The Antimasonic Party in the United States, 1826-1843

by William Preston Vaughn

Here, for the first time in more than eighty years, is a detailed study of political Antimasonry on the national, state, and local levels, based on a survey of existing sources. The Antimasonic party, whose avowed goal was the destruction of the Masonic Lodge and other secret societies, was the first influential third party in the United States and introduced the device of the national presidential nominating convention in 1831.

Vaughn focuses on the celebrated "Morgan Affair" of 1826, the alleged murder of a former Mason who exposed the fraternity's secrets. Thurlow Weed quickly transformed the crusading spirit aroused by this incident into an anti-Jackson party in New York. From New York, the party soon spread through the Northeast. To achieve success, the Antimasons in most states had to form alliances with the major parties, thus becoming the "flexible minority."

After William Wirt's defeat by Andrew Jackson in the election of 1832, the party waned. Where it had been strong, Antimasonry became a reform-minded, anti-Clay faction of the new Whig party and helped to secure the presidential nominations of William Henry Harrison in 1836 and 1840. Vaughn concludes that although in many ways the Antimasonic Crusade was finally beneficial to the Masons, it was not until the 1850s that the fraternity regained its strength and influence.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

William Preston Vaughn was professor of history emeritus at North Texas State University, where he taught from 1962 until his retirement in 1991. attended the University of Missouri, and graduated with a B.A. in 1955; in 1956 he obtained a M.A. from Ohio State University; and a Ph.D. in 1961.

Reviews

[Da1tonthegreat]

The Anti-Masonic Party was the first third party movement in American history. The abduction and presumed murder of an ex-Freemason turned critic spurred the movement into existence. They were right to be suspicious of Masonic conspiracies – after all, Freemasons were prominent among those who, a few generations earlier, had orchestrated a rebellion and wrested political control of the colonies from the British. Nevertheless, as the author points out, not all of the leading Patriots had been Masons. Such contradictions were present during the time of Anti-Masonry. The famed populist Andrew Jackson was a Grand Master Mason, while Anti-Masons tended to support his enemy, the Bank of the United States (which seems like an elitist plot if there ever was one). After a quixotic run for the presidency with former attorney general William Wirt (whose commitment to anti-Masonry was tepid), the movement continued on at the state level, remaining a force in New England politics for a time before becoming absorbed into the Whig Party.

[Paul]

The Anti-Masonic Party was a fringe movement, fueled in equal parts by misinformation and religious fervor, which mainstream politicians cynically exploited for votes and legislative advantage.

And it was never a problem again.