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

which he had sworn fi.isiisy. he felt him
self amply rewarded for all the issisgrss-
ties and injustice he had suffered, bs hs-
s0g 20 enjoy, In peace and honor. bali an
ordinary lifetime under The protection o.
tie old flag 10 the defense OF WITCH mas
ezriy nsantco.i had been devoted ard the
vsrsalcation Of the beEev7ed order for wailrh
re had saferei and isx restoration to =
algsaer place In public estimation TIA o
when the ssarnes OF Nazf ngton. iSafas-
este and the greatest proportion OF the
uH0st fsonorsyd and venerafsd founders afsd
leaders OF the repsrssiic weFe c0ainsea
among the living lights OK Masonry. and
this radical revolution in pubiic sensi-
usenf. Without an Eota OF concession If
ancient landmarks 10 soDcfisate popular
prejudice or yeTssf alteration OF ITS an
esent ritual 40 protest It's sanctuary from
the invasion Of InEeriopers wsso seek ac-
cess By fhe teachings OF the SPECIALIZED
revelations Of Us mysteries and formulas.
Masonry is the same in base. form and
Intent as IL was In 1876. at the time OF
che publication of the Morgan book. That
book and others or its kl,sd have been
on sale. without moiestation from Nasons
from that day 20 the present. AEti-Ma-
syurs Inssigatesi by that publication in
the hands Of artfGi politicians, for time
ssssssst over tho country like Il pestilence,
dominating in politics, debating a rev
canon 10 all the secrarian religious or
CARNATIONS. closing all the Masonic iosiges
within It's reach and hunting aeihering
sIasonx by special legislation and packed
jaries ard rs every species Of odsnm that
malice could invent. To-day. with all the
same facts intact, anti-Masonry exists
but as a gfark memory In our national
history. with which no one cares 20 have
his rame associated. and Masonry. en-
nottlei by It's lesions of heroes and mar
lyfs. w'fao With more than Spartan en-
duranca and Roman integrity adhered
and suffered through the dark period a:s
social and political outcasts. Is again, by
universal assent, the most ancient and
ifonarcd OF fraterBai orders. which many
are striving to emulate and initiate. but
none pfesuming 10 rival.
Morgaa Dia Not Write tho Book.
Mr. Durfee always believed and pub
Hciy declared the belief that Morgan
never wrote the book that bore his sig
nature, and that its purpose was poltI-
cal effect rather than blow at the order.
That Morgan did not write the book,
know: and thai his knowledge of Masonry
was not sufficient TO qualify him for the
work I have the personal assurance of
Mr.. Durfee, whose word WIS never aues-
toned by any one who knew him. Morgan
was man OF fair common education.
good address and dissalute habits. His
wife WAS a school teacher OF rather at
traeiise person and manner. enterprlsing
and advensurous-thc chief breadwinner
OF the pair Their immediate associates
and confidential friends were George W.
Harris, Matchmaker Of some literary
pretensIons. and David &. Miller, the
printer and publisher of weekly news
paper Harris was Royal Arch Mason
and a blue lodge lecturer. This coterie
Of impecunious walters upon Providence
formed the scheme of publishing this
book az a mouey making venfure-as "A
means OF raising the wind. with no hos
tile motive towards Masonry or idea of
promoting any political party. The po-
liticai idea was an afterthought OF
brighter and more INSCRIPTIONS gang Of
adventures. The arrangement was that
the venture should be a partnership con-
Germ In the name OF William Morgan. VINO
was only nominal Mason. not affiliated
with or subject TO the discipline of any
lodge. Harris. being Mason of standing
In the lodge at Batavia, Was not to be
publicly known In the matter. bur FUR
nIsiaesf the copy 10 Mrs. Morgan, who pre-
pared the manuscript for the printer by
the aid of her friend Miss Winchester.
known as a magazine writer under the
nom de plume of AMIGA Religions, sub
sequently as Mrs Dodge. the wife Of a
Baptist minister In Philadelphia Who
preached anti-Masonry as a saving grace.
The mysteries of Free Masonry were re-
yealed to the world, SO far as that pub
iication went. through the medium of wo-
men. Miller was enly known as the
printer. connection which could not be
very we'll Disguised while the work was
being done In public printing office in
a country village.
Why Morgan Was Taken Away.
The active Free Masons of Batavia.
comprising the very best element of that
community as well as eminent men In
state affairs. knowing the inability of
Morgan and his irresponsible character,
regarded the matter as fraudulent d.
wise 20 raise money from aIasons by way
OF bIackmail for its suppression. or by
imposing upon the cresIullty OF the COM
munty by the sale of mysteries uf which
the author had no knowledge. They did
not know of Harris connection with the
affair. No Mason IN the immediate vlcin-
ity Was. after exhaustive Investigation,
convicted of any attempt to suppress the
ptlbitca ton or in the abduction of Nor
gan. A few jealous members OF the or
der. residents seyeraIly Of Leroy. Roches-
ter and Cananiagus. not questioning the
authenticity of the contemplated publ
thor IF the same. and anticipating the
damaging effect upon the future work
ings OF the order IL it's ritual and secret
signs and passwords, by which its ex-
elusive character was preserved, should
become common property. and reasonably
concluding th9t a mam base enough
90 violate his oa5h and besray
his associates for price could
he bought off for corresponding
a private interview with Morgan. away
from his advisers. With "A view ot proIses-
Ing 90 him terms for abau sonlmg the p1sb-
Ncatton. The fnosie adopted WAS entirely
lawful under the then existing statutes
~ New York~aFrest By csplas for dstsf-
for Naich Morgan furnished many OPP
Eusituulties one % his capsors was Gen.
James t;sllls, Afterwards a wefi-snow n
raegsoer Of congress from The Elm district,