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Article APPEAL OF BROTHER R. T. CRUCEFIX. ← Page 2 of 5 →
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Appeal Of Brother R. T. Crucefix.
you are serious in your intention to act on the mistaken opinion that has been delivered ; for such opinion , I solemnly declare , can be based on no sound principle of equity or justice . Is it possible , that at the moment when I am about to enter upon the defence of my honour against the foul aspersions that have been cast upon it , that I am to be met by a mere quibble of the law ? Remember , sir , that our Order is based upon the illimitable principle of CHARITY , and that if there exist the slightest possible informality in that
appeal , which I believe sacredly there does NOT , that I can claim , in the presence of God , and in this Grand Lodge , the most extended measure of a charitable consideration of any defect in such appeal , rather than that so mean and so disgraceful a mode of dismissing it shall be permitted . I denounce such artifice as discourteous , disgraceful , unmasonic , and unholy . The GRAND MASTER ( interrupting the speaker ) . Why , the Brother is
absolutely leaning on the covenant ! Dr . CRUCEFIX . —Which / have never violated . ( Brother Jennings here whispered to the Grand Master , that the Brother had only placed his hand on the volume of the Sacred Law ) . The GRAND MASTER Oh ; I declare I thought he was leaning on tbe Covenant—the unfortunate state of my eyesight deceived me—I beg the Brother's pardon . Dr . CRUCEFIX . —Might I not then , without offence , sir , draw your serious reflection to this misfortune , so unhappily felt by yourself , and so deeply regretted by all , as affording , upon this occasion , an opportunity to pause and to consider , after the events that have occurred , and particularly on this
evening , whether other parties may not have heen deceived by their ears , and whether I am a guilty or an offended Brother . I remove my hand from that Book—it contains my creed . I placed my hand thereon that I might inwardly be preserved from the expression of a sentence , nay , of a single word , that might partake of disrespect to the Order of Freemasonry ; and recollect , Sir , how much I needed the moral aid which that Book alone could give , when I have been thus suddenly called upon to protect my character ; and even in my humble endeavour to do so , have been treated unfriendly by yourself .
Sir , I pray , at this my hour of trouble , that however long I may live , that I may not outlive that precious gift from Pleaven , the exercise of a sound mind , and that no act of mine may disgrace my humble station . I do not consider that my present position , humiliating as it has been made , will in the slightest manner disgrace me in thc estimation of my fellows , by whose kindness I have for so many years been supported , and in whose service I have so cheerfully and not unsuccessfully laboured .
Sir , I shall now make a solemn declaration which no one present can gainsay . If they can do so , let them speak . You have betokened me marks of confidence which I have never abused . I have never SPOKEN disloyall y of you ; I have never WRITTEN disloyally of you . Shall I prove how it is that / have never done these things ?—because I have never THOUGHT disloyally of you . And even now , when my feelings are engaged in the moral conflict created by impassioned sentiments , I hope not to forget that I am a Freemason unjustly accused , though , I fear , about to be still more unjustly treated .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Appeal Of Brother R. T. Crucefix.
you are serious in your intention to act on the mistaken opinion that has been delivered ; for such opinion , I solemnly declare , can be based on no sound principle of equity or justice . Is it possible , that at the moment when I am about to enter upon the defence of my honour against the foul aspersions that have been cast upon it , that I am to be met by a mere quibble of the law ? Remember , sir , that our Order is based upon the illimitable principle of CHARITY , and that if there exist the slightest possible informality in that
appeal , which I believe sacredly there does NOT , that I can claim , in the presence of God , and in this Grand Lodge , the most extended measure of a charitable consideration of any defect in such appeal , rather than that so mean and so disgraceful a mode of dismissing it shall be permitted . I denounce such artifice as discourteous , disgraceful , unmasonic , and unholy . The GRAND MASTER ( interrupting the speaker ) . Why , the Brother is
absolutely leaning on the covenant ! Dr . CRUCEFIX . —Which / have never violated . ( Brother Jennings here whispered to the Grand Master , that the Brother had only placed his hand on the volume of the Sacred Law ) . The GRAND MASTER Oh ; I declare I thought he was leaning on tbe Covenant—the unfortunate state of my eyesight deceived me—I beg the Brother's pardon . Dr . CRUCEFIX . —Might I not then , without offence , sir , draw your serious reflection to this misfortune , so unhappily felt by yourself , and so deeply regretted by all , as affording , upon this occasion , an opportunity to pause and to consider , after the events that have occurred , and particularly on this
evening , whether other parties may not have heen deceived by their ears , and whether I am a guilty or an offended Brother . I remove my hand from that Book—it contains my creed . I placed my hand thereon that I might inwardly be preserved from the expression of a sentence , nay , of a single word , that might partake of disrespect to the Order of Freemasonry ; and recollect , Sir , how much I needed the moral aid which that Book alone could give , when I have been thus suddenly called upon to protect my character ; and even in my humble endeavour to do so , have been treated unfriendly by yourself .
Sir , I pray , at this my hour of trouble , that however long I may live , that I may not outlive that precious gift from Pleaven , the exercise of a sound mind , and that no act of mine may disgrace my humble station . I do not consider that my present position , humiliating as it has been made , will in the slightest manner disgrace me in thc estimation of my fellows , by whose kindness I have for so many years been supported , and in whose service I have so cheerfully and not unsuccessfully laboured .
Sir , I shall now make a solemn declaration which no one present can gainsay . If they can do so , let them speak . You have betokened me marks of confidence which I have never abused . I have never SPOKEN disloyall y of you ; I have never WRITTEN disloyally of you . Shall I prove how it is that / have never done these things ?—because I have never THOUGHT disloyally of you . And even now , when my feelings are engaged in the moral conflict created by impassioned sentiments , I hope not to forget that I am a Freemason unjustly accused , though , I fear , about to be still more unjustly treated .