Mormonism and Freemasonry are so intimately interwoven and interrelated
that the two can never be dissociated. Mormonism was born in the throes of
the holocaust provoked by the Anti-Masonic Morgan affair of 1826. What I
shall attempt to cover is the period from the beginning of Mormonism is the
1820's, with its early Masonic ties, through social and political upheaval
in New York State tied into the so-called Morgan Affair, the establishment
and marriage of Freemasonry and Mormonism in Nauvoo, Illinois; the
assassination of Joseph Smith by members of the Masonic Fraternity, the
subsequent exodus to Utah by Brigham Young, the rejection of Mormonism by
Utah Freemasonry, and finally the coming of universal Freemasonry to Utah.
The seeker of light on the subject of the interface between Masonry and
Mormonism quickly becomes frustrated. The so-called literature pertaining to
this subject is generally biased, prejudiced, unscholarly but most alarming
is that written by individuals without the requisite background of each of
the two organizations.
The Joseph Smith family was known and acknowledged to have been a close
knitted one, where strong individual affection and loyalty existed between
each of the members. It was a Masonic family which lived by and practiced
the estimable and admirable tenets of Freemasonry. The father, Joseph Smith,
Sr., was a documented member in upstate New York. He was raised to the
degree of Master Mason on May 7, 1818 in Ontario Lodge No. 23 of
Canandaigua, New York. An older son, Hyrum Smith, was a member of Mount
Moriah Lodge No. 112, Palmyra New York. Numerous attempts have been made to
prove that Joseph Smith and his family where depraved, degenerate and
disreputable persons. These documented facts, namely, the Masonic membership
of Joseph Smith, Sr., in the Lodge in Canandaigua, and Hyrum's membership in
Palmyra Lodge, are of the most significant importance. Being the elite
institution it was recognized by the public to be at that time, and their
active membership in two of the Masonic lodges of the area is convincing
evidence of the stature and high esteem the members of the family enjoyed in
the eyes and opinions of those who knew them best. As touched on previously,
the founding of Mormonism or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, took place under the strikingly peculiar circumstances associated
with the turbulent, tenuous atmosphere then gripping west central and
up-state New York. This community unrest was primarily due to the vicious
anti-Masonic furor which was triggered by the controversial disappearance of
William Morgan. A booklet attributed to the vanished William Morgan appeared
in Batavia, New York, in October of 1826 titled "Illustrations of Masonry,"
by one of the Fraternity who has devoted thirty years to the subject.
The Morgan booklet was extensively printed and distributed causing a
torrential flood of publicity related to the practices and ceremonies of the
craft. This booklet of lies, insinuations and half-truths was avidly and
devouringly read by a people eager to believe the worst about anything they
did not understand especially a so-called "secret society." During this time
Joseph Smith, Jr., received and recorded a series of visitations by the
Angel Moroni, found and translated the golden plates into what is now known
as the Book of Mormon. During the third week of March 1830, the Book of
Mormon was offered for sale at Palmyra, New York. Critics of The Book of
Mormon quickly attempted to attribute the mentioning of secret societies in
the volume to the influence of the notorious publicity stemming from thee
Morgan affair. A number of incidents are recounted in the Book of Mormon
concerning secret societies and evil practices indulged in by this type
organization. Understandably, but mistakenly, the general public
semantically considered Freemasonry to be the epitome of a secret society
and consequently related Mormonism and Freemasonry at the same well spring.
The inaccurate writings of numerous prejudiced and emotional authors helped
to further confuse the issue. Hundreds of pieces of literature began to
appear very quickly with the common theme claiming that the contents of the
recently translated Mormon scripture had been influenced by the Morgan
excitement. The rise of sentiment for the anti-Masonic party and all the
publicity from stage presentations mocking the craft was further fueled by
the public claims that Joseph Smith, Jr., had used Masonic work to produce
the Book of Mormon. The public lumped them into the same basket and with the
Masonic background of the Smith's, Mormonism and Freemasonry became so
interwoven in the public mind as to be one and the same.
If the death of William Morgan was the fuel that sparked the great
anti-Masonic movement then the actions of his wife was the breath that
fanned the flames. This celebrated woman who, like Niobe, was all tears and
affliction and whose hand was ever held forth to receive contributions from
the sympathetic Anti-Masons, who vowed eternal widowhood, pains and penance,
remarried. On November 23, 1830, Lucindia Morgan married George W. Harris, a
Mason and converted to Mormonism and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois.
Much of the historical account dealing with the introduction of
Freemasonry among the Mormons in Illinois and Iowa was and has been
intentionally omitted and/or distorted by both the Masons and the Mormons.
Let us start with the marriage of Mormonism and Freemasonry. On April 6,
1840, the present Grand Lodge of Illinois was formed by the Mormon
Patriarch, Judge and General James Adams.
An interesting side note is that the Mormon Church was founded on April
6, 1830, The Nauvoo Temple was dedicated on April 6 and the Mormon Church
teaches that the birth of Christ actually was April 6 (though they celebrate
it on December 25). The early years of the Grand Lodge were fraught with
great difficulty and not all lodges within the state joined it until the
middle of the 1840s. Under the Grand Mastership of a complex and colorful
individual, named Abraham Jonas and a Deputy Grand Master equally remarkable
man named James Adams, the new Grand Lodge engaged in some unusual
transactions with the Mormons of Nauvoo.
The motives and thinking of the men concerned in these unusual
transactions have been a standing puzzle to Masonic scholars throughout the
years. It is certainly one of the most devious and controversial
performances in which American Freemasonry has ever engaged. It is my
personal, considered opinion that it took an inordinate amount of persuasion
on the part of the two self-serving opportunistic partisan politicians,
Deputy Grand Master Adams and Grand Master Jonas, to induce Joseph Smith to
sanction the introduction of Freemasonry in Nauvoo.
They planned on treating it as an elitist group open only to the selected
few, but Joseph Smith insisted that it be open to every holder of the Mormon
Priesthood, who had the interest to petition for admittance into Masonry.
The sole exception would be the petitioner who had exceptionally negative
qualities, known and acknowledged as such. In other words, Joseph Smith
insisted that Nauvoo Lodge be an all-inclusive lodge.
Nauvoo had three lodges and Iowa had two, the five collectively being
identified as the "Mormon Lodges." Nauvoo comprised a total membership of
1550 Masons. A conservative estimate of the membership of the other four
lodges suggests that the total of the five lodges may have exceed 2,000
Masons. The minutes of Nauvoo Lodge for Tuesday, March 15, 1842, shows Grand
Master Abraham Jonas (Illinois Grand Master) opened the lodge in the 3rd
degree of Masonry and conducted a public installation of Nauvoo Lodge "at
the grove near the Temple." The minutes then go on to show that both Joseph
Smith, Jr., and Sidney Rigdon "were duly initiated Entered Apprentice Masons
during the day." The record for Wednesday, March 16, ceremonies again lists
the two candidates and shows that they were made fellowcraft and Master
Masons at sight. The first five Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith,
Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow were all made
Masons in Nauvoo Lodge. Also practically every member of the hierarchy was
or became a Mason shortly after the Prophet was raised to the degree of
Master Mason. With the marked and well known exception of the justly famous
Lodge of Nine Sisters at Paris, France, with its almost incredible roster of
French immortals, it is extremely doubtful if any lodge in the history of
Freemasonry has met, let alone exceeded, the record of Nauvoo Lodge in the
number of members whose memory is perpetuated in ageless bronze or masterful
portraiture.
After Freemasonry was introduced to Nauvoo, the lodge met in the upper
room of Joseph Smith's general store while the new Masonic hall was being
built. This was dedicated by Hyrum Smith on April 5, 1844, and used by the
church and community for many community activities. It is worth noting that
in the restoration of Nauvoo, the Mormon Church restored the building and
calls it "The Cultural Hall-Masonic Hall."
An interesting side note on the influence that Masonry had in the life of
the Mormons is the fact that the weather vane placed on the Nauvoo temple
depicted an angel in priestly robes with the Book of Mormon in one hand and
a trumpet in the other. The angel is wearing a cap on his head and above him
are a square and compass. Religious antagonism and physical conflict
increased and finally came to a head with the bloody murders of Joseph and
his brother Hyrum when they were shot to death on June 27, 1844. Joseph
Smith was a Mason in good standing of Nauvoo Lodge while Hyrum was the
incumbent Master of the lodge.
On the morning of June 27, 1844, the citizens of Warsaw held a meeting
and adopted a resolution to proceed to Nauvoo and exterminate the city and
its people. In pursuance to the resolution, Colonel Levi Williams called
together his regiment of militia and marched for Carthage where the Smiths
had surrendered themselves upon the pledge of the governor for their safety.
They were met on the road with an order from the Governor disbanding the
regiment. Colonel Williams read the order and called for volunteers. Captain
Mark Aldrich spoke in favor and Captain Thomas C. Sharp advised the troops
to march to Carthage.
Captain Jacob C. Davis, who was then State Senator, refrained from
speaking, but went with the mob and was present at the assassination. About
150 of the rank and file blacked their faces with mud and gunpowder.
Arrangements were made for the guards at the jail to charge their guns with
blanks which they would fire at the disguised men when they assailed the
jail. This plan was carried out and the Smiths and their visitors, John
Taylor and Willard Richards, threw themselves against the door to prevent
the mob from entering. Shots were fired through the door, killing Hyrum
instantly and wounding Taylor. Joseph Smith fired his pistol, which had been
smuggled to him, wounding four of his assassins. Having exhausted his
weapon, and the mob still trying to break down the door, he attempted to
escape by jumping from the window but was stunned by the two-story fall when
he hit the ground. Someone picked him up and placed him against a well curb.
Joseph recognizing Masons in the mob cried out ``Oh Lord, My God . . '' with
his words being cut of by a volley of musket balls.
In order to show their approval of the murders, Warsaw Lodge, at their
next meeting, elected Mark Aldrich as master and received the petitions of
Levi Williams, Thomas C. Sharp and Jacob Davis. All who were under
indictment of the murder. Warsaw Lodge eventually lost its charter, but not
because of its support for the murders.
When the first Mormon pioneer company entered the Salt Lake Valley on
July 24, 1847, under Brigham Young's leadership, a significant body of
Masons entered with him. As of that date, the full Mormon Hierarchy was
comprised of Masons.
A review of the 143 men entering the valley at this time shows how
wide-spread Masonry had become among the Mormons. Three of the group were
black slaves, 16 were young men not yet of age, which leaves 124 who might
possibly have been of the Craft. Of these there were 10 whose age was not
known, who with 38 others are not known to have been Masons. This means that
76 of the possible 124 left, or 61%, were documented members of the Craft.
Brigham Young, knowing both Mormonism and Freemasonry in depth, fully
realized that nothing constructive or positive could result from a series of
continuing exchanges over the years, judiciously instituted the inflexible
policy that the Mormon Church had nothing to say publicly regarding
Freemasonry. This position has been steadfastly and discretely adhered to
for almost a century and a half, with very few exceptions. There is ample
evidence that Brigham Young took his Masonry seriously and gave studious
attention to its meaning and significance. This is evidenced in the many
photos and paintings showing Brigham Young wearing his Masonic pins. It
should be acknowledged that the vast majority of the Mormon Masons took
their Masonic obligations most seriously and deeply to heart. Great numbers
were devoted and dedicated Masons who truly loved the Order. Freemasonry
among Mormons was not merely a fraternity nor a shallow and trivial
fraternal experience. It was what it really is - a genuine brotherhood.
Their lodge meetings were serious convocations entirely devoid of jovial
lightheartedness and the strenuous, physical horseplay which characterized
most frontier lodges. Their time and attention were fully occupied with the
heavy demands of degree work.
The Mormons knew who the principals were in the killing of Hyrum and
Joseph. They were also well-informed as to who the individual Masons were
who participated in the murders. Significantly, the Mormons also knew and
realized the vital distinction between individual Masons acting solely on
their own initiative and the fact that the Masonic Order has in no sense
participated as an organization. Brigham Young was especially cognizant of
the fact that every organization has regrettable examples of members who are
unable to measure up to the tenets and admonitions of the association.
The above factors are but some of the numerous reasons which prompted
Brigham Young to declare a ban of silence on the Mormon experience with
Freemasonry. In this day when men seek the roots of Masonry and frown on the
old theory of it having its start in King Solomon's Temple they might find
it strange that one of the worlds major religions that was once scorned by
some Masons is a major supporter of this idea. The rituals and symbolism of
the Mormon church are claimed, by revelation, to come from the rituals of
King Solomon's temple and indeed a study of the Holy Scriptures brings many
of these symbols to light and give support for the beginnings of our Craft.
The Beehive is an emblem of industry and recommends the practice of that
virtue. Joseph Smith adopted the Beehive as the church and community symbol
and Brigham Young added it to his personal seal. In Utah, Brigham Young
erected a large home surmounted by a gilded beehive. This came to be known
as the Beehive house, it being the home of, at one, 13 of his wives. It
might even have resembled one. Several of the Temples display the beehive
prominently on both their interiors and exteriors. It is the sole heraldic
device on the shield of the State Seal and Flag as well as the Seals of the
University of Utah and Brigham Young University. Three beehives are the sole
adornments of the tabernacle podium and the immense beehive atop the old
Hotel Utah overlooks the valley. The word beehive and deseret are used in
the area business so extensively that the native-born scarcely notes them.
Even the sidewalks are adorned with a tile pattern of the honeycomb. On the
Temple itself you will see inscribed several symbolic items, along with the
beehive you will find the Sun, Moon, Stars (Shaped like the O.E.S. star),
The all-seeing-eye and the clasped hands. Across the street on the Relief
building is prominently display a sheaf of wheat. This close resemblance to
our craft was used by Utah Freemasonry for years as one of the reasons to
bar Mormons for becoming Masons.
Freemasonry supposedly came to Utah on January 16, 1872, when the Grand
Lodge of Utah was organized. This was an openly proclaimed and vigorously
active anti-Mormon organization. It is not necessary to go into detail but
simply state that shortly thereafter this uncivil, un-Masonic organization
issued the untrue and dishonest assertion that the Mormon Temple Ceremony
had been "borrowed" or "stolen" from Freemasonry. Such alleged claims were
published by the Grand Lodge and kept alive in every manner possible until
January 31, 1984, on which date the Grand Lodge of Utah repealed its long
standing anti-Mormon resolution. As originally formulated, the false claim
was made that the Mormon Temple Ceremony was so Masonic in structure that
the Mormon Church was actually practicing clandestine Masonry. It is
essentially on this alleged charge of being clandestine that the Grand Lodge
of Utah publicly assumed and announced its anti-Mormon stance. This
repealing action tacitly invalidated and repudiated the claim that the Grand
Lodge had fostered for decades and at long last Utah Masonry came into line
with the true spirit and meaning of Universal Masonry and joined truly the
international order of Freemasonry as a related jurisdiction wherein true
Masonry was finally acknowledged and practiced the former and ancient
proponent of Brotherhood; the latter offering the potential of Christian
Brotherhood.
To an idealist like me you would believe that each organization would
reach to the other in a joint endeavor to be the guidepost of mankind. By
its action of January 31, 1984, the Grand Lodge of Utah, with the support of
universal Freemasonry, stretched forth the hand of fellowship to end the
long standing contention it had imposed and started a new era of light in
Utah.
