Virginia Advocate

Morgan Riots at Boston. The leaven of anti-masonry has been introduced into Boston—into Faneuil Hall, too, the "old cradle of Liberty,"—by a Judge Dexter, of Michigan, and a terrible ferment has ensued; so much so that the Mayor was compelled to allay it by dissolving the meeting. The agitating question—“Can any man under the influence of Masonic oaths, discharge with fidelity the duties of any important office in the gift of the people according to the true nature of our institutions'— was discussed in presence of assembled thousands, in Faneuil Hall, for three days! It seems that a Judge Dexter, of Michigan, and a noble Senator of Massachusetts, Moses Thatcher, settled clergyman and Morgan convert, were the chosen champions of anti masonry; the former of whom, with "heavy looks, foreboding some dreadful story hanging on his tongue," addressed the crowd. with "burning eloquence," eliciting big tears from the swollen eyes, and floods of sweat from the ponderous brows, of scores and tens of scores. He made a splendid oratorical exhibition, replete with patriotism, well seasoned with the blood and pulverized bones of Morgan, and of other murdered Masons, and ever and anon, gave a skilful thrust at the ribs of judges and jurors who had regarded their masonic oaths and obligations in violation of justice to others who were not of the ancient fraternity; affording abundance of proof that masonry had saved from the gallows murderers, and from penitentiaries the most profligate rogues that ever trod the earth—all "brother masons." The scene was truly interesting: and it is thought that the address of Mark Antony over the dead body of Cæsar was comparatively a mere "flea bite" as the Boston Pop Orator Eln mons would say; or, it was such a speech as went greater lengths than the federalists and democrats goes, as demagogue Boston clown club-foot, would have it. But the Judge was terribly cut up by our facetious friend John W. Whitman, Esq. a ready writer, felicitous speaker, and incorrigible wit and humorist; who advocated masonry, denounced seceders and tickled the audience into laughter quite uncivil, and finally wrought up the minds of some of his hearers to a state of feverish and fearful excitement—and a disturbance followed which cannot be described without offending decency. The second day the Rev. Mr. Thatcher belabored masonry, and denounced every thing connected with masonic institutions; when John W. Whitman—the eternal J. W. Whitman—“Banquo" the parson, and again defended masonry; believed there were honest masons and anti masons, but rogues enough of both! He gave the Judge several shots between wind and water, but took parson Thatcher at close quarters, and assailed him with "stink pots" —an efficient weapon used on board the Shannon against the Chesapeake—and overwhelmed him, and other seceding masons, with their contents, consisting of "perjured villains," "scoundrels," and "liars!" The parson was only six paces off but had no pistols! The greatest hissing, shouting, belching and bellowing ensued. The storm raged with unprecedented violence for three hours, when the meeting was adjourned to the next morning at 9 o'clock. Next day accordingly the "review commenced"—the sham fight renewed, the combatants again engaged, aided by a Mr. Ward on the side of anti masonry. Nearly the same scenes were acted over again, till the turbulence and riot became so frightful that the Mayor was called in to dissolve the meeting. Thus has the "ball of the second American revolution" been put in motion, threatening unheard of ills to masons and masonic institutions.