VWB Ned Daniels Deputy of the Grand Master in District 4 of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington for 1999-2000

"The First 'Third Party'" (April 2000)

Every four years the presidential election season is upon us, and this is the year.

With the current presidential campaigns in full swing, and with the upcoming national conventions of the two major parties, it seems timely and appropriate for Masons to reflect on the very first "third party" to gain attention in the national political scene of America — the Anti-Masonic Party.

As we look at the formation and composition of the Anti-Masonic Party, we are reminded of the lessons of distrust that can grow out of misunderstanding, intolerance, hatred, and fear, and how the long lasting effects of such an assemblage can have on the good works of our fraternal organization.

The formation of the Anti-Masonic Party grew largely from the combination of two forces: Those that played on the supposed threat of secret societies to public institutions, and the skillful exploitation of anti-Jackson politicians.

In 1826, general approval of Masonry had suffered a sudden, dramatic reversal as a result of the mysterious disappearance in western NewYork of William Morgan, a Mason known be on the point of publishing an expose' of the order's secrets.

It was popularly believed, although never proved, that fellow Masons had murdered Morgan. As a result. Masonry in New York received a nearly mortal blow, membership dwindling in the decade 1826-1836 from 20,000 to 3,000.

The Anti-Masonic Party was formed in New York in 1828, and reflected widespread hostility toward Masons holding public office.  The stated purpose of this strange phenomenon in American history was to combat the supposed threat of Masonic power overjudicial and political institutions.

Anti-Masonry, like other enthusiasms emanating from western New York, soon spread to other states and became a formidable movement.

The election of 1828 saw Andrew Jackson elected as President. Jackson previously served as Senator from Tennessee, and was also an active Mason, having been grand Master in the state of Tennessee.

Elected as Jackson's Vice President in 1828 was John C. Calhoun of South Carolina. However, shortly thereafter, Calhoun defected from the Jacksonian ranks.

Jackson was a strong President, and his many successes caused his opponents to be united in what party members viewed as the executive tyranny of "King Andrew," and his active involvement in Masonry became a target as well.

With the emergence of Governor, and former Senator, Martin Van Buren of New York as Jackson's potential successor, a new political alliances were shaping up.  Calhoun and Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky had buried their differences, and the National Republican party also began to emerge.

For the election of 1832, the anti-Masonic Party wanted Clay as their candidate.  But Clay was also a Mason, and his refusal to repudiate Masonry embarrassed the Anti-Masons.

On September 26, 1832, convening in Baltimore, the Anti-Masonic Party then nominated the distinguished attorney William Wirt of Maryland for the presidency.

The Anti-Masonic Party had thus became the first political party to hold a public nominating convention, as well as the first to announce a platform.

The National Republicans nominated Clay, and the Democrats enthusiastically renominated Jackson with Van Buren as his running mate.

As a result of the national elections, Vermont gave the party seven electoral votes and elected an Anti-Masonic Governor, William A. Palmer.

However, the net political effect on this third party into the United States presidential election was to draw support from Henry Clay and help Andrew Jackson win re-election by a wide margin.

The elections of 1836 saw the beginning of the demise of the Anti-Masonic Party.  Together with the National Republican Party, and the anti-nullification states' rights Southerners, its members merged with the new Whig Party.

From this look back into our American history, we can draw many lessons, not the least of which is that hopefully we may never again see the emergence of another Anti-Masonic Party.

Indeed it is our responsibility to make our fraternity less secretive to our friends and neighbors, to make our good deeds better known to society, and to continue to "do good unto all."

Thanks to both the District Deputy of the Grand Master in District 4, and the Masonic Monitor which publishes his articles for allowing us to reprint them.  The Masonic Monitor is published monthly (except August) under approval of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington.  The Masonic Monitor can be contacted at: 6619 132nd Avenue NE, PMB 237, Kirkland, WA, 98033-8627, USA.  Phone: (425) 822-4605 - FAX: (425) 822-2535 - Email: masonicmonitor@earthlink.net.