Brethren:
Three stories I have to share with you this evening that I find rather relevant to our current times.
JUSTICE SCALIA AND JUSTICE GINSBURG
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed from this life recently. You may have seen a line item of it in the news. What many don't know is that his ideological opponent on the High Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, was his closest friend.
The two took many trips together with their respective families. During one trip to India, Ginsburg and Scalia rode an elephant together. When a photo of the two resurfaced, Ginsburg caught flack from her office over the fact that she was riding behind "Nino" on the elephant.
Her response? "It was all about weight distribution."
When Scalia would get asked about his friendship with "The Notorious R.B.G," he would respond "Don't be stupid. You can still be friends with someone and not like their ideas."
In fact, the two would often exchange drafts of dissents or opinions they'd written to each other well in advance. Ginsburg said at Scalia's memorial service that she relished the days when Scalia would send her drafts of his opinions. "It challenged me to think about things I didn't agree with. It opened me up to ideas that I didn't like."
THE OLD LADY, THE JUDGE, AND THE BIKER DIVORCE
In our state, there was a divorce trial where a known biker who was a methamphetamine dealer was filing for divorce from his wife. The biker was never going to pay his wife any sort of alimony, and the wife knew it. She worked with the attorneys to "downward deviate" the plan to a point where she didn't get a dime of alimony.
When the final order was presented to the Court, the judge said "Ma'am, you know there's no alimony in this order, right?"
"Yes."
"Do you really think that's a reason on which to hinge this divorce?"
"I don't care"
"Were you put in a position where you were required to sign this document by these attorneys?"
"No."
"Ma'am, I'll be happy to put in alimony for you."
"Just give me my divorce. He won't pay me a thing."
THE PRESIDENT AND HIS IMPEACHMENT
Andrew Johnson, one of our Brothers, made it clear that he was ready to make sure the former Confederacy lived with his predecessor's decisions, whether they liked it or not.
The people in Congress didn't like him or his ability to impose Reconstructionist ideologies on the southern states. So they came up with a plan. Congress passed the "Tenure of Office Act," which made it a "high crime and misdemeanor" for a sitting President to fire a cabinet member absent the express permission of the Senate.
Johnson wanted to fire Edwin Stanton as his Secretary of War, and did.
He was the first President in history to be impeached. President Johnson had tickets sold to the trial of his impeachment.
One of the two Senators that filed the Articles of Impeachment against him was a brother Master Mason.
Warmest Regards,
Bro. Christopher Seaton
Junior Warden, Rockford Masonic Lodge #469
Harley Hobart Clouse, age 91, of Rockford, passed away Saturday, March 12, 2016 at Summit View-Farragut in Knoxville. Preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ruby Clouse and parents, Conley and Alice Kivett. Survivors include his son, Vernon Clouse of Rockford, son and daughter in law, Gerald and Marilyn Clouse of Maryville; daughter and son in law, Teresa and Wayne Mouser of Maryville; grandchildren, Todd and Tonya Clouse, Melody and Ronnie Pryor and Jason Mouser; several great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; brothers, Talbert and wife Bobbie Kivett and Gene Kivett; sister, Bernice and husband, Bobby Thomas; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral service 7:00 PM Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at Miller Funeral Home Cedar Chapel, Rev. Butch Cooper officiating. Entombment service 12:00 PM Wednesday at Sherwood Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: St. Jude Tribute Program, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0412. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM Tuesday at Miller Funeral Home, Maryville, (865) 982-6041,www.millerfuneralhome.org
