MASONIC MIRROR, Boston, Feb. 27, 1830   

* Masonic - Masons - Freemasonry - Freemasons
* Supported by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts 

Subtitled: "Science, Literature & Miscellany", and in the masthead is: "The Masonic, is a 'Society Whose Liberal Principles are Founded on the Immutable Laws of Truth & Justice.'--Washington". 
This is a newspaper by & for the community of Masons, which includes: "Antimasonry in Massachusetts," "My Wife's Influence" & more.
Eight pages, 9 1/4 by 11 1/2 inches, nice condition.

Background: The fierce backlash captured in the pages of the 1830 Boston Masonic Mirror is historically significant because it fueled the rise of the Anti-Masonic Party, America’s very first third-party political movement and the pioneer of enduring political traditions. Prompted by the suspected murder of whistleblower William Morgan, public panic over elite secret societies transformed from a local grievance into a national crusade that reshaped American democracy. To combat accusations of operating a shadow government, Freemasons aggressively used public media and invoked the legacy of George Washington to legitimize their fraternity, while their opponents organized the first-ever national political convention in 1831 to select a presidential candidate—a nominating system used by major parties to this day. Ultimately, this turbulent era proved how quickly populist anxiety and conspiracy theories could be channeled into institutional political power, establishing a blueprint for partisan media warfare and anti-establishment movements that followed in American history.