Thaddeus Stevens Inquiry of Masonry and Odd Fellowship Began December 19, 1835

At the gubernatorial election in October, 1835, owing to an unfortunate defection in the Democratic ranks whereby there were two nominees for that office, Governor George Wolf and Henry A. Muhlenberg, Joseph Ritner was elected to the highest office of the State by a minority vote.

In possession of both the executive and legislative branches of the State Government, the Anti-Masons were determined to carry out various measures with a high hand.

No sooner did the session of the Legislature open in December following than did Thaddeus Stevens, bring in a bill entitled: “An act to suppress secret societies, bound together by secret and unlawful oaths,” while both houses were deluged with petitions “praying God an investigation into the evils of Freemasonry.”

On December 15, the oath of office was administered to Governor Ritner, after which he addressed the members of both House and Senate. In this inaugural he used the following:

“The supremacy of the laws, and the equal rights of the people, 890whether threatened or assailed by individuals or by secret sworn associations, I shall, so far as may be compatible with the constitutional powers of the executive, endeavor to maintain, as well in compliance with the known will of the people, as from obligations of duty to the Commonwealth.

“In these endeavors I shall entertain no doubt of zealous cooperation by the enlightened and patriotic Legislature of the State. The people have willed the destruction of all secret bodies, and that will cannot be disregarded.”

Four days later, December 19, on motion of Mr. Stevens himself, all the petitions were referred to a committee consisting of “Messrs. Stevens, Cox, Huston (of Fayette) Spackman and Frew, with power to send for persons and papers.”

On the same day this committee organized and prepared a series of eleven questions which were to be put to each person brought before the committee. The questions were intended to establish the fact of membership in Free Masonry or Odd Fellowship and whether or not such witness could repeat the several oaths of the society to which he belonged.

This “Inquisition” held its first meeting December 23, 1835. To this star chamber they obtained the evidence of a man named Shed, who had been imported for the purpose from the State of Ohio. He seems to have resided in several States, and to have arrived at Fort Niagara about the time of Captain Morgan’s abduction, learned all about it, and was acquainted with the scoundrel Giddings, who, if his story was true, as well as Shed’s, ought to have been hanged with him. If not true, they were perjured villains. But the High Court of Inquisition was not after martyrs, it was wire-pulling in other directions.

A large number of prominent Masons, and citizens, were brought before the committee, among them being ex-Governor Wolf, Francis R. Shunk, George M. Dallas, Chief Justice Gibson, Josiah Randall, Samuel H. Perkins, Joseph R. Chandler, and the Reverend William T. Sproul. They invariably declined being qualified, or answering any questions propounded by Mr. Stevens, and for their refusal to so testify, several of the gentlemen were brought to the bar of the House, but nothing more was done to any of them.

Mr. Stevens was obliged to depend for witnesses upon seceding Masons, imported from Massachusetts, New York and Northern Pennsylvania. Their evidence, however, was only a rehash of Morgan and his successor, Bernard, in their so-called “Revelations of the Doings of Freemasonry and Odd Fellowship.”

Mr. Stevens, unfortunately, could not control his temper, and in the case of Rev. Mr. Sproul, when that gentleman, in reading his protest, came to the expression, “Gentlemen, if you are willing to convert yourselves into a modern Juggernaut, then roll on,” “Stop,” thundered 891the chairman of the “inquisition,” white with wrath and further reading was dispensed with.

Governor Wolf, in his letter to the committee, wrote:

“The Constitution is explicit and declaratory of the personal security of the people, and is the precious repository of the privileges of the freemen of this Commonwealth which never shall have a wound inflicted upon its sacred reservations, through any person, without a solemn asseveration of its principles.

“What article of the Constitution clothes the House with power to institute such an investigation? What article of the venerated instrument forbids the people from associating together in pursuit of their own happiness? If the association is criminal, or in violation of any principle of the Constitution or laws, the mode and manner of suppressing the unlawful combination must be in accordance with the Constitution and laws.

“I have yet to learn that an inquisition at whose shrine the rights and liberties of the citizens are to be invaded, is authorized by the principles of our institutions; or that any power exists by which a citizen can be coerced to give testimony before any tribunal, or for any object other than the investigation of matters at issue, affecting the rights of persons or of things.”

An incident occurred about this period which fully exemplified to what length the enemies of Freemasonry would go. All sorts of crimes or collusions with crimes were imputed to the craft. Everything that was vile was blamed upon the fraternity.

A murder was committed between Middletown and Hummelstown. Female apparel was found which was recognized as belonging to Sophia Garman, who was missing from her home. Search was made, and some one discovered where the earth had been recently disturbed in the center of which was a branch of a spruce or cedar tree. An investigation resulted in finding the body of the murdered girl.

The people who had been reading everything anti-Masonic at once jumped to the conclusion that this was the work of one who was a Mason. An individual who was last seen with the unfortunate girl was arrested and it was broadcasted that he was a member of Perseverance Lodge, No. 21, Free and Accepted Masons, of Harrisburg. His name was Tom McHenry.

In the course of events, there not being the least evidence upon which to convict him, the accused was declared not guilty.

The outside conclusion then was that the jury must have been composed of Masons and the result could not be otherwise.

The fact is that McHenry was not a Mason nor was a single member of the jury which tried him.

The Stevens investigation continued for nearly a month and ended in nothing.

892The men whom the committee tried to impanel would not testify; those who did were pretended renouncers of Masonry. Concerning the real motive of Stevens public opinion was divided.

Stevens would have resorted to strong measures to compel witnesses to testify if he had not seen that the tide of public opinion was turning against the inquiry. To preserve appearances a lengthy report was submitted and adopted.