The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-29


gorgeous display o: its paraphernala, It's banners
and IT. symbols, every one OF which is deeply SIG.
nldcant TO those who nave learned the lesson OF
some great religious moral truth, let the people
who look on the scene know that they are DeholdlnR
Neneraoie reno OF We olueh une' Mncn fe. ia ~
no decay but whose age .ls as Justly winter"
combining win the good old conserv tism or the
PAST al Ine practical u.li5aranlsm OF ne present
Secretary General Supreme Council,
$ NJ. jurisdiction.
ANOTHER VIEW OF FREEMASONRY
HOW THE BRETHREN ABDUCTED MORGAN AND
CONVEYED HIM TO NIAoARA--Is MASONRY
CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION?
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
have read your wonderful paper to-day with
more than usual interest, especially the mar
raliye from Mr. Tnorne OF the rise aud progress OF
Freemasonry an institution IN the United
States We are about 70 have celebration OF IN
usual splendor. should hesitate 10 say anything
mat would interfere with the amusements OF any
class OF our fellow citizens II they choose 10 call
themselves "Ttlersn ana "Pursuivant," and
..prtnctpal architects and "sword bearers" and
'knlRhts templars.n and independents royal
archesn IL is their own affair. They nave as
much right to amuse themselves by these proceed
lngs az 10 90 fishing for cod or singing negro
melodies.
At the same time It is well 10 remember what
our history teaches US IN reference to Masonry IN
y,
thought or THIS institution. Mr.. Thorne dlsmisses
with an easy flourish the whole story or the Nor
gan excitement which played so prominent part
in American politics, and In regard TO which no
one Is better informed than the distinguished puo-
lcist and Journalist 1hurow Weed, who began
bis career in politics at that time. Let US recall
the story for the benefit Of Mr.. Tnorne ana The
Freemasons VINO are to parade our streets
on the "a OF June:-Captain William
Morgan was born in Virginia in l774. He
served under General Jackson At the hattie
or New Orleans, In 1915, ana earned his title IN
that action. He removed to Rochester in New
YORK ana afterwar1 10 Batavia, and was man
OF some social distinction, for Il Is recorded THAT
he twice crossed the Atlantic ocean Ia the char
acter or gentleman In 1926 Captain Morgan,
a member or the Masonic lodge, decided 10 pup
lsh an exposure OF the rites and ceremonies and
purposes or Freemasonry, and about this time
lie moved TO Canandaigua, n. r., which was
called, in the literature OF that time, lone OF the
proudest inland towns.n Upon the nrst an
nouncement by Captain Morgan OF his intention
to expose the nature or the institution OF Masonry
4 placard was issued IN Canandaigua, dated
August O. 1926, denouncing him as 'swindler
ana dangerous man, ana adding the significant
sentence that people in this village would he
happy TO see this Captain Morgan" on the 18TH
ten days later three men from Batavia and Que
from Pembroke arrested captain Morgan on
trumped up charge ana imprisoned him. on sep
TENDER IL an ATTEMPT made to burn his
printing ONCE shortly after psrty OF Free
lndsons. headed BY the Snerin OF the county, Ell
Bruce, seized the person OF Morgan ana carried
him stealtnlly, by night aud by day to Fort
Niagara, near Niagara rams, distance OF more
than a hundred miles from his home. This
an abandoned American fort. Here they impris-
oned the unfortunate man, and from that tim8
unfil this nothing has been known or his fate. liz
was believed AZ the time that he was condemned
10 deatn Dy the freemasons aud was thrown over
Niagara ta!ls, Out u urse DO not wish ~
accept or even TO approve any sucH narsn Judg-
menI even upon fanatlcal members OF secret in
sttution. All Know IS tnat my veneraed and
lifelong friend, Thurlow weed, could very well
INFORM sou, II ne cared 70 speak on ne subject,
cries were heard noun it; that I'LL Bruce, The
sherIu. VAS removed ftom MS ONCE by De Witt
Clinton then Governor, ana sentenced TO two
wears and SIX months imprisonment, ior abduction,
ana others we're sentenced TO different terms OF
Imprisonment. and that the country was agftated
NJ il never was before or mas been al any time
N. We turn back 10 the declarations or the great
men OF tnat cay we Will ind what they thought OF
FreemasOnry. on May l. 1929, C. ID. Golden, one
or the most distinguished names in New YORK,
wrote i le ter saying :-sFor a long time did not
believe that Morgan mad been put 70 death. but i
dencen Ia TINS letter ar. Golden also spoke or
Masonry "a 'Idle and useess.N Daniel
WeDster wrote letter speaking Of Masonry las an
Institution essentially wrong 10 the principle OF
its formation ana especially unlayoraDie TO
mutual confidence among men living together
tn general cause OF civil liberty ana good gov
ernment,m aud (Which should he prohibited by
law,r Richard RUSH, 81 PENNSYLVANIA, one oil the
most distinguished men 81 that time, secretary OF
the treasury and Minister 70 Ing and, challenged
the IGqasltI0n OF Spaiu 10 exceed IN cruelty
..Morgan's InmOlation, which was IN spirlt and
almost In form auto dc Je.' Mr.. Rush was
anxious 70 nominate a ticket Tor President and
Vice President headed bT William Writ john
Quincy Adam, writing IN 1882. distinctly de-
clarea tnat criminal nad ESCAPED 10y me
paramount to the laws OF the land William Il.
sc ward spoke OF the 'unawiul oathsh or Masonry
and It's alarming p nciples aud olasphemous
rites and ceremonles.n in Pennsylvania the feel
ing was So strong that Joseph Rtner was elected
Governor upon distinct anti-Masonlc issue, and
In 1880 a natIonal Convention Was held 10 Phila-
dstpAiA for the purpose Of giving expression to
the opinions Of TIE people upon TINS solemn ques-
ton This Convention was composed oil men Ike
Francis Granger, ~ New YORK; P1nv Merrtck, or
Massachusetts,; lhaodeus sewers, OF Pennsylva-
ma Wlllsm IA. Se ward. or New YORK, and others.
Taurl3w N eet wa tue Cniel 81 the state Commit
tee. Mr.. Seward TOOK prominent part IA tue de-
liberauous 81 tue Convention, ano ! nave never
heard that during Ills long aud brilliant career ne
ever recanted the opinions ne expressed At that
time a. to the unlawful Oaths and ALARMING prtnci-
pies OF the association.
that he refers 10 the fact that Benedict Arnold
was admitted To the Freemt son order on the 1Stn
OF Aprll l165. ID New Haven, nor does he inform
us mas Wnen Aaron Burr was planning ais
treason against the United states that ne made
use OF a srOyal arch cipher' Now that we are
celebrating mis- Masonic anniversary ~ ~ wei
that the wnole history snonlo o. SHOWN. nj.
Weed, VINO was 20 prominent an anti-Mason IN his
early life, still lives, and those VINO are nonored
with has acquaintance know that ne retains 10
TINS hour tue CONVICTIONS ne formed IA the begin
ming OF his memorable career. ] trust you viii
hermit tins contribution 70 the history OF Masonry
"a appear In the columns or the HERALD. / am
your most obedient servant, &C. =. y. W.
NEW YORK CITY, May e, 1915.