Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-23
Camp, c. ". or in whatever manner they
may deem advisable.
by order Edwin p. Cox, Grand Com
m9nder
LEWIS W. BRANDER,


place your committee again met and ex.
amined sundry witnesses. completing said
examination on that night. The testi
mony OF the several witnesses as ad
duced before your committee. which wal
taken under oath, is respectfully returned
herewith
From the evidence before us we re-
spectfully report that Comrade Minetree
Folkes has been guilty of conduct unbe-
coming a gentleman and comrade," anC
we recommend that he be expelled. and tC
this end that charges under the cOnstitu-
tion and bylaws be preferred against
him, and report further that no other
member Of the History Committee oil
Grand Camp has been guilty OF improper
conduct. Respectfully reported.
+. LESLIE SPENCE, JR.
ROBT. LECKY. JR.,
JOHN A. LAMB.
A PLEA FOR CHARITY.
There was no demonstration after the
reading of these papers. Indeed. almost
absolute silence reigned for several mo-
mnts. This silence was only broken
when Rev. James r. Cook slowly arose
from his seat, and, addressing the Com
mander, said '% hope that what I say
viii not be misunderstood by any men,
Der Of this camp. / followed the read
ing of those reports with profound In
terest, because / felt that the welfare
of young man and a comrade was at
stake. The man who is mentioned in
that report is aYyoung man. No doubt.
he has done things unbecoming in
gentleman and a comrade. But
couldn't help but feel that those re-
ports are a little severe on him. l think
that when we have a fellow-man down
IL III becomes us to stamp on him until
he Is dead This however, is what the
committee proposes we shall do. If we
adopt their report we will by that act
cast a stigma on the unfortunate young
man. which will follow him to his
grave. Who Of us knows but what that
young man was placed under peculiar
and trying circumstances? There Is no
evidence before us that he did in truth
accept a bribe. Shall we, then, on cir
cumstantial evidence, convict him?
Shall we place a stigma upon him and
keep him from ever rising? From the
standpoint OF a fellowman. 1 look at
this case. and / answer NO j put
myself in his place and ! think Of the
Golden Rule which the blessed Master
has given us as guide for our actions,
and | am unwilling to vote for the ac-
ceptance or adoption of the committees
report.
WOULD NOT VOTE FOR IT.
There may be provisions in our con-
stitution and bylaws" Mr. Cook con-
cluded. whereby we have to expel the
young man. AS to this, l must confess
my ignorance. but If we do not have to
take this action let us not put this
stigma on a life that may hereafter be
of Christ Jesus. 1 speak from sympathy
entirely. May be my sympathies are
more quickly enlisted that those or
others Of you. but be that as 1t may, l
cannot vote for that report, and l Will
not"
MIR. Cook was loudly applauded when
he took his seat, and when quiet was
restored Mr.. w. l.. Eckles took the floor
and said: II wish TO go on record as
not wishing to cast a stigma on young
man who has his whole life before him"
The speaker then asserted that to adopt
the report would be to cast blot on
the young commanders entire life, and
would materially interfere with his bust
ness success.
MUST DO THEIR DUTY.
Mr.. w. A. Jacob offered a motion that
the report be adopted, and then explained
his motion, saying: "The life of the camp
is at stake. We have got duty to per-
form. We were taught by our fathers TO
do our duty first and TO think Of our
friendships afterwards. 1t is the duty
of this camp to sustain its committee ana
1 hope that this will be done"
Mr.. w. c. Stanard suggested at this
iuncture that the Investigating Committee
should submit specifically just what in
the evidence they based their recommen-
dations on. but with this suggestion the
AZ 0relN "a r
again took the floor to reply 10 Mr.
Jacob. Said ne: II like that word duty
but IL is a question whether II is our
duty to exDel this man. 1t is not always
our duty to kill a man because we nave
him I'm our power. Rather is 1t not our
duty. instead of stamping him to death'
10 try and rekindle the animation Wlthih
him and make him breathe again In prlh-
cjnle. Let us take him by the hand ana
saw. we know you have done wrong, out
we will not aid in your downfall. Let MN
who is without sin cast the frst stone
Our duty. / take 1t, will be done IL we
censure him. Let us do that, say /, ana
then do all in our power to make MN
better"
MUST HAVE SPECIFIC CHARGES.
Mr. ]. f.. b. Stuart arose when MT
Cook concluded and asserted that the
whole proceedings were out OF order' 49,
',..,rairo, IN the constitution, 1t was neces-
~, before a man could be expelled from
tbo camp for charges TO be preferreu
ogainst him. Mr.. Cook thereupon moVeu
ttot tho word "expel" be eliminated from
,be committeee's report, and that II theh
hn taken as the charges against MI
ro1kes The Commander, however, ru'eu
mat tthereport Of q committee coulu hotoe
UfarnTN
changed and Captain a. -. Gulgoh aIoso' -,
NCaI<Ing TO the centre of the room WheIe
every word he uttered couid De uls'iii''''
heard ali over the hall, he saio'
"Afr Commander: rise with some l1el- he-
~ djf,idence and embarrassment, pe
ing VI s Tho fact that though l am q
s,eor,bcr of the camp this is the tirst tliiie
! = 6ave ever appeared at one OF It's me- me-.
ings NV absence is not due 10 any tha
~ interest in il. however, out lloin ~ 80
% .. tbat nv business has been sucn 40
"a make Il impracticable for me 10 attend
~ ,oratofore. This interest / feel IN ti1
caur IS my reason for being mere 49,
occupy a painful position. ! nave not NJ
,,onor of an acquaintance VIII Will, -
,rou1es had never seen him uhlll ne
I,.oat : an The witness-stand at the lnVestl-
"ation several nights ago. If L nave any
,s,s,;rct which Is paramount 20 all otneis,
II is that OF being with the under u0s III
,ba 0ehf. Ny instincts are those OF uS
eappp rather IMAM OF piOSSNNN.Dti- 80
',an,eyer that the greatest crisis in the
history OF the camp has been reatheG sathers
lnhot great chieftain whom our fathers
: : Saiio,,ed I%o with such confidence and devo-
.fnn said that duty is the sublimest
word in the English language ana we
are here tonight TO do our duty 10 our
selves and to this camp. -, ,oo,
1--WE have been asked what mas peeh
.'od aeainst Mr. Folkes. and IL mas
plon non said that naught but circumstantiai
o,tdence has been adduced against MIN
=. -, at,.cun stantial evidence Is conVlDc-