Book On Freemasonry
Morgan attempted to join the Masonic lodge in Batavia but was denied admission. Angered by the rejection, Morgan said he was going to publish a book entitled Illustrations of Masonry, critical of the Freemasons and describing their secret degree work in great detail.
He said that a local newspaper publisher, David Cade Miller, had given him a sizable advance for the work. Miller is said to have received the entered apprentice degree (the first degree of Freemasonry), but had been stopped from advancement by the objection of one or more of the Batavia lodge members. This may have inspired him to support Morgan's work. Morgan had entered into a $500,000 penal bond with three men: Miller, John Davids (Morgan's landlord) and Russel Dyer.
Read more about this topic: William Morgan (anti-Mason)
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