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Newfoundland National Convention, 19 November 1946, Debates on Confederation with Canada

182 NATIONAL CONVENTION November 1946

November 19, 1946[1]

Mr. Bradley Mr. Chairman, I move the following resolution:
Whereas Almighty God has removed from our midst the Honourable Mr. Justice Fox, K.C., our Chairman; and
Whereas in his passing Newfoundland has lost one of her great sons and this National Convention one who graced it, and by his unfailing devotion to its best interests raised it high in the esteem of the country:
And Whereas the members of the National Convention are deeply conscious of the light that has passed from them; therefore be it
Resolved that the members of the National Convention desire to record their profound sorrow over the passing of their Chairman, and to convey to his family their hope that the Almighty Father will be present with them in their bereavement.
Sir, how true is it that "in the midst of life, we are in death." Not many days ago, Mr. Justice Fox, our Chairman, was amongst us; today, his Chair is vacant; his soul has winged its way to the God who gave it and we have laid his earthly tabernacle beneath the mouldering dust of earth. Some knew him but a few weeks, since the opening of this Convention, and yet knew him for his unfailing courtesy and kindliness, for his scrupulous fairness, his deep and abiding love for the land of his birth, and his loyalty to this chamber wherein days gone by he presided as Speaker with such dignity and ability. Others of us knew him many years. My own acquaintance with him dates back to the early days of the present century, when we were youths together in the study of the law. Even then he impressed me with his kindliness and consideration for others, with his broad charity and his aversion to speaking ill of anyone, with his earnest conception of the seriousness of life and with his complete freedom from all unworthy motives. That impression, sir, has outlived the years and it abides with me still. I need not here enlarge upon his career: that is a public document which all may read and one of which those who loved him best may justly be proud.
In the practice of his profession, he was deeply sensible of his duty to those whose interests were entrusted to his care. He was profoundly concerned about our system of laws, which he regarded as the greatest bulwark of human freedom.
Three times was he called to the counsels of his country, and in his native district never did he suffer a defeat at the hands of the electorate - eloquent testimony, indeed, of the place that he filled in the hearts of his countrymen. Later he was elevated to be one of His Majesty's judges of our Supreme Court, where he had scarcely November 1946 NATIONAL CONVENTION 183 begun a distinguished career when he was called to be Chairman of the National Convention. This latter post, which held no material advantage whatever for him, I believe he prized most of all. I said "I believe" — I think I am justified in saying that I know, for I knew the man. And now that he is gone, the greatest tribute that I can pay him is to say that, to me, he is now, as he always was and always will be Cyril Fox, the man. And yet he is not entirely gone from our midst. His cheery spirit can still guide us along the paths of unselfish effort and sound decision. May his clear intellect and his devoted patriotism abide with us to the end.
Mr. Job Mr. Chairman, I have the honour to second the motion which has been so very eloquently proposed by my friend, Mr. Bradley. There is not very much that I can add. I have known Cyril Fox in a personal way for many years. I have known him in recent years on the banks of the river where we spent a week or two regularly, and under those circumstances one gets to know one's fellow companions. I have no hesitation in saying that during those times I never knew Cyril Fox to say an unkindly word about anyone; I have heard him say very many kind words about people and do very kind deeds. He was a devoted father and a devoted husband and his friends were very, very fond of him.
I do not believe he would wish us to take a gloomy view of his absence here. I believe he would like us to feel that he is still with us, influencing us in our deliberations and helping us to solve the problems connected with the land which he loved. Cyril Fox was, to sum up his character, a true sportsman, a true gentleman and a true Christian in every sense of those words. I have the honour to second the motion.
[The motion carried unanimously, and the Convention adjourned]

Source:

Newfoundland. The Newfoundland National Convention, 1946-1948 Vol 1: Debates. Edited by J.K. Hiller and M.F. Harrington Montreal: Memorial University of Newfoundland by McGill-Queen's University Press, 1995).

Credits:

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Selection of input documents and completion of metadata: Gordon Lyall.

Notes de bas de page:

  • [1] The Secretary, Captain Warren, acted as Chairman.

Personnes participantes: