. At this point, it is deemed most appropriate to mention briefly about the Grand Lodge of China (GLOC)

On January 16, 1949

which then by circumstances beyond control chose to accept darkness in 1951 on account of the occupation of the Mainland China by the Chinese Communist and later by their own volition reactivated in Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. Potentially, right after V-J Day, China undoubtedly had one of the most fertile soils to propagate and to spread the light of Masonry outside of the United States, especially due to her population and that Masonry was well-accepted by all walks of life.

China national-day1949

On AUG 24, 1953

Under the inspiring leadership of Illustrious T. F. Wei, 33° (then a 32° KCCH) of the Shanghai Bodies and the Second Grand Master of the GLOC; the First Grand Master and the Grand Secretary of the GLOC, Illustrious David Au, 33° also of the Shanghai Bodies; established Liberty Lodge, U.D., now better known as the Liberty Lodge No. 7 at Taipei on August 24, 1953 with the assistances of other Taiwan resident members of the Craft.

There were five active Lodges in full operations under the GLOC, three in Taipei, one in Taichung, and one in Tainan. By 1955 with the Blue Lodges reactivated and the ever-increasing number of Masons presence from the U. S. Armed Forces, there were approximately forty Scottish Rite Masons from the various Consistories residing in Taiwan. Again, thanks to the foresight and the dynamic leadership of Illustrious T. F. Wei, 33°, better known as “Charley” among the Masonic circles, (who incidentally is Illustrious William H. T. Wei’s, 33° uncle) delegated Bro. H. Moon Chen, 32°, (now a 33°) a Life Member of the Tokyo Bodies, to proceed to Washington, DC, to seek for the Supreme Council’s approval to establish our own Bodies to meet the ever-growing demands of the Brethren desiring a “Post Graduate Course in Masonry”.

On AUG 26, 1955

 As a result of Bro. H. Moon Chen’s discussion, the Sovereign Grand Commander, Illustrious Thomas J. Harkins, 33°, authorized the Tokyo Bodies to put on the First Conferral on Taiwan SOIL. On August 26, 1955, Illustrious Raymond L. Bedillion, 33° (then a 32° KCCH) and the Agent for Japan/Korea/Okinawa was assisted by Bro. Joseph Marzucco, 32° (now a 33°); Bro. C. Russell Stuart, 32° (now a 32° KCCH); Bro. Nohea O. A. Peck, 32° (now a 33° and the Deputy for Japan); and Bro. James W. Doherty, 32° (now a 32° KCCH) conferred the degrees upon thirty-one candidates. Many members of this class are now leaders in both the Taipei Bodies and the GLOC – two have become recipients of the Thirty-Third Degree and have served as Past Grand Masters, namely Illustrious William H. T. Wei and Illustrious Ting Chien and five have become Knights Commander of the Court of Honour.

The 2nd Conferral on Taiwan

20 candidates were made the Master of Royal Secret on April 18, 1956, with the assistances of the visiting Brethren and the Taiwan resident Scottish Rite Masons. This time, Illustrious Raymond L. Bedillion, 33° and the Deputy for Japan solicited the aid of the Okinawa Brethren, Bro. Elmer D. Rastorford 32° KCCH, who later became a Thirty: Third and the Deputy for Okinawa until his death only a few months ago and Bro. Plina Benson, 32° now a 32° KCCH. On September 7, 1955 just twelve days after the First Conferral, the petition for the Letters of Temporary for the Taipei Bodies bearing the full endorsement of the Tokyo Bodies, were submitted to the Supreme Council by Bro. H. Moon Chen. 32°. On the glorious Fourth of July, 1956, as one of the first official acts as the new Sovereign Grand Commander, Illustrious Luther A Smith 33°, signed his approval to our petition.
One year later, on this auspicious date, October 22. 1957, Illustrious Luther A. Smith, 33°, issued our permanent Charters for all four coordinated Bodies to make us officially ten years old.

Let us not forget August 14, 1956 marked the Formal Activation of the Taipei Bodies under the Letters of Temporary. Illustrious Raymond L. Bedillion, 33°, headed a composite group from both the Tokyo and Okinawa Bodies composed of Illustrious Richard W. H. Child, 33° Personal Representative of the Deputy of Japan, Bro. Joseph Marzucco, 32° KCCH; Bro. Charles Hall, 32°, and Bro. Elmer D. Rastorford, 32° KCCH, to officially activate the Taipei Bodies. To commemorate this August occasion, a Formal Banquet was held at the Grand Hotel, Golden Dragon Room, where 198 persons attended including the visiting Brethren, members of the Taipei Bodies, their wives and guests. Dr. George Yeh, Minister of Foreign Affairs, was the guest speaker. There were forty-three congratulatory cables received from other Consistories and Brethren from all parts of the Free World. It was. then the largest masonic event ever to be held in the Republic of China. Special thanks must go to our Deputy, Illustrious Brother H. Moon Chen, 33°, whose tireless efforts helped make our Consistory possible. Brother Moon on his own volition, has made a total of four visits to Washington, DC, during the past years to strengthen our position in the supreme Council’s eyes. In late April 1958, the Taipei Bodies were specially honored by a personal visitation from the Sovereign Grand Commander and Lady Smith to spend four glorious days with us. This offered a rare and unique privilege not normally available to the Taiwan Brethren, in meeting Illustrious Smith, 33° in person The Sovereign Grand Commander had a very active schedule during his short stay. Time nor space would permit to name all, but the following are a few of the visitations with top ranking American and Chinese officials. On behalf of the Supreme Council, Illustrious Luther A Smith, 33°, presented to the First Lady of the Republic of China, Madame Chiang Kai Shek, a sum of $1,000 to her orphanage. Visitations were made with the Premier, O. K. Yui; the Finance Minister, C. K. Yen; the Commander in Chief of the Chinese Air Force, General Chen, Chia -Sheng, with special personal thanks to the CAF for their generous permission in permitting the Taipei Bodies in using the Officers Club as our meeting place; The Commander of the Taiwan Defense Command, Admiral Austin K Doyle, who is also a Mason the American Ambassador. the Honorable Evertt F. Drumright, a member of the Guthrie Consistory in Oklahoma, and later was the Banquet Speaker given by the Taipei Bodies in honor of the Sovereign Grand Commander and his Lady. For more detailed information concerning the Sovereign Grand Commander’s visitation, please refer to the New Age Magazine, September 1958 issue.

Class of Integrity

Although the Taipei Bodies are small and young, your Consistory possesses many unique and distinct features. Among the Four Hundred Fifty-Seven strong members, not counting the “Tenth Anniversary Class”, but including the “William H T Wei Class of Integrity” this spring and the “Majestic Class” in Bangkok this August; we have members widely scattered and well-represented throughout the United States, Hong Kong and Thailand, and many other countries in the Free World too numerous to enumerate. Your Consistory is now also extended to Thailand–a distance of approximately 2, 000 miles, where we are honored in having three Thai nationals as resident members. Our membership is approximately 60% American and 40%Chinese, coming from two different social backgrounds and civilizations and meeting on a common ground to receive and be benefited by the same rich and philosophical degrees in the English language.

The members are also active participants and are holding prominent positions in the GLOC and the five subordinate Lodges; the Square Compasses Club; the Ali Shan Oasis Shrine Club; the Yangmingshan Chapter, No. 5, O.E.S. and the Taipei Chapter, No. 428, of the National Sojourners–all laboring jointly and harmoniously under one common cause etc. promote Masonry. Such ideal and fertile climatic condition seldomly exists elsewhere.

The “Tenth Anniversary Class” marks the Twenty Fourth Reunion. Just a decade of time, since we received our Permanent Charters, from a humble and a “penniless start” and without a permanent meeting place. Today we jointly own 50% of the beautiful China Masonic Temple with the GLOC outrightly and are free from any indebtedness to anyone. In addition, the Taipei Bodies have an established permanent Charity Program and offer a definite set number of Scholarships to the local universities annually.

Prior to the issuance of the Letters of Temporary (meaning authorization to operate without a formal Charter), we were recipients of “Assistance” from both the Tokyo and Okinawa Bodies, for which, we are indeed appreciative to the gracious assistances on the first two Conferrals. Now our position has been reversed to a dispenser of “Assistance” to a neighboring country (Bangkok) with all sincere hopes that a new Consistory may be established there in the near future to perpetuate the growth of our great Fraternal organization.

The Taipei Bodies attributed their decade of accomplishments to the explicit cooperation of all members—those residing here and those residing abroad.

In 1977, Illustrious Ian Lin was appointed as the Deputy of the Supreme Council for Valley of Taipei and Orient of Taiwan- China, after Illustrious Moon Chen moved to the

United States permanently. During his term as the Deputy of Taipei Bodies he had requested Brother Jerry I. Kao 32° KCCH to translate “The Synopses and Communications for the Degrees of the AASR SJ” within the ritual into Chinese and was using in the conferrals for many years.