The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-04-26
Thad. stsSvena and Itlhs iIaso1s. lis . Il.

the NOV. 1OrK f16TItd,t referring TO
some of the earlier inoidentsof Thad.
Stevens political soareer, gives the
following account Of his conflict with
the Masons, when q member of the.
Pennsylvania Legislatures: ;
At the time when the great anti
Masonic excitement--born to life
from the Morgan hHgbear--swept
over the land, like o fierce simeon,
from Maine to- Georgia, Thad. Ste
vens was q member of the Legisla-
ture Of Pennsylvania Espousing
the cause Of the anti. .Masons from
isappointment, and actuated by
feelings of the bitterest animosity
against the Masons, for reasons that
will be made apparent, he introduced
a resolution to the effect that the
House Of which he was member,
inquire into the subject of Masonry,
with power to send for persons and
papers. The House, largely anti
Masonic-the members as well as the
Governor of the State having been
elected upon the then tremendous
issue of the day-adopted almost
unanimously the resolution, and q
number of well known Masons were
summoned to attend the ''high court"
then i'll session at Harrisburg, to give
evidence in matters appertaining to
the Masonic order.
A thorough Investigation was to be
had in the premises, and the secrets
of the brotherhood laid bare to the
world. The ''devil," the "goat"
and the "grid-iron'' we're to be
shown mp in all their hideousness;
the fearful and horrible rites and
ceremonials were to be brought forth
and exposed to the light of day, and
the black monster, Masonry, was to
receive its death blow then and there
Thad. Stevens was the st. George
who was to annihilate the dragon.
On the day appointed for the com
mencement Of the proceedings, which
were to consummate the above,
every member-and, as we have
said, majority of the House were
anti-Masons--was in his seat, anxious
for, yet dreading, the uplifting of
the curtain that was to reveal the
hitherto yelled horrors that dark
ened the ceremonials of the Masonic
brotherhood. The House was packed
with Masons and anti-Masons, and
among the former was a well-known
Mason, master of lodge in the
State, who had been summoned to
Harrisburg in relation to the matter
then about to be investigated in all
it's details, and him, Thad., as grand
inquisitor, proposed to examine first.
When all was in readiness, the self
constituted champion of the anti
Masons commenced his interroga-
tions thus: care you Mason?" 81
am, SIR" "Do you belong to
lodge in this State?" 'I do, sir"
"What position do you hold in the
lodge?" ''The position of Master"
"What are the initial proceedings
consequent apon the meeting of the
lodge?" "The lodge is opened with
prayer" "Well, go on, anu state
what follows" 81 am waiting for
your questions. "Well, what are
the ceremonies incident to the ad-
mission of member?" "He is bal
lotted for, and if no votes be cast
against him, is admitted member of
the order" 'What then? Please
state the subsequent proceedings.
What follows next?"
'Mr. Stevens" said the witness,
with o mischievous twinkle in his
eye, eff, on the - day -, 1S-,
you had been found worthy, you
would have become member of the
- Lodge in -, and would have
been initiated in all the secrets and
mysteries connected with the order,
and wonld have possessed know
ledge that, except he becomes q
member, no man ever will possess.
The witness sat down. Stevens was
thrown completely back upon his
launches by this unexpected thnn-
der-bolt coming from serene sky,
and, paralyzed from the effects of
the blow, stupefied with astonish-
ment, he ignominiously wilted The
fact was, he had some years previous