Page 71 - Cornelius Hedges Story

For This And Succeeding Generations Gardiner 58

near town and one of our Judges determined to bring these
vigilantes to trial, every member of the Grand Jury was a
vigilante and no indictments were found. Helena never has
forgotten what it owes to the vigilantes, and the law has no
more loyal supporters.”223
His son Will claims that Hedges assisted: “by wise council and
active support the wresting of peace and safety from the terror of
Henry Plummer and his gang of road agents.” Will went on to say
“At no time and in no sense one to appeal to force; he was so great a
lover of peace and civil quiet.”
Hedges wrote of the value of Masonry and the establishment of
law and order:
“Masonry brought together those who were Masons and made
them acquainted with each other, and in the stormy events
pending and ensuing, it furnished the nucleus around which
rallied the “law and order” elements.

“We will not say that all the vigilantes were Masons,
but we would not go far astray to say that all Masons were
vigilantes. And the knowledge of this fact disseminated among
the roughs and road-agents gave them a wholesome dread of
seeking victims among those whose death they knew would
be avenged. The story of the struggle between these elements
has been eloquently told by Brother Langford in his book,
“Vigilante Days and Ways,” and does not belong to Masonic
history especially. We hardly think the annals of history
afford a more conspicuous example of the revelry of crime
than existed in Montana from 1862 to 1866. There were no
courts or officers of law, wealth was flowing from the mines in
profusion, men passing constantly from one camp to another
exposed to assassination and robbery, gambling and drinking
were universal and escape for the criminal was easy. We have
seen how hard it was to plant Masonry here conforming to all
the requirements of Masonic law and usage.” 224
However, Hedges felt “that the lives of notorious renegades
should be sacrificed” for civil order for the many. Finally, Will
added, his father “stood with the Vigilantes” from 1864 to 1870
when Wilson and Compton were hanged in Helena. During August
of 1865, Hedges wrote: