This meeting notice issued by the Yilantang, a Chinese secret society in Singapore, commands members to meet at the specified time and date. It also states that absences would be subject to punishment without mercy. Such strict discipline was characteristic of the Chinese secret societies in Singapore, all of which had originated from the Tiandihui (Heaven and Earth Society). This was a local version of the secret society in China, a sworn fraternity comprising Chinese men with the common aim of overthrowing the Qing dynasty and restoring the Ming. With the influx of Chinese workers to Singapore in the 19th century, the society became a form of mutual-aid and support for these migrant workers. Various splinter groups (hui or kongsi) subsequently emerged among the main dialect groups.
