In 1868 King Rama V, King Chulalongkorn, ascended the throne of the Kingdom of Siam, and immediately and enthusiastically opened the door to foreign influences, not only because the King was genuinely interested in new technologies and ideas, but also, being both shrewd and astute, so that he could ensure Siam’s survival from the rapacious colonial aspirations in Southeast Asia and Indochina of the British and French.
He invited France, Britain, Germany, Russia, Denmark, the United States and other countries to send their brightest experts to create and run the myriad government departments necessary for the advancement of any nation at that time and to train young Thais in those skills.
Many of these foreign bureaucrats seconded to the expanding Thai government were Masons.
The King also commenced sending young men of ‘good’ Thai families to study at prestigious schools and universities in Europe and the United States.
Many of these young Thai men were subsequently to become Masons.
Title
2010 - (GUEST LECTURER) - The History of Freemasonry in Thailand - James Soutar.
