Light on masonry a collection of all the most important documents on the subject of speculative free masonry : embracing the reports of the Western committees in relation to the abduction of William Morgan ... with all the degrees of the order conferred in a master's lodge
as written by Captain William Morgan ... ; by Elder David Bernard ..
Included Title
Sabin Americana, 1500-1926
Format
Books
Language
English
Publication
Utica : W. Williams, printer, 1829
Physical Details
x, [2], [13]-506, 54, [1] p. : front. (port.) pl. ; 18 cm
The author was a minister of the Genesee (N.Y.) Baptist association, who had taken fiteen degrees of masonry and was intimate secretary of the Lodge of perfection. He was among the first in that section of the country to recede from the order. cf. J.Q. Adams, Letters on the masonic institution, 1847, p. 228 et seq. C.T. McClenachan, History of freemasonry in New York, 1888-1894, while going very fully into the Morgan affair, v. 2, p. 458-596, does not mention Bernard's book. In 1883, Robert Morris published his "William Morgan; or, Political anti-masonry, its rise, growth, and decadence," "by which," says McClenachan, "it was endeavored to show the innocence of our brotherhood, with a zeal almost as great as the fanatics of 1829 exercised to condemn the institution for the acts of a few over-zealous, unworthy members."