The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-09-04
ssThe Au,i.Masenie Excitement"

Editors of the Register: ...,,.,f-..-
During the years 1927, 1923 and 1929
the Northern and Western portions .of
the United States were violently agi-
tated by what was known as the "Auti-
Masonic excitement" 1t was sought to
excite the uneducated and impulsiye
masses of the country against the An.
Gent Fraternity of Freemasons. A po-
itieal party was organized as "the Anti
Masonic party" The most distinguished
public men were assaulted and prosecuted
and charged with counselliug aiding
and abetting the murder of one William
MORGAN, citizen of the Western part OF
the State of New York, who, it was al
leoed had, in connection with one Miller,
made and published revelation OF the
secrets of Freemasonry. Every species
of traduction and persecution was re-
sorted to, and heaven and earth were
moved in order to secure the success OF
the political fanatics and social traitors
who raised the storm Of traduction and
faIsehood for the destruction OF the
ancient and honorable fraternity,
There can be no doubt but that Inc
political complexion given to the Morgan
excitement was originated with view
to destroy the popularity Of De Witt
Clinton, of New York, who, at the same
lime, vas one Of the most prominent
men and Masons in the State Of New
York
Pennsylvania, especially the Western
mart of the State, shared largely in the
excitement OF political Anti-Masonry.
Ar that time there was in the Eastern
part of that State an aspiring political
demagogue named Thaddeus Stevens.
He became one of the leading blatant
Anti. Masons, was elected to the Legisla-
ture. and, among other acts and doipgs
of his legislative life, is charged with
having Introduced a resolution before
the b onorable body of which he was a
member, requiring that number of the
most distinguished public men OF the
State should be summoned to appear
before the Legislature required
to purge themselves on oath OF all Gem
plicity in the murder of William Nor
gan, and to answer such questions as
might be put to them in relation to the
secret work and teaching of the Masonic
Institution! What fate these resolu.
tions met with, the writer has forgotten.
| This man Thad Stevens was bitter and
violent in his donunciations Of the fra.
| ternity and its members-a traducer and
prosecutor. Ha ignored the fact that
Washington, La Fayette, and all the
| Major Generals of the Revolutionary
| army were Masons, ercept Benedict Ar
mold and that with Eve or six exceptions,
the members uf the Continental Con-
gress of rs were all Masons.
A prominent disorganizer and Radical
leader in the present Congress, bears the
name of the person Of whom we speak
Is he the same man, still doing the same
dirty work Can not some of the old
Masons of this city inform us2 Can not
our Pennsylvania friends inform us? The
Radical leader of this day strikingly re-
resembles the 1nh Masonic leader OF the
past Always promoter of discord, is
il the same man who slandered and Wilt
fed the Freemasons in other days, who
now throws himself in the way of re-
union and fratcrnal haImony2 If he is,
who that has the heart, the independ-
ence of an honest man and patriot, can
ever so peril his integrity, his honor, as
to consent to act with, or to be led by
such "a man as Thad. Stevens, the Dema
gogu =. the Aull Mason, the Disunionist.
NJ