NAUVOO LODGE

          With the events of this period as a back drop, let's examine the
          alleged involvement of the Masonic Lodges in the martyr of
          Joseph and Hyrum Smith.

          During this period of anti-Mormon sentiment,  Thomas C.
          Sharp from the City of Warsaw, assumed leadership of the
          anti-Mormon movement.  Mr. Sharp edited the influential
          Warsaw Signal, a prominent newspaper of the time.

          "To counter Mormon political power Sharp organized an
          anti-Mormon political Party  in 1841, urging Whigs and
          Democrats to come to his support. Searching for issues upon
          which to challenge Mormon power, Sharp criticized the
          establishment of the Nauvoo Legion, the city charter, the
          prophets expansive land transactions, and the solid Mormon
          vote.(11)
          Thomas Sharp was so key in agitating the public against the
          Mormons, I will here include several of his quotations, which he
          published by the Warsaw Signal in 1844.

          May 29th: "We have seen enough to convince us that Joe Smith
          is not safe out of Nauvoo, and we should not be surprised to
          hear of his death by violent means in a short time."

          June 5th: "If one portion of the community sets the law at
          defiance, are we bound to respect the laws in our reaction to
          it?..."

          June 12th: "War and extermination is evitable! CITIZENS
          ARISE, ONE AND ALL!!! Can you stand by and suffer such
          INFERNAL DEVILS!... We have no time for comment! Every
          man will make his own. LET IT BE WITH POWDER AND
          BALL!"
          JUNE 19th: "STRIKE THEM! for the time has fully come.  We
          hold ourselves at all times in readiness to cooperate with our
          fellow citizens... to exterminate, utterly  exterminate, the wicked
          and abominable Mormon leaders."

          The above editorial comments will serve to show that Thomas
          Sharp was  bitterly anti-Mormon, and the reader may surmise
          how the Mormons felt  towards him.

          There was enough evidence after the murder of Joseph and
          Hyrum Smith to be convinced that Mr. Sharp had played a key
          role in inciting the actions which led to the murders.  Several
          witnesses testified that Thomas Sharp had been among the party
          that traveled to Carthage and committed the murder.

          Sharp was arrested for the murders with others of note, Jacob
          Davis  and Levi Williams. However, none of these men were
          ever convicted.  Not  because  of a lack of evidence, but
          because of legal wrangling.  (Which wrangling did not involve
          the Masons, so far as I know.) It  was during the pre-trial
          preparations that the Masonic Fraternity  became entangled in
          the controversy which brought Mormon accusations  of a
          cover-up.

          In an apparent effort to garner public support, the defendants
          attempted to find refuge in the Warsaw lodge while  awaiting
          trial. To the Fraternities credit, the Grand Lodge of  Illinois
          called the Warsaw lodge to an accounting for its actions.  The
          following describes the circumstances.

          "In the meantime, the defendants were apparently trying to
          strengthen their position by new allegiances within the influential
          Masonic order.  Mark Aldrich was a member of Warsaw Lodge
          No. 21, founded in January 1843.  With an immediacy and
          urgency that cannot have been coincidental, Jacob Davis,
          Thomas Sharp, and Levi Williams were all initiated into the
          small Warsaw Lodge in October and December 1844.  Before
          spring all three had been passed to the second degree, and Davis
          and Williams had been raised to Master Masons.  How much
          advantage the defendants expected to derive from this
          association is unclear, though it is a fact that many of the most
          influential men in the County and State at this time were
          Masons.  The list includes Justice Richard M. Young of the
          Illinois Supreme Court, who was to be the judge at the trial;
          James H. Ralston, former states attorney; Judge Stephen A.
          Douglas; former circuit judge O.C. Skinner, who was to be
          among the defense counsel at the trial; George W. Thatcher, the
          anti-Mormon clerk of the county commissioners court; and
          various members of the Warsaw Militia, such as Charles Hay,
          Henry Stephens, and several of the Chittenden family.

          "Whatever uncertainties may exist in the benefits the defendants
          expected to derive from their Masonic affiliation, there is no
          doubt that the state officers in the Masonic order identified an
          impropriety in this maneuver and took decisive disciplinary
          action.  In its annual meeting in 1845 the Grand Lodge of
          Illinois appointed a select committee to investigate reports that
          the Warsaw lodge had violated Masonic regulations by
          conferring degrees upon persons who were under indictment.
          In response to this investigation, officials of the Warsaw Lodge
          admitted that the degrees had been conferred on Davis,
          Williams, and Sharp, but pleaded that the men in question were
          'worthy members of society, and respected by their fellow
          citizens.'  Their standing in the community 'had not been at all
          impaired by the indictment, but, on the contrary, they were
          regarded with greater consideration than before, from the fact
          that they had been particularly  selected as the victims of
          Mormon vengeance.' The Grand Lodge was apparently
          unimpressed with the defense.  A year after this report was
          submitted, the Warsaw Lodge surrendered its Charter, ostensibly
          because 'the members of Warsaw Lodge No. 21 have no
          suitable room to work in...' This voluntary relinquishment of a
          Charter because of supposed housing shortage in Warsaw was
          undoubtedly a face-saving disposition in lieu of involuntary
          suspension for violation of regulations of the order."(12)

          *Mormon Exodus  - Nauvoo to Utah*

          The death of the Mormon leader, Joseph Smith Jr. did nothing
          to stop the persecution experienced by the members of the faith.
          In fact rumor, and the expectation that non-Mormons would be
          made the targets of Mormon vengeance, further incited the non-
          Mormon population and the persecution continued to mount,
          rather than subsiding in any degree.  What was seen by some as
          arrogance by the remaining Mormon leader's, could also have
          been defensiveness in an effort to protect the members of the
          newly established Church.

          With increasing mob action and public misinformation against
          the Mormons, it soon became apparent that it would again be
          necessary to leave their homes behind.  Brigham Young, the
          new leader of the sect, turned his eye's to the Salt Lake Valley.
          It was probably the hope that such a place would never be
          chosen by travelers as a desirable place to be settled by others,
          and that such a place would offer isolation and protection from
          the rest of the world.  It appeared to be a barren wasteland.  Jim
          Bridger, a scout and explorer once declared that he would give,
          a thousand dollars for every ear of corn that could be grown in
          the Salt Lake Valley.

          In spite of its barren appearance, it was a place of tremendous
          resources.  The only thing lacking was water to cultivate its rich
          soil.  Irrigation systems were devised to bring the water down
          from the mountains, and settlements were established
          throughout the territory.  The Mormon's, were determined to
          make this "desert blossom as the rose".

          As was previously mentioned, it was their hope that in a place so
          remote uninviting, they might be isolated and be able to establish
          their "Zion" and practice their new religion free from outside
          interference and influence.  Likewise, they were determined
          never to be driven from their homes again.

          Once in the Salt Lake Valley, rumors, embellished by time and
          distance, traveled back and forth across the plains.  The telling
          of Mormon insurrections and impending rebellion flourished in
          the east.  Johnston's Army was dispatched by President
          Buchanan to investigate and put down any insurrection or
          rebellion and to install the New Territorial Governor and other
          Federal Officers.  Word reached the Mormon's that the army
          was coming to exterminate members of the church.  The
          personal diary of a resident of the valley, echoes the rumor.

          "The news is that the president of the U.S. is going to send on
          enough soldiers to kill all of the Mormons off."(13)

          In what Brigham Young saw as measures of self-defense, was
          seen in the east as rebellion and defiance. Mormon harassing
          raids were ordered against on the supply wagons of the Army,
          hoping to slow them down, and keep them out of the Valley.
          Further, he placed teams of militia at the various passages of
          Emigration Canyon, with the intention of ambushing the army as
          they entered the valley.

          *Self-Appointed Mediator Prevents Bloodshed*

          Seeing how volatile the situation was, and certainly thinking
          clearly enough to know what the outcome of these attacks would
          be, a federal army officer who had befriended the Mormon's at
          various times in the past, entered the valley from the southern
          part of the territory.  Upon his arrival, he requested a meeting
          with Brigham Young and managed to convince him of the folly
          in what was about to take place.  Colonel Thomas Leiper Kane,
          succeeded in convincing Brigham Young that the Army's
          purpose was not to destroy the Saints, but to assure the peaceful
          transfer of governmental power in the area, and to protect
          territory residents.

          "Not unexpectedly, Kane assured his old friend that the federal
          troops were sent to Utah to guarantee the installation of the new
          federal officials, to construct necessary forts within the territory
          needed to control the Indians, and to regulate overland emigrant
          travel."(14)

          Brigham withdrew from his intended fight with the army.  That
          done, Colonel Kane traveled and met the approaching army and
          dissuaded its commander from taking actions against the
          Mormons for the harassing raids.

          The soldier's entered the valley unopposed, traveling to a site
          which they designated as Camp Floyd.  Generally there was an
          uneasy and watchful co-existence, but the animosity continued
          between the Mormons and non-Mormons, in large part because
          of the political power the Church still exerted in the territory,
          and the apparent mixture of politics with religion.

          *References To The Possibility Of Mormon Lodge's In Utah*

          After leaving Nauvoo, the Mormon Church took no action to
          continue any affiliation the any Masonic Lodges, although there
          is an account of Lucius N. Scovil using his Masonic Ties to help
          secure supplies and favors for a group of new converts traveling
          to the Utah Territory from the port of New Orleans in 1848.

          It is interesting to note that in the Journal of Wilford Woodruff,
          fourth President of the Mormon Church, under the date of
          August 19, 1860, Brigham Young is quoted as saying, "G.A.
          Smith would like to go to England and obtain five Charters for
          Lodges, which would give us a Grand Lodge which would make
          us independent of all other Grand Lodges in the world.  This is
          what Brother Scovil would like to do and this could be done..."
          Apparently Brigham Young didn't think it was a good thing and
          the Church never organized a Lodge after leaving Nauvoo.
 
 

          *Freemasonry Arrives In Utah*

          Amid the monotonous duty in the middle of the desert at Camp
          Floyd, a group of Master Mason Soldiers organized a Lodge,
          under a Dispensation granted on March 6, 1860 with a Charter
          issued to Rocky Mountain Lodge No. 205 on June 1, 1860 by
          the Grand Lodge of Missouri.  This short lived lodge was not
          without critics among non-Masons.  But in this case, the
          criticism was not from the Mormons.

          "For many soldiers, membership in the "Rocky Mountain
          Lodge" of Masons provided a refreshing diversion, although
          controversy over its secret meetings and signs rocked the
          military outpost almost to its foundations. 'There is an effort
          being made to get up a secret society among the soldiers and
          officers. One of the privates of my company is, I understand, an
          important member of a lodge to which officers belong. The
          soldier should have his head shaved and be drummed out of
          service and the officer be cashiered.'"(15)

          The Lodge was short lived in Utah and the Charter was
          surrendered in July of 1861, because of the onset of the Civil
          War.  Johnston's Army received order's to leave Camp Floyd.
          (Which had been re-named Fort Crittenden.)

          Masonry again came to Utah in 1866.  A group of Master
          Mason's petitioned the Grand Lodge of Nevada for a
          dispensation to work, which was granted on the 25th of January
          1866.

          "... but recalling the difficulties with the Mormons at Nauvoo,
          Illinois, and more recently with Mormons in Nevada, he
          attached to the Dispensation an edict requiring the 'Lodge to
          exclude all who were of the Mormon Faith.'  The
          Lodge...objected to the restriction, not because they wanted to
          admit Mormons, but because they believed any such rejection
          should be theirs and not some out-of-state authority.  After a
          stormy period, and failing to receive a Charter from Nevada,
          they finally obtained one from Kansas on October 21, 1868.
          ...During the difficulty ... with the Grand Lodge of Nevada, a...
          group of Masons from Salt Lake City and Camp Douglas...
          petitioned the Grand Lodge of Montana for a
          Dispensation    to open King Solomon Lodge, U.D..  Montana
          granted the Dispensation on October 22, 1866, but felt that
          'King Solomon', being identified as a polygamist, was not an
          appropriate name for the new lodge, so they named it Wasatch
          Lodge, after the Wasatch Mountains, which partly ring Salt
          Lake City.  This Dispensation had no restriction on Mormons,
          such as the Nevada Grand Lodge had imposed..."(16)

          *Defensiveness Perpetuates Divisions*

          With both organizations clinging to the memories of both real
          and imagined wrongs, and determined to be vigilant in
          preventing any recurrences, they have for the most part
          continued to politely ignore each other.  As the population grew,
          the conflicts between Mormon's and their non-Mormon
          neighbors hence, the Mason's also escalated.  The main source
          of animosity being the strict control of the Church over the
          affairs of the area in which they lived through their continued
          political influence, and volatile issue of polygamy.

          The Church had repeatedly petitioned for Statehood, and had
          been turned down as often as they applied, the Congress having
          passed laws against polygamy, and the Church being adamant
          that it was their right to practice their religious beliefs.  The
          situation of the Church worsened as their adherence to this
          doctrine remained inflexible.  As a result the Government was
          ready to disenfranchise the Church, confiscating all of its
          property and assets.

          After much consideration, Wilford Woodruff issued the
          Manifesto in October 1890, abandoning the practice of
          polygamy as doctrine and forbidding the Church to practice it
          any further.  With this done, the situation started improving for
          the Church generally, and Statehood was finally achieved in
          1896.

          Of all the unique doctrines of the Church, polygamy was
          probably the one that caused the most division both within the
          Church, and with their non-Mormon neighbors.  The Church
          saw it as their right to practice their religious principles, and the
          Government saw it as outright defiance of the law.  Rank and
          file citizens generally viewed the practice as a barbaric custom,
          motivated by lust.

          *Masonic Prohibition Against Mormon's Made Official*

          Through all of these events, there still had been no formal
          prohibition against any Mormon visiting or joining a Masonic
          Lodge, although an informal ban was generally adhered to.  In
          1879, John O. Sorenson, a Mason and member of Argenta
          Lodge No. 3, was suspended from the Craft because he joined
          the Mormon Church.

          In explanation for the suspension based upon religious
          affiliation, the Grand Secretary of Utah prepared a circular and
          sent it to all the Grand Lodges and leading Masons in America
          by way of explanation to the Fraternity outside of Utah, who
          had no understanding of the local situation.

          (While every Craftsman was free) "to join any church and
          embrace any creed he chooses, and (Freemasonry) demands of
          him only that he shall admit the theological belief taught on the
          threshold of our sacred Temple, and further, that he should be
          loyal to the government under which he lives, and yield a willing
          obedience to all its laws, the Masons in Utah contend that the
          latter important prerequisite is wanting in Mormons, because
          one of the chief tenets of their church in Utah is polygamy,
          which the United States Statute has declared to be a crime, and
          which all civilized nations consider a relic of barbarism."(17)

          This unofficial prohibition continued through the turn of the
          century into the 1900's.  In his 1904 report Grand Secretary
          Diehl wrote, "The pioneers of Utah Masonry knew what they
          were doing when they taught the Unwritten Law of Utah
          Masonry, and the present generation has experienced enough to
          teach that law to the next one."(18)

          In 1923, it was noted in a meeting of the Grand Lodge that Utah
          Mormons living in other jurisdictions could, and some did gain
          membership in the Fraternity, and that being denied visitation
          rights in Utah resulted in "humiliation" and "embarrassment".
          In January 1924 a Resolution was presented to the Grand Lodge
          forbidding members of the LDS Church from joining any Utah
          Masonic Lodge.  The resolution was laid over for one year and
          the following reworded resolution was presented and adopted by
          the Grand Lodge in 1925.

          "Whereas, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,
          commonly called the Mormon Church, is an organization, the
          teachings and regulations of which are incompatible with
          membership in the Masonic Fraternity, therefore: "Be It
          Resolved: That a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints,
          commonly called the Mormon Church, is not eligible to become
          a member of any Lodge F.& A.M. in this State and membership
          in such Church shall be sufficient grounds for expulsion."

          An attempt was made to repeal the Anti-Mormon Resolution in
          1927, but the Grand Lodge rejected the appeal  and what had
          been unwritten law became written law.(19)  Other attempts at
          repeal occurred in 1965 and 1983.  These attempts also failed,
          and this was the state of affairs between the Church and the
          Fraternity for the next fifty-seven (57) years, until 1984.