Points Of Light Radio researches the Anti-Masonic Party

Points of Light Radio discusses why freemasonry is the product of so many conspiracy theories and researches a political party set up against the masons called the Anti-Masonic Party.  

The events and fears surrounding the creation of the Anti-Masonic Party are examined as well as its demise.     
                                                                                                                     
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Episode Transcript

(00:04):
Ladies and gentlemen, seekers of lightand secret knowledge. Wherever you may be,
you are listening to Points of LightRadio, the podcast dedicated to taking
you past the apron and behind theclosed doors of lodges everywhere, and here
is your host, Stan Miller.Greetings, brothers and sisters. Shalom Asala

(00:27):
malaikam an Astana. It's a pleasureas always to be back with you here
on Points of Light Radio and continuingour journey of light and knowledge. In
this particular segment of Points of LightRadio, we will be going further into
the discussion of anti Masonic conspiracy theories, and we'll also be researching a political

(00:59):
party that was literally set up asa result of these anti Masonic conspiracy theories
and hysteria of their time. Andthat political party was the literally called the
Anti Masonic Party. Just to giveyou some background, the Anti Masonic Party

(01:21):
was the very first third party inthe United States. Originally, it was
set up as a single issue party. It was strongly opposed to Freemasonry within
the United States and was active fromthe late eighteen twenties, particularly in the

(01:42):
Northeastern States. The Anti Masonic Partylater attempted to become a major party by
expanding its platform and taking positions onother issues. Right now, this is
going to be interesting. But asI always ask you, are you still

(02:07):
thirsty for knowledge? Are you stillsurging for the light? Then you just
trim your lamb and follow me.Let's start with a quick exsert from a
interview I did with my friend andfellow podcaster Joseph Benton. You know,

(02:30):
that's one thing I did was I'veasked numerous times on my podcast and maybe
you could throw your opinion on thisthough. You know, we all understand
that the man who signed the Declarationof Independence, all these different documents down
there, the Constitution, there's thatbig thing about you know, there were
Masons. Yes, And I've askedthis numerous times during the course of my

(02:53):
podcast, where I'll be mentioning thatthis president, for instance, was a
Freemason, but he was also inor he was also a move How come
will you remember that these guys wereMasons, but a lot of them were
oddfellows, a lot of them werebluned to various different fraternal organizations, Eagles
and so on. Why is itthat that never pops up at this Masonic

(03:15):
thing, does constantly. Well,the reason why, if you ask me,
is because there are lots of moviesthat are made about the Masons that
are mysterious and intriguing. Pretty muchbecause of the things that you're talking about.
You know, there there there wasno fraternal organization that had as many

(03:43):
members involved in the founding of theUnited States. It's just a fact,
you know, the Masons have beenaround longer to my knowledge, because we
don't really know for sure, butI would say pretty you know, I
think a pretty educated guess would bethat since so many people who founded the

(04:06):
country are founding fathers were Masons,that they were, you know, far
more active than anybody really knew.I mean, look, you know,
recently I discovered how it is thatin Scotland, you know, their revolution,
that they tried to return the Bonnieprints to the throne and all this

(04:29):
stuff, there were Masons that wereinvolved in that intrigue. And so the
Masons have played a role in alot of different, very large influential events
in history in Europe, and soit's not a big surprise that they had
something to do. And I don'tmean it's the Masons them, like the

(04:53):
organization of the Masons didn't tell theseguys to do these things, but they
just so happened to have this sortof of back channel that allowed them to
organize and coordinate that wasn't publicly accessible. Moving forward, Brothers and Sisters,
The Anti Masonic Party was formed followingthe disappearance of a gentleman named William Morgan

(05:18):
in eighteen twenty six. Mister Morganwas a former Mason who had become a
prominent critic of Freemasonry and had prepareda book that was believed to reveal the
secrets of the Craft. Many believedthat members of the Craft had murdered Morgan
for speaking out against Freemasonry. Now, this led many churches and other groups

(05:43):
to speak out against Freemasonry. Dueto the fact that many Masons were prominent
businessmen and politicians, the backlasher againstthe Craft was also a form of rebellion
against societal elite. Let's be blunt, we've often seen this downthroat history.
Like anti establishment movements, right,Many anti Masons believed that Freemasonry posed a

(06:09):
threat to American Republicanism and was secretlytrying to control the government. There was
also a fear and a belief thatFreemasonry ran contrary to the Christian faith.
When Anti Masonic candidates proved successful inthe eighteen twenty eight state and local elections,

(06:32):
politicians saw the issues vote catching possibilities. For example, although the Anti
Masonic candidate for governor of New YorkState named Solomon Southwick was defeated, the
party itself became the main opposition partyto the Democrats in New York State.

(06:53):
Anti Masonic newspapers were also flourishing inthe heated political climate of the time.
For example, Ample, a newspapereditor named Thurlow Weed, formed the Anti
Masonic Inquirer. By eighteen twenty nine, mister Weed's Albany Journal had become the
pre eminent anti Masonic newspaper, andit later became the leading Whig newspaper.

(07:19):
In eighteen thirty one, William A. Palmer was elected governor of Vermont on
an Anti Masonic ticket. Besides misterPalmer, Joseph Rittner became the governor of
Pennsylvania from eighteen thirty five to eighteenthirty nine, but governor was the highest

(07:44):
office held by a member of theAnti Masonic Party. The Anti Masonic Party
elected no senators and controlled no statehouses. However, anti Masons in the
state legislatures sometimes formed coalitions to electsenators and organize their chambers. In September

(08:07):
of eighteen thirty one, the AntiMasonic Party held a national convention in Baltimore,
Maryland, and it nominated William Wirtfor president and announced a party platform
condemning Masonry for its secrecy, exclusivity, and undemocratic character. Now won only

(08:28):
the state of Vermont with its sevenelectoral votes in eighteen thirty two, and
the party went into decline after that. By the late eighteen thirties, much
of the Anti Masonic Party's reform impulsehad been taken over by the anti slavery

(08:52):
movement, and most of its membersand politicians had joined the newly formed Week
Party. The Anti Masonic Party disappearedafter eighteen thirty eight. So what do
you think, brothers and sisters,Let's break this down. The Anti Freemason

(09:22):
Party had its roots in conspiracy theories, primarily the claim that Masonic elites were
trying to secretly control the government.Now does some of that sound familiar?

(09:43):
You know? Now, you've heardme say in previous segments of points of
Later, You've heard me ask Whatis it about Freemasonry that leads to these
kind of conspiracy theories? Okay?Why not theriob Odd Fellowship, the Oaks?
Why always Freemasonry? While mister Bentonposited that there may have been some

(10:07):
truth to Masonic conspiracy theories, rightnow, let's be blind. Like most
good cover stories, all conspiracy theoriespretty much, all of them have their
basis in a certain I'm gonna becareful when I say that a certain level

(10:31):
of truth, Okay, prime example. Now, politics is not supposed to
be discussed within our lodges? Doesthat mean it isn't from experience? Not
necessarily, but it is discouraged.I personally don't go to lodge to discuss

(10:52):
politics, right right? Do peopleform bonds in lodges? Yes? They
do. If a brother from mylodge or the organization my lodge belonged to,
was running for election in my area, would I vote for him?

(11:13):
Possibly? But you want to hearme say it not necessarily. However,
let's move that a little bit.Would I be more likely to vote for
that candidate from my organization? Ineighteen twenty eight when the Anti Masonic Party
was formed, Now there is amuch stronger chance that I would back then,

(11:35):
and I'll tell you why the worldwas And you've heard of this said
here before the world was a smallerplace back then, right, information wasn't
readily available, and these fraternal,familial and religious bonds went a lot further

(11:56):
and meant a lot more in eighteentwenty eight. Right. But like many
one issue parties, the Anti MasonicParty was just a flash in the pan
okay, and it ceased to exist. Put it this way by eighteen forty,
right. And you've saw these typesof parties. Prime example, Ross

(12:20):
Perot and his party in eight Innineteen ninety two, I believe it was,
he had a very strong showing,right, and his party pretty much
disappeared within four years or so.Right Now, a lot of his ideas

(12:43):
were picked up on both by Republicansand Democrats for that matter. After the
nineteen ninety two election. Right herein Canada, I do recall the Reform
Party having a very strong showing inthe nineties. Now, the furthest they
ever got was the official opposition inour parliament, but they were eventually forced

(13:09):
to amalgamate with other parties, muchlike you see here with the Anti Masonic
Party. But their ideas were pickedup on even by the governing Liberal party
at the time. Right. Andyou've saw this all over the world,
these one issue parties. Right.But sadly many of these irrational theories still

(13:35):
do exist. The prime example,the Occupy Wall Street movement of two thousand
and eight two thousand and nine,was based around a conspiracy theory. I
mean, there was a basis ofa tiny basis of truth to what their
cause, but it was really conspiracytheory. The January sixth I believe it

(13:58):
was twenty riots on Capitol Hill inthe United States, we're largely based around
a conspiracy theory. Let's be honest, Okay, Now, to sum up,
we can't allow these conspiracy theories orfears, and let's be blunt,

(14:20):
that's really what they are. Theseare fears, right, These are individuals
who were playing on people's fears,okay. And we cannot allow these conspiracy
theories and fears, okay, toinfluence our behavior or our politics. We

(14:41):
can't allow these conspiracy theories to influence, for that matter, our shopping and
where we do or don't worship,or whether or not we join a lodge.
We need to make these we needto study these these things right and
make decisions for ourselves and not basethem around simply around a fear. Okay,

(15:03):
and I'm going to leave it there. I hope you enjoyed this.
Right Before I go, I wantto remind you that this podcast is available
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(15:26):
handle is at po light Radio.You can see the link of my Spotify
channel as well as my Points ofLight Radio store. Brothers and sisters,
let us not be ruled by fear, and it still we new again a
stab into the light