\
72
Proceedings of the
(SClJt.
II. DON HAnnY:lIA~, V8.
E. C,
LIGGE'.r~j".
STATEMBNT. The accused is charged with having on or about May 29, 1907, at the Town of Wheatland, Hickory County, Missouri, and on other days and times, become intoxicated. The accused pleaded guilty. The case was tried September 28, 1907, in Hogle's Creek Lodge, No. 279, of wbieh Lodge the accused is a membel'. The accused was present in person and by counsel. Notwitbstanding the plea of guilty to the above specification, oral testimony was introduced in support of the charge. The testimony assumed a range wider than was wananted by the charge, and inasmuch as it was conducted by the accuser it is deemed proper to direct attention to the fact that t.he record of the case abounds in so-called leading questions, which al'e objectionable because. the answers under such cIrcumstances are not as convincing and of the same probative force as if the questions are so fl'amed as to merely elicit the knowledge of the witnesses on the subject of inquiry, A vote was taken on the conclusion of the trial as to the punishment to be imposed. First as to expulsion, which resulted, yeas, 5; nays, 13; thcn as to suspension, which stood 13 for suspension and 5 against suspension. 'l'hereupon anothel' vote was taken, the longest time of suspension proposcd being one yeal'; it was hy t.he same vote as b~fore, viz., 13 to 5, decided to suspcnd t.he accused for such time. which was accordingly by. the Master declared as the punishment. inflicted. The accuser brings the case herc on appeal for the purpose of having t.his action of the Lodge reviewed, and assigns various grounds which it is unnecessary to set cut., but which are all to the effect that the punishment metcd out by t.h(; Lodge is insufficient, in this, that the member was not expelled. DECISION. We have cal'efully examined the record in tbis case, wbich we believe, wben applied to the specification of the charge, makes a case against the accused calling for some punishment calcula ted to serve as a punishment to him as well as a warning to others apt to err in a like manncr. In our opinion the punishment inflicted in this case, that of suspensipn for a year, is not inadequate, nOl' are the circumstances of the case such as warrant our interference with the judgment below. Intoxication is not only an offense against sodety, but one at all times vigorously condcmned by this Order as being calculated to degradc and to subject the victim to the contempt and detestation of all good Masons, Becn use we believe that pl'oper warning and admonition will have a tendency of uplifting the accused, to the end tbat he may fully appl'eciate that intoxication not only is an infraction' of our law, but one which must be severely dealt with, and that he will thercby be given an opport.nnity of mending his ways and avoiding such excesses, we recommend and it is hereby ordered that the judgment below be and it hereby is affi!'med. From a writing addressed to your committee through thc channels of this case sucll a condition of affairs is alleged to prevail among the members of Hogle's Creek Lodge, No. 279, regarding the "dl'ink habit," as calls for attention. We believp. it is wOI路thy of consideration, and therefore recommend