Masons

[Rsmyth]

This year marks the 150th anniversary of Masons in my hometown of Milford, PA. An article in the local paper gives a brief history of the secret organization and mentions that during the Civil War soldiers would assist other Masons even if they were on opposing sides. I guess a wounded soldier could give the secret sign until another Mason recognized him but has anyone ever heard of an example of North helping South or vice versa on account of them being Masons?
BTW - 15 years ago I was walking through a cemetery in Batavia, NY when I came across a monument erected to the demise of a former Mason in the 1800's who was hung by other Masons for giving away secrets of the society.

[BettyO]

Yes! There is a report -- I have to find it where Mosby's men captured some Union cavalrymen; I think they were some of Custer's men. They were sentenced to be hanged and right before the sentence was carried out, one of the Federals gave the Masonic symbol for distress. One of Mosby's men, also a Mason, saw it and supposedly, let the man go. Mosby was outraged and swore at his soldier claiming that "Sir! I do NOT run a Masonic lodge! You do that again and you will swing with the rest!"

I'll have to find the reference -- I think it was in 1864. Likewise, General John Brown Gordon was a Mason -- so was Lew Powell's surviving brother, George.

[L Verge]

I have friends who actually belong to a Civil War Lodge of the Masonic Order. They hold meetings mainly here in the East related to Civil War themes. I don't know, but I would bet that a significant percentage of Americans who fought in the Civil War were Masons. I'd be surprised if Mosby wasn't one.

[Bill Richter]

Allegedly the same Masonic distress signal saved Generalissimo Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana from a quick hanging after the battle of San Jacinto. But one ought to remember that the republican party had some of its beginnings in the person of William H Seward and his political mentor and backer Thurlow Weed who came from the Anti-Masonic Party in western New York State. . . .

[L Verge]

I did a quick Google and found that John B. Gordon, Joshua Chamberlain, George Pickett, Armistead, and Hancock were all Masons. There was also a quote of 17,930 Masons participating on both sides during the Battle of Gettysburg with 5600 counted among the casualties.

Did Lincoln ever express any thoughts about the Masonic Order?

Bill, would I be safe in assuming that Santa Ana was Catholic? Were Masons anti-Catholic then? If so, how did Santa Ana make it into the Order?

[RJNorton]

Laurie, Paul Bessel researched this topic and published his findings here.

[BettyO]

Thanks, Roger!

Fascinating article....

Here is the reference to Mosby and the Free Masons -

It's from James Ramage's Gray Ghost - The Life of Colonel John Singleton Mosby - 1999, pp. 213-214

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[Rsmyth]

Thanks everyone for responding. I guess it did actually happen.

[Donna McCreary]

Years ago, I was researching Parson John Todd who came to Clark County, Indiana in the early 1800's to establish Presbyterian churches and schools. Parson Todd was a founder of Hanover College, and a founder of the local Masonic Lodge, and a first cousin to Mary Lincoln's grandfather. Lodge members graciously allowed me access to their historical records, and I found that the majority of the founding members were Presbyterian. I have never known if there was an early connection between Masons and Presbyterians nationally, or if it just turned out that way here locally. This area was populated primarily by Scots/Irish immigrants, and that could be the connection.