These meeting notices were used to convene members of the various Chinese secret societies to meet at specific times and dates. Such meeting notices were delivered by messengers known as 'Grass Sandals'. Attendance was compulsory for all members and absences were taken seriously and often fined or punished. Such strict discipline was characteristic of the secret societies in Singapore, all of which had originated from the Tiandihui, which in itself was a local version of the secret society in China founded on the basis overthrowing the Qing dynasty and restoring the Ming. With increased Chinese migration to Singapore, the society became a form of mutual-aid and support.
