Editing DeWitt Clinton (section)

===Freemasonry===
Clinton was a [[York Rite]] [[Freemason]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/biography/clinton_d/clinton_d.html | title = DeWitt Clinton | website = freemasonry.bcy.ca | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030622152356/http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/biography/clinton_d/clinton_d.html | archive-date = June 22, 2003 | url-status = live}}</ref> He was initiated in the "Holland" Lodge No. 16 (now No 8), NY on [[September 3]], [[1790]],<ref name="freemasonrytoday.com" /><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.matawanlodge.org/famous.htm | title = Celebrating more than 100 years of the Freemasonry: famous Freemasons in the history | language = en | website = Mathawan Lodge No 192 F.A. & A.M., New Jersey | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080510153526/http://www.matawanlodge.org/famous.htm | archive-date = May 10, 2008 | url-status = usurped}}
</ref> and, in 1806, he was elected [[Grand Master (Masonic)|Grand Master]] of the [[Grand Lodge of New York]]. Clinton was essential in establishing the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar in the United States and served as its first, second, and third grand master from 1816 to 1828.<ref name = "freemasonrytoday.com">{{cite web | url = http://www.masonrytoday.com/index.php?new_month=03&new_day=2&new_year=2015 | title = DeWitt Clinton | website = freemasonrytoday.com | quotation = and served as Eminent Grand Commander of New York Commandery of [[Knights Templar]] from 1814 to 1828. He was Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of the United States from 1818 to 1828. | access-date = Oct 24, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160425120212/http://www.masonrytoday.com/index.php?new_month=03&new_day=2&new_year=2015 | archive-date = April 25, 2016 | url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.knightstemplar.org/pgeo/mepgm.html |title=Past Ge Officers |publisher=Knightstemplar.org |access-date=July 25, 2013}}</ref> He retained the title until his death in 1828.<ref name ="freemasonrytoday.com" />

In 1826, the [[William Morgan (anti-Mason)|William Morgan Affair]] occurred in [[Batavia, New York|Batavia]]. Morgan, who threatened to publish an exposé of the rituals of Freemasonry, disappeared and was apparently kidnapped and supposedly murdered by Masons. Clinton issued three proclamations, each increasing the reward for information and conviction of the perpetrators until it reached $2,000.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cummings |first1=William Leon |title=Cumming's notes on Morgan |url=https://freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/cummings.html#10 |website=Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon |access-date=18 February 2020}}</ref> Clinton's proclamations had no effect, however, and the Masonic fraternity underwent a period of severe decline in many regions of the United States because of criticism set off by the scandal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brownback |first1=David P. |title=The Morgan affair aftermath |url=https://freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/MorganAffair.html |website=Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon |access-date=18 February 2020}}</ref>

The Grand Lodge of New York has established the DeWitt Clinton Award, which recognizes distinguished or outstanding community service by non-Masonic organizations or individuals whose actions exemplify a shared concern for the well-being of Mankind and a belief in the worldwide brotherhood of Man.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nymasons.org/cms/files/CommunityServAwardBrochure_0.pdf |title=Masonic Service Awards |publisher=Grand Lodge of New York |access-date=November 6, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905080901/http://www.nymasons.org/cms/files/CommunityServAwardBrochure_0.pdf |archive-date=September 5, 2011 |df=mdy}}</ref>