Nice post, Joe. As for various denominations and their attitudes toward the Masonic Lodge - I think (especially for "Baptists" - that all encompassing term which ignores just how radically different Baptists can be from one another) it would be hard to generalize on many of them. My own family has several devoted Masons. (and a lot of 'em are "Baptists", as well as other denominations)

A more in depth look at the Anti-Masonic Party and why it existed can be found in "The Paranoid Style in American Politics" by Richard Hofstadter (1965 - I forget the publisher).

Joe, how does one track which ancestors were Masons? I mean, way back there, like before my grandfather. (a Mason born in the 1880s)

To keep this on topic, I'll mention my grandmama was not only the granddaughter of a fine Confederate soldier from Alabama, she was a charter member of O.E.S. #826 here in Texas. :)

Penny