Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-07-18
MASONRY AND M0RMONISM.

lnEtON, ID. L. lNtff mas dIDtdltA ali
interesting article iu two numbers
May and June-enutled Masonry ana
Mormonlsm" The writer, Jos r. Nor
oonOe. became interested AZ a prom
iuent member Of the Masonic fater-
nifty in the early history Of the Grand
Lodge OF Iowa and IT'S association with
The order In Illinois The treatment OF
the "Mormons" ln both those states by
the prejudiced public and also by the
Masons after a large number Of the
Saints had become connected with
them. Induced him 70 inquire closely
into the causes Of that animosity and
The ultimate withdrawal OF the charter
Of the Nauvoo Lodge.
As 10 the character 81 the Mormon
leaders. the writer inclInes 10 belief in
their sincerity and TO give them credit
for earnestness, energy and fidelity to
the order as Wen as to their religious
convictions. and he remarks:
"Men may perhaps risk Islander and
persecution on chance Of immediate
gain but they must be- thoroughly con-
WINGED of the righteousness Of cause
before they win challenge imprlson-
mont. injury and possible death
This refers PARTICULARLY 70 Joseph
and Hyrum smith and their immediate
associates: and as 20 the masses OF the
people he says.
"The Mormons were distinguished
bv their industry. First in Missouri
they had successfully attacked the VIII
derness. aud had wrested from the viz
Gin soil OF that commonwealth beauty
and abundance. Their communities
were selfgovernng and peaceful, In
sham contrast To the laWlessness all
about them. Driven from the homes
they had conquered from the wilds. by
mob violence and continued petsecu-
ton. these people we're welcomed 70
Illinois as a splendid addition to the re-
sources OF the State With new cour-
age and new hope. the rcligionisis IN
1889 found location al Nauyoo TOT their
Zion"
The writer then gives description
Of Nauyoo. quoting largely from an ac-
count by a Christian minister who
visited tho place and sought IN vain
for evidences of the Immortality ana
other evils charged against the inhah-
itants Mr. Morcombe adds OF his own
accord
They had become objects Of envy
10 the idle and vicious. as the frugal
and industrious are ever apt TO De
come. The ayaricious had joined III
the movement toward persecution
hoplng TO proht by an expulsion OF ine
saints from property made valuable
nv labor. Politicians We're either an
gered by Mormon opposition 10 thelll-
selves or their measures. or were 700
fainthearted 10 face the clamorous
noh state officials Of high ana low
degree either shirked the duties OF me
timc i'm this connection or pandeieu
openly 10 the lawless element
Some structures are INDUCED In on
IN, church leaders FOR not adapting
themselves to conditions; upon inc
granting Of the charter to Nauyoo py
"a too.complsisant legislature ana
,lpon adventures Ike John c. Bennett
who by their criminal conduct brought
dlscredit upon the community. il was
,h,n that Masonry was introduced
among the "Mormons" and tho writer
found himself handicapped as 10 some
desirable particulars by the hre III 1919
which DESTROYED the documents and
records Of the Grand Lodge Of Illinois
But sufficient information Was CLEANED
70 show that IN lsu j. G. Bennett was
active In trying 20 obtain appointments
for certain members as Masters aho
,ysrdens and IL was established that
Bennett himself had been previously
oxpelled from Pickaway Lodge ONO
Dissertations were granted 10 breth'
on al Nauyoo and a Montrose. octo'
her L.. 1871. and 70 seems that from
March. is42 60 August II, 2sS cam
diaates were initiated by the Nauyo'
Lodge T.. D.. and about as many rais
ed and this led 10 objections and the
suspension Of the Lodge Also grea
Masonic honors were conferred upor
joseph smith and sidney Rgdon
which. o. lime NJ Religious frenz'
against the Saints. was viewed as
concession Co the "Mormons" and thi
r,inrlng 81 "Mormonism' and MAJ
sorry reused great antagonism amonl
the fraternity
The injunction ~ suspension ua
removed. after o. thorough and I'm
partial Investigation. and the actiyit,
81 the Nauyoo Lodge as 10 building
han and procuring suitable Jewels anO
clothing was commended Seyera
lodges were established and Mssonr
spread iu Nauvoo 90 Tho chagrin q
many opponents ~ "Mormouism' VIII
classed the two together a move
mcut was started 90 condemn on
Mormon" lodges ar The grand com
munlcatlon az jacksonville October
1898 and Mr. Morcombe says
"The committee on returns an
work az this session 0f lNi3 found
necessary COZ oXpCdieut t1 coni'm
nr the Mormon lodges They orF
clsed the work ol Eagle Lodge o.. D
a. Keokuk. a. being very Irregular au
highly censufablc' iugauc.ug seven.
cases whore ballot was had iu It.
period than the requisite lunar mont
But they add. In every respect Jh
work appears to have hec1 correct
j. the returns ~ the Nauvoo Lrdc
the work is characterized a- 600 s.u
measure correct. bat o. many ir
stances there appear irregullgIues 900
matters t0 this committee ingvrIcab l'
The lodge has failed fc bring the'
record before fhe committee. which
matter of surprise. knowing ihs s,
we're lesson The said lodge was laugh
a. the last grand communication"
III mad .s .. 10 ,.... tH.. ......It. ...a