The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-09-12
CHATS AND SKETCH ES
About Town and Elsewhere.
THE ANTI MASONIC CRUSADE
OF 1862.


propose TO give brief historical
sketch of the "Auti-Masonic Crusade"
of 1S26-'32, otherwise known among
the older Masons as "the Morgan
times"
Having known and talked with mem
bers of the fraternity who were living
at that time, and having had access to
a very rare book written by a distin-
puished Auti-Mason in 1882, | have
had exceptional opportunities to learn
the "true inwardness" of one of the
most remarkable movements of mod
ern times.
In the autumn of 1926 it became
known in the vicinity of Batavia, a
thriving village of western New York,
that one William Morgan, mechanic
of that village was about to publish a
book purporting to expose the secrets
of Free Masonry. Col. Miller, the
editor of the village paper, known as
the Republican Advocate, was under
stood to be concerned i'll the enterprise,
and to be Engaged in printing the
work. Attempts were made by the
Masops to suppress the proposed pub
LEGATION, but without success. Soon
office took fire in way pointing TO the
agency of an incendlary.
On The 12.h of September, 1926, Mil
Ter was arrested, an conveyed to Lac
Roy, several miles distant, escorted by
a riotous crowd, armed with clubs, who
were supposed TO be Masons AT Stat
ford, place on the route, he was aiken
from the carriage into lodge-room,
and an attempt was made TO Tighten
him into giving up the obnoxious man.
uscript. In the meantime party of
Miller's friends had assembled outside,
and the demonstration became SO for
midable that the party inside were
compelled to bring out their prisoner.
The whole mob then proceeded to lie
Roy, where Miller, backed by bis
friends, demanded to be taken before
the magistrate who issued the writ.
His demand was complied with, and
he was at once discharged, nothing of
importance being alleged against him.
He was then escorted home by his
friends from Batavia. On the way an
unsuccessful attempt was made to re-
arrest him by the party that had before
had him in custody. For their share
in this affair, French, the constable,
and Wilcox and Hurlbut who arrested
him were tried, convicted of false i'm
prisonment, riot, and assault and bat
terry, and sentenced respectively to
twelve, Six, and three months impris-
Onment.
On the night of the 12.h of Septem-
Der, 1926, between nine and ten O'Clock,
William Morgan disappeared. He
passed forever from the sight Of wife,
children and parents, and the lapse of
seventy-four years has given no salts
factory solution of the mystery. An
old anti-Masonic almanac in my pos
session printed and published in 1929
by Edward Giddins, q renOuncing Roy
al Anti Mason, gives the following
account of Morgan's abduction. 1t is
illustrated by thirteen rude wood cuts,
purporting to represent the principal
reasons in the unfortunate transaction.
The frontispiece is an alleged repres
entation of candidate being initiated
into the first or entered apprentices
degree. He is kneeling en- deShdbitle
upon an altar with three steps in an
upper chamber lighted by dormer
window-a skull and cross bones on
the floor beside the altar, and book
case with skull, an hour glass and a
bottle upon the top. A most disreput-
able looking crowd clad in white gloves
and aprons stand near him. The Mas
ter has in his hand eavel with han
die at least four feet in length:
Cut No. 2, represents Morgan upon a
three-legged stool, at a most absurd
desk, writing his illustrations of Ma
sonry." His wife and two children, a
boy and girl, are in the room looking
on. At the open door stand two horrid
looking ruffians. one with a club or
heavy cane brandished in his hand.
The whole is intended to represent
Morgan's arrest and abduction on the
night of September II, 1926.
Cut No. 3 contains a representation
of Morgan being taken from from his
home by his abductors. A gigantic
woman, presumably Mrs. Morgan),