May 30, 1913, the bodies of Barbara and her husband were reinterred in Mount Olivet Cemetery at Frederick. On September 9, 1914, an artistic monument in honor of the famous woman was unveiled upon which is a large tablet bearing the words of Whittier’s poem, “Barbara Frietchie.”
Thaddeus Stevens Inquiry of Masonry and
Odd Fellowship Began December
19, 1835
At the gubernatorial election in October, 1835, owing to an unfortunate defection in the Democratic ranks whereby there were two nominees for that office, Governor George Wolf and Henry A. Muhlenberg, Joseph Ritner was elected to the highest office of the State by a minority vote.
In possession of both the executive and legislative branches of the State Government, the Anti-Masons were determined to carry out various measures with a high hand.
No sooner did the session of the Legislature open in December following than did Thaddeus Stevens, bring in a bill entitled: “An act to suppress secret societies, bound together by secret and unlawful oaths,” while both houses were deluged with petitions “praying God an investigation into the evils of Freemasonry.”
On December 15, the oath of office was administered to Governor Ritner, after which he addressed the members of both House and Senate. In this inaugural he used the following:
“The supremacy of the laws, and the equal rights of the people, whether threatened or assailed by individuals or by secret sworn associations, I shall, so far as may be compatible with the constitutional powers of the executive, endeavor to maintain, as well in compliance with the known will of the people, as from obligations of duty to the Commonwealth.
“In these endeavors I shall entertain no doubt of zealous cooperation by the enlightened and patriotic Legislature of the State. The people have willed the destruction of all secret bodies, and that will cannot be disregarded.”