will be issued from the press in this place, in a short time, a work of rare interest to the uninitiated, being an exposition of Ancient Craft Masonry, by one who has been a member of the institution for years."

Morgan having had some transaction in Canandaigua with the tavern-keeper-we think it was simply borrowing some clothing, and having failed to return the articles, a warrant was taken out for larceny, upon which his arrest followed, and he was carried to Canandaigua by a posse; among them were several conspicuous Masons. He was acquitted of the charge, because he had borrowed the clothing, and had not stolen them. He was again arrested for a debt to another tavern-keeper, and upon confession of judgment he was sent to jail. Miller was also arrested, September 12, 1826, and carried to Le Roy; he was discharged, as the plaintiff did not appear in time.2

A few days previous to Miller's arrest, a warrant in behalf of the plaintiff (Johns) was issued by a Justice of the Peace residing in Le Roy against Miller and John Davids, his partner in the printing office, for the purpose of collecting money before then advanced by Johns in the prosecution of their undertaking. The officer in whose hands the warrant was placed for execution was a constable of the town of Stafford, who, having learned that the office of Miller was strictly guarded, and that he was fully determined to resist all attempts to serve any process upon him, engaged a number of assistants. On September 12th he and his posse, who were followed by a large number of people, went to Batavia to make the arrest. So many strangers, without any ostensible business, making their appearance in Batavia, aroused the most fearful apprehension among the citizens. Miller received a note early in the morning from some unknown person that an effort would be made to take by force the papers intended for publication. He showed this note to a few of the citizens of the town, some of whom were Masons, and asked their opinion. They advised him to look upon the matter as idle rumor, as to attempt such a measure was impracticable and foolish. So many unknown persons, however, suddenly making their presence known, and as if by concert, those who had advised him to take no notice of the warning received by Miller be

1 H. Brown's "Narrative, Batavia, New York, 1829," p. 54.

2 Ibid.,

p. 56.

gan to fear that it was indeed a preconcerted plan to carry out the intention of obtaining, by violence if necessary, the aforesaid papers. The magistrates were all absent from the village, and this also increased the suspicions. Very soon a number of the citizens, Masons as well as others, offered their services to prevent any violence. Morgan had gone from Batavia the day before this in the charge of an officer, but no news of him had yet been received. Consternation and apprehension pervaded that small community, but as nothing further transpired, order and quietness soon prevailed. Soon after this the constable, with a single individual accompanying him, went to the office to arrest Miller and Davids with a civil process. The office was fortified by "two swivels," fifteen or more guns, and six pistols, all being loaded, but was at that time undefended, except by Miller, Davids, and a son of Miller.

The assistant arrested Davids, who called for a pistol; the constable arrested Miller. Both of them submitted and were carried through an armed crowd of their friends to a tavern across the street. A very large number of persons, nearly fifty, were there assembled. They gave no sign of any hostility whatever, and in conversation with others showed that no intention on their part existed of any violence or wrong. Subsequent disclosures, however, clearly showed that in the minds at least of a few an intention had existed of obtaining possession of the "papers " by force if necessary. Those Masons in Batavia to whom this design had been communicated severely condemned such intention, which was conceived in folly and would be fraught with mischief and ruinous in consequences. These views having been communicated to the leaders, the whole scheme was abandoned. The absence of the justices was caused by their being subpoenaed as witnesses in a trial at Bethany on that day.1

From the evidence produced it was clearly shown that certain indiscreet and overzealous Masons did inaugurate a scheme to get rid of Morgan and prevent the publication of his pretended "exposure." He was conveyed out of the State, by his own consent, from a fear that someone would murder him. A promise was made to take care of his wife and children, and with $500 in hand he was taken into Canada. There were a great many incidents connected

1 The above account is condensed from Brown's "Narrative," pp. 51-55.

with the expedition to transport him out of the State, which we deem it unnecessary to mention in detail.

This affair created wonderful excitement in all the New England States and in New York and Pennsylvania, among the Masons particularly; it extended, in a milder form, southwardly, and reached as far as the District of Columbia, but its effects, morally and politically, south of the famous historical "line of Mason and Dixon," was very slight indeed. In New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, however, the loyal members of the Craft sustained their integrity against political, religious, and social persecutions. A new political party was organized, and that party made a national issue at the next presidential canvass in 1832, and William Wirt was their candidate for the office of Chief Magistrate, and the canvass resulted in his receiving the electoral vote of Vermont, the only State to cast their votes for him. We are glad to announce that when Masonry again revived and came forth from that terrible time of persecution, under the leadership of that grand and magnanimous MAN, Philip C. Tucker, as we have shown in preceding chapters, he brought order out of confusion and re-established Masonry in all its branches. At the present day there can not be found more enthusiastic Masons in any State of our Union, than now exist in the Green Mountain State.

The official examinations of parties who were directly or remotely connected with the abduction of Morgan, aroused and continued to excite the sentiments of hostility to the Masonic Institution; it was once well said that the "fice-dog always barks at what he does not understand," so with that similar class in every community, they are always ready and constantly seeking opportunities to oppose what is beyond their limited comprehension. Charges were constantly found against those Masons who were suspected of any complicity in those affairs, and suits were brought against them for several years. Among those who were arrested and imprisoned was Eli Bruce. From 1827 to 1831 there was always some one or more confined in the jail at Canandaigua.

Eli Bruce was charged with the abduction of Morgan, and was acquitted, for it was not proved that anyone had been abducted. De Witt Clinton was then Governor of New York, as well as one of the most prominent and distinguished Masons in the United States, and was of course eminently desirous of ascertaining the truth in all