On September 11, 1826, William Morgan published an expose on the rituals of Freemasonry.  Shortly after he was arrested on two separate occasions for debts owed.  Each time a Masonic friend stepped forward and paid his debt.  The second time a person claiming to be his friend not only paid his debt, but had a carriage waiting for him outside of the jail.

Morgan got in the carriage with others and road off and was never seen or heard from again.

The legend has it that the local Masons murdered Morgan in retaliation for his written expose of the rituals.  There was a trial held of those who freed Morgan and were thought responsible for his disappearance.

Matters were made worse when nothing was done to the supposed abductors.  Unfortunate, from the prospective of those following the trial, the jury and the presiding judge were all Masons.

This promoted the formation of the Anti-Mason political party, the beginning of a three party system.

The early 19th century was a very difficult time for the New Republic: debt was rampant and , for many living in the United States, the heroes of the Revolution where now becoming the old guard of aristocracy.

There was also a growing fear of immigrants and large religious groups new to the country.  (Kind of like today?)

This all lead to the formation of the Anti-Mason Party 1828 which caricaturized  Masons as elitist and power hungry individuals looking out for only its members at the expense of the general public.

In 1832 the Anti Mason party selected William Wirt, a Mason. Who at the convention talked about the virtues of masonry.

For more information about this movement in History.  Visit the Masonic Exhibit in the Henry Coil Museum at 111 California Street San Francisco or go on line.