ANTI-MASONIC PARTY

Popular hostility to Freemasonry figured as a disturbing factor in American political elections in the early part of the 19th century. It had its origin in the abduction and disappearance of a decayed Virgin i an, William Morgan by name, a mason by trade and a supposed member of the fraternity, who, settling in Batavia N. Y., about 1824, was suspected of writing a book exposing the secrets of Freemasonry. Morgan was spirited away and never seen again and his book,’ later published, placed Freemasonry in a sinister light. Men suspected of abducting Morgan were tried between 1827 and 1830 and convicted, but could not be held for murder. Popular opinion blamed the fraternity for the crime and manifested its hostility in an anti Masonic party which was formed. The party vetoed the candidature for public office, local, state or national, of any citizen who was/a Mason. In fact, starting from New York, the movement forced numerous lodges to di olve all over the country. The charters of more than 3,000 were surrendered before the agitation abated. In 1828 the National Republicans did not have to nominate anyone who belonged to the order. The political fortunes of Thurlow Weed, Henry. Clay and William Wirt were involved in the Masonry: i ue of their day. The anti-Masons survived till 1840. |