Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-12-08


years ago, almost an entire stranger, has
been on al OccosioaS, md wiihom o sin =
gle exception, down even to the moment
when those offensive words were select
ed, precisely such and all that he him
soii could have wished il to have been?
So far from my volunteering myself az a
witness, l would willingly and gladly in
deed, have been excused from that un-
pleasant duty. Nothing but Il sense of
duty to the court, and 10 my client, con
sldcrlng his peculiar situation at that mo-
mcnt, could induced me to have been
there as a witness under such circunstan-
ces, and on sact an occasion. But to
return to the evidence. Mr.. Hazard
asked me if the oaths which | had Just
heard read were the oaths had taken as
a mason' Witness: Those oaths, as sHch ,
and in the words mr.. Pearce has now read
them, were never administered to me nor
did ever take them myself, or hear any
other person take them Mr.. Hazard:
Did you ever take any masonic obliga-
ton that required you at any time, or on
any occasion, to vioalatc any of the du-
ties you owe to society; Witness: No
Sir, | never did; there is no such mason
ic obligation, to my knowledge. Mr.
Pcarcc: Have you taken the three first
degrees Mr.. Cranstoni Witness: yes
Sir, have taken the three first degrees
and am not certain but twenty upon
the top of them. Mr. Pcarce: Owes Sir,
then you are Knight Tcmplar; Witness
yes Sir. After inquirirg further, wheth-
er ! had taken three or four degrees
Of knighthood of rather odd sounding
names, and being informed that had
not, mr.. Pcarcc then proceeded: Mr.
Cranston, you have heard those three
oaths read from Bernard's book, will you
state whether they are the same oaths
you have taken as a mason' Witness:
Those oaths you have read, have never
taken as such-they were never admin
istcrcd to me in the words as you have
read them. Mr. Pcarce: Well, sir, will
you repeat the oath you did take? Here
] observed to the court, that they would
perceive that my situation appeared to
be one of peculiar dclicacy; and added
that l had entered into obligations as
a mason, and now with the solcmnity oI
my obligation as a witness fresh in my
mind, | declare most solcmnly that
never took any masonic obligation what
ever, nor did | ever hear any ad-
mnlstcrcd to others, that was in any
manner, either directly or indirectly
contrary to any of the duties owe
to myself, my family, my country, OF
nay God. Mr. Pearce here interrupted
by saying: Yes, yes, very well Sir
but | want you to tell what those
obligations were, SO that we may Judge
about that thing ourselves. Witness il
is impossible, Sir, for me to tell you what
they are by repeating them, because
do not remember them, nor never knew
them in words so as to be able to repeat
them; and much of them that | once
knew have forgotten; for many years
past my business and my family have
claimed all my time and attention, SC
that have not attended, nor had any i'll
clination to attend, the lodges as was nc.
customed to do before had a family
that for the last six or eight years, an
quite certain that have attended bu
very few meetings; should think no
more than a dozen if so many. MIR
Pearce: Will you state the difference
as / read this oath, between that anC
the one you took, or will you take the
book (reaching it to me, and read i
yourself, and point out the difference as
you go along? Witness: 1t is no part o
my duty as a witness to read that book
nor shall l do so; | am here as a witness
and am 'ready under The direction Of M
Court" 10 dnSwer any question, ttdt IS re
leudnt to the matter on trial.
I Here in this stage of the business, hav
ing been hatchcllcd by Mr.. Pcarce TO
some time, and in a manner peculiar t.
himself,& strongly suspccting him then,a
J donow, ,oihaving some motive in vlcwn no
strictly and exclusively connected with th'
merits of the cause then on trial, ] adm
that | suddenly found my patience for
saking me, and my feelings incllnng t
be warm, but | at once made an effort E
subdue those feclings.-l did then say t
the Court, that other men might trlf
with their obligations as much as the.
pleased, but for myself ] could say, tha
the obligations entered into as n mason
in themselves considered, were recogniz
ed by me to be binding upon my cor
science, and as much so in their chardc
Ter and object, as any had taken here
or elsewhere; that for the wiliul and wan
ton violation of them | believed shoul
have to answer hereafter as severely a
! should for the violation of any other oh
legations l had voluntarily entered into
that | never would willingly, knowingly
! and wanioniy, violate those obligations;