The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-17
THAT CLANDEsTINE LODGE.

In the anniversary number Of The
Saints Herald is an article upon the
history of the Mormon church at
Nauvoo, which is written by the his
torIan of the Reorganized church There
are many things of interest in the ar
ticle, among which is the following
under the sub b-heading, "Masonryn:
Little need be said on this subject
but a brief statement will be of interest
TO the reader OF this article. Bishop
George Miller seems to have been a
prominent member Of the Masonic or
der before coming here. as he was the
first master OF the lodge in Nauvoo ac-
cording to The Report OF Lodges" now
before me. George Miller. master; j. D.
Parker, S. w. were the ones 10 whom
the dispensation was granted some time
during the year preceding October. 1912.
The following ls a summary of the re-
port to Grand Lodge OF Illinois. October
1892: George Miller master: Uyrum
Newell *. Whitney. treasurer: Charles
ySlI,,T Allen. S, D; Heber C. Kim6all, J. y;
Ta" alK steTsld Tsisha~ amus s'Swaa Foc HyyHm WEN
Master Masons, 243,. fellow crafts, 4:
entered apprentices, o: died, Ninson
Wight: rejected, Daniel Avery. Hyrum
Dayton. Nathan a. West and Samuel
Initiated, 2s5
Joseph Smiths name does not appear
In any connection Criticism was called
out by this first report OF Nauvoo lodge.
The principal reason seemed TO have
been that the lodge received members
without proper preparation: The lodge
fused one at the time. awaiting an ex-
animation of the charges. To investi-
gate these charges. committee was ap-
pointed by the grand lodge But when
lie rrIn
Grand Master Helm of Illinois. came to
Nauvoo To investigate, the lodge refused
TO permit an examination, and this re-
suited In the lodge being declared clan
destine. This. however, did not stop
them, as they continued along the same
lines, II seems. taking In new members
and practicing, their craft in general un-,
til the expulsion in 1876. A large hall
was built on Main street. in 1913. three
stories high. II is enough to say that
all this was done during the time when
every effort to complete the temple Of
the Lord ESQ as to escape church re-
jecton) and the Nauvoo House. The
Masonic temple was completed.
The foregoing brief recital is given
merely that the main facts may be
known IT is altogether unfair, though,
on the part Of the Herald to intimate
that Joseph Smith was not among the
i]legitimates who composed that Nau-
VOC organization. OF course, the report
quoted does not give his name as an
official, but that he was Just as much
member of the clapdestine Nauvoo
lodge as was the late Erastus Snow
there can be no question IT appears
that Erastus Snow delivered the dedi-
catory address when the building
spoken Of was opened. Brigham Young
was member, although not men
tioned so was Jcdedish M Grant,
whose name does not appear in con
nection. The fact is. and as stated by
one who lived at Nauvoo at the time,
the Mormons. "made Masons in fifteen
minutes "a thing altogether impos-
sible and illegitimate under Masonic
procedure. 1t seems that Joseph and
others of the church leadership saw
that the Farm Of the Lord which
they claimed to be their support was
frail affair. They wanted some Of the
strength afforded by mere men. There
fore they conceived the idea of bccom-
ing potent in one of the worlds great.
est societies, hoping thus to command
its support in their lies and damnablc
practices But it appears that they