The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-04

NV constantly growing. Defeated, CIV
Grievances and appeals No, tR. Nj. I'll I
gin, reported Adopted tR ~ Lusl,)
Adopted. On. NJ. Mansilcld) Adopted v
NIGHT SESSION
Grand Master Abornothy called tho mem \
hers Of the Grand Lodge to labor at 1870
o'clock last night t
The committees, Nos. and 3, oil griev- l
ances and appeals and on jurisprudence,
made reports. which were adopted.
Brother George W. Tyler from the spec
iai committee on that part OF the grand
masters report relating to u. W. Copgdcn,
now in u Mexican prison, reported as fol
lows:
To the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of
| Texas:
-FOUR special committee. to whom was re.
fcrrcd that portion of the address Of the
most worshipful grand master relating to
| the case OF Bro. Il. w Congdon. Il mem
Der in good standing OF Frio lodge No, S99
and now confined in prison In Chihuahua.
Mexico. and to whom was also referred the |
petitions Of large number Of Masons In !
Texas asking the Grand Lodge to petition |
the president OF the republic of Mexico for |
an unconditional pardon for Bro. Congdon |
have had the same under consideration and |
beg leave to report as follows:
Without going into all Of tho details
which have been gone over by your COM
mittee attentively and patiently we find
the following To be n substantial state
ment Of the facts brought to our attention.
About eight years ago Bro. f.. w Cong
don, while In Chihuahua. Mexico. as agent
for the Wells. Fargo & Co. express. was
arrested for the alleged theft of $1,000 from
bank In that city and placed In jail.
Within short time thereafter the money
claimed to have been stolen was found In
a waste basket. where 1t had peen care
lessiy mislaid under the bank counter. In
spite of this fact. Bro. Congdon was In
, formed he could not be released without
due process of law. lie was allowed the
1 privilege OF the city by day. under guard
of a soldier. Becoming impatient with
whist he considered unnecessary delay. the
brother concluded to effect his escape and
while making tho attempt killed the soldier
who was acting as guard. Brother Congdon
solemnly AYERS that the pistol Ia sef-eock-
: ing one) was accidentally discharged wi lie
= pointed towards the soldier 10 ward him
q off. He was arrested for the murder of
: the guard. and uDon his return to prison
10 the documents were there for his release
q from the charge of theft. lie was tried
l.. and sentencd TO be shot for killing tho
= guard His attorney. Bro. Jesus Clloa upon
10 his own responsibility appealed Tor elem
l. ency and secured a communication CT the
a sentence to twenty years Imprisonment
nj proceedings and legal methods attending
60 he Incarceration Of Bro. Congiun and hi,
~, sentence as the result thereof, your com
49, mittee could not fail to appreciate the NOR
~ tification and humiliation Of Bro. Congdoi
s! when arrested and jailed upon an unfound
III ed charge Of theft, His impatience will
the laws delay in releasing him from p
u grave a charge no doubt caused him natur
NJ ally to long for and seek his liberty. TIL
" unfortunate homicide was the result an
the killing, claimed by him to have bee
& accidental has brought upon him his pres
nd ent unfortunate condition. In prison ro'
n. for the past eight years. broken IN lenltl
'ns he has but few years 10 live. even II CiVe
on his liberty. From all we can learn eve
ON this short time upon earth will llkely |
.,. shortened by his further and continued in
zoe prsonment His release would he an Il,
~, OF mercy and would be very gratifying
az all who have become acquainted With b
1 unfortunate condition. We have cyantin,
nN petitions from brethren to the number
Va 27lS at various places within the State, vi
Il express a deep interest in Bro. Congd
Fe- and desire for his early release.
the Tho situation OF Brother Congdon
,cn peals most eoquently to the sympat hi
rty of this Grand Lodge and It would BE- nc
gratifying to all the Masans of the gra
The jurisdiction should the executive author
md tics OF our sister Republic see thci- W
IN, clear to grant him an unconditional pa
bile don so that he could return to his o.
nce country and spend his few remaini1g da
and in the bosom Of his family Mercy is o
the Of tho greatest attributes OF civilized m
With and charity is the greatest OF all Of
onr cardinal virtues OF Free Masonry, And
10, II Ii that our hearts 20 out to d otf
t,,o Congdon to cheer his hours and days n
*, wears OF solitude and confinement in
~ prison in Chihuahua and we anpe II
,,,. tho time is near at hand when all legal o
va, political obstacles may b. removed a
'"'' whom mercy and charity may tealy
sert their influence toward the oNcrc
mas Of executive clemcncy In behalf OF Bret
ANA Concdon by the proper authorities Of NJ
HON Those nro the sentiments nsnrod in
and haarts he tho facts connected with tho
rop- nrlsonnlont of our unfortunate brother
While thus expressing thrsc sentimo
"A, we deem II proper to state that, 20 lar
wo arc informed no similar question
Mt. or,r beeu before this or any other Or
Lodge and VIC are ontircy withou, !
n, codent 10 guide MS We do not belicYo
this Grand Lodge or the subordinate iou
,port o, Texas as Masons. nave any luris Nv.
dhS Of such matters anu my ~ .nu
o To- might take. as a Grand Lodge, wonl,,
,,nnropor and hur,ful 10 Masonry l
in, Jason IL convicted fl Texas end ae7ter
= ,bo n tho state pontonliary undsr the 10
o., of law would the Grand Lodge O
.ronI ordinate lodges Of ToNas o'holshS pt,,
tho governor Ol leNHH i'i ne 49, ~
any circumstance? Certainly not W.
INA Masons MS such. do SO? Again We ans
M A Mason would sign such pet.us,
sup, At ali on his individual capacity' anu
N pe Then az a Mason. hut as citizen anas'
NUM- In lis ancient l1ndmarks en- nv VS. y
GOOD citizens and to obey 'he ciY'i ,na
that tate which means that we J. oulG
bus W" $50 LEGALLY constituted ciVli ava
next ,,ca, authorities Fl tho state IN we "a
secrc- ,i iSr' NJ the laws enacted for ,he gon
m mem Of all the cltlsens-whetne , ~"
nr not-nnd for the protection Oh ~ !,
or,y and property. a Mason gn,',y na a. st
"a .mcnable TO tho general IA" au =
iumod be punished the shn'e naor ~ Mas
,Ionn nevtr vas a greater sianaer ,' Nv
,nis Nan the assertion, often mau, u,
IN, ,i'a" that II a Mason com'A,,' ~
ir',' =, i,ts Masonic brethren viii shie,u n' or
va VI ms his exemption from punish,iul
~. sey we believe that 1t does not sompa p,
es'' ,,e dignity OF the Grand Lsas' - q ~
,ort id, TO pcutioh c W., mr. country for the p'
~ lnr limit