The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-02

book was known 10 the members lie
subsequently married Mrs Morgan. with
whom he joined the MorInons, became
ruling elder Of the Latter Day Saints,
arroag whom Free Masonry was perpesc-
afed, AFFILIATED with the order In Utah.
and became q high priest of the Royal
Arch chapter After the explosion OF
anti-Masonry. and the hodges generally
had resumed labor, Harris applied for ad-
mission at the door of mis- ola lodge. in
batavia, and was refused. The door was
guarded by the son of the former master,
who had been arrested and imprisoned
upon the charge OF completely in the alb
duction of Morgan.
Collapse of ANTI asonry.
For political party BASED and com
Quoted solely t,tson a single idea orsgiEat-
ing in the acknowledged perjury and sup
posed unlawful punishment OF common
raliscreant, the career of the anfi-Ma-
sonic party Was one of the wonders or
the age, and its sudden collapse. after
brief existence Of but little more thah
four years. was scarcely less wondeIhi.
The first general convention CT the party
was held at lie Roy n March. is-s, IN
which twelve counties were represented
Solomon Southwick, of Albany. was nom-
mated for governor and at the ensuing
election received S3,3i5 votes. Martin Van
Buren,. Jackson candidate, 1874; Shell
don Thompson, National Republican. les-
IA. The ants-Masans at the next cleo
ton. in fSza carried the fourteen western
couaties-calIrs the infected district
by overwhelming majorities. In lSo
Frank Granger, the anti-Masonic candi-
date for governor. was beaten by Enes
T. Throop, the Jackson candidate. by
s.4s1 votes. The cause of anti-Masonry
soon extended to other states. 1t ac-
CURED its great strength in New York.
Vermont. Massachusetts, Pennsylvania
and Ohio. In many districts in these
states the anti Masonic party had gained
the aseendancy, and in a considerable
number of them it became the most for
nlidable rival of the dominant party. In
1SS2, after Jackson, Clay and Calhoun had
been nominated by their respective par
ties. a national convention OF anti-Ma-
sons was held at Baltimore, in which the
states of Maine. New Hampshire, Yer
mont, Massachusetts. Rhode Island, Con-
necticut, New York. New Jersey, Penn
sylyania, Delaware. Maryland. Ohio and
Indiana were represented. William Writ
was nominated for president and Amos
Elln.aker, of Pennsylvania, for vice pres
ident. Mr.. Writ, in his letter accepting
the nomina ton, said he was unwilling to
pledge himself to unite in a war of in
discriminate prescription against all who
had ever borne the name of Mason AT
the ensuing election, 1882 Gen. Jackson
received OF the electoral votes 2i9; Clay,
-; Writ. Z. Jackson and Clay were both
adhering Masons at that time. and Writ
had been Mason.
This was the last appearance of the
anti-Masonic party In public. The two
parties in opposition TO the administra-
ton coaIescei by agreement under the
name of Wing, the representatives Of the
anti-Masoni party surrendering their
distinctive hostility to Masonry to the
support OF Mr.. Clay and his announced
american policy" of river and harbor
improvements and a high protective
tariff; an active element of the anti-Ma-
sonic party refused 10 support Mr.. Clay
because he was an adhering Mason, and
subsequently comprised his defeat under
the name of Liberty party which was
first started in the infected district of
gave over 5000 majority for the anti-Ma-
sonic party before the fusion. The dis
bandment of the anti-Masonic party and
the enlistment of its members under Ma
sonic leaders seemed to completely reyo-
lutionize the popular sentiment, in regard
to Masonry, beth In religion and politics.
In communities where Masons We're ex-
ciuded from communion by nearly all the
religious sects: not allowed TO serve on
juries: challenged as witnesses. and in
many cases debarred from social inter-
course with kindred, and where lodge
meetings were absolutely prohibited,
everything pertaining To Masonry re-
sumed its former status at once. and APP
parently stood higher in public estimation
for the trials through which 1t had
passed and preserved its vitality.
senseiessness of ,hs Attack.
TO the young Mason It seems almost
incredible that the order whose creed,
ritual and emblems appear TO him so in
harmony with the highest sentiments of
reverence for Diety and love fer his fell
lows; whose condition OF membership ex-
pressly affirms the paramount duty of
fidelity to country. society and family;
and whose code of discipline takes cog
nizanee of every offense against the laws
OF the lanI by member as an offense
TO the order: thai the ancient institu-
ton OF noble lineage and honorable rec
ord that for centuries had only provoked
opposition from the jealousy of despotic
rulers ana the Intolerance of organized
blgotry, could, in this free country and
In an enlightened age, arouse such a
frenzy of hostility in the popular mind as
fer a time absorbed all other questions
of controversy in church and state form
ing the basis OF IA great political party
upon the simple issue of undying hos-
tiiiiy To the order and it's members-sl
party which dominated congressional dis
trscts and states, and al one time became
the most powerful rival to the party then
in control # the general government
that all OF these matters OF history can
be recouciled with the present status and
standing OF Free Masonry without expla-
nations impugning the character of The
order or It's management at that time
Any such doubts-a@hich under ordinary
circumstances could be excused If not
justified. by the great preponderance of
popular cismor-C@n only be maintained
by rejecting the testimony of all adher-
ing MaSOas who were personally eogui-
2ant of the facts, and impeaching the
loyalty Of the Father OF His Country,
which would be moral parricide \ COM
par.son Of ContempOraneous history with
the charges agsinst Masonry upon which
the aDti-Masouic party was based viii
prove beyond the possibility OF doubt
that those charges were utterly ground
less. as against the erler-elther by act,