The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-07-24
Meeting Of the Members of the Bar.
EQUITY COURT Room,
CHARLESTON, July %, 1868.


Pursuant to the call Of yesterday, there was
an unusually full attendance Of the members
of the bar in the courtroom, at 10'oclock this
morning.
On motion of Edward McCrady, Esq, Gene
raj James Simons was called to the Chair and
Mr.. Isaac Hayne requested to act as Secretary.
The Chairman. upon taking his place, reques-
ted Chief Justice Dunkin, on behalf of the
members of the Bar, to occupy the seat on his
right. The Chairman then said:
Gentlemen of The Bar Of Ctarieston' The
sadness which pervades this assembly pro-
claims, with more feeling than my expressions
to which can give utterance, the melancholy
event that has occasioned your convocatlon;
His Honor Judge Glover, from the Dencn OF
the Court Of Common Pleas, announced to us
Yesterday the decease Of the Hon. Edward
Frost, and the Bar Of Charleston have now
met together, to offer becoming tribute to
his memory.
Won will make OF your estimation OF this 6s-
tinguished and lamented citizen. You will do
more Justice to his memory than any feeble
tribute which could render; but selected py
your generous con slderation to presl 1e at tnis
solemn ceremonial, and thus to have the
will not be obtrusive on my part, at least, 10
testify nv affection and reverence for my
friend and preceptor.
whilst YOU will take wider range, and s?oak
Of his learning, his ability, and eminent Char
aeteristics as q lawyer and judge, Will con,
fue myself to thefeoollections OF grateful
pupil. He first opened to my then youthful
mind mind the treasures of the great profession
which be dignifed and adorned. He set before
nv ewes, in mS daily intercourse with him, the
example of constant study and reflection, OF
Industry, zonl and perseverance. saw In him
answering fidelity to his clients, unbendlng
truthfulness to his adyersaries, and never fail
ing honesty to all men,. Whether in the. quiet
conferences Of the official chamber, or in the
midst of the agitating conflicts of the forum,
he testified the rare virtue Of just aud due
consideration for the opinions OF others, and
whist maintaining the exercise OF strong
will, the amiability Of O gentle nature and the
polish OF refined gentleman never forsook
him. he met defeat with manly fortltude, and
bore triumph with generous equanlmlty. Such
were the principles and practice OF this beloved
preceptor.
Nor was this example confined to these
scenes only. had it before me In the Legisa-
ture. II which he 40 long and faithfully served
his State. As the then disting guished chief OF
the judiciary Committee, charged with the
grayest Legislative functions, he exhibited it
IN the elevation Of his character and the purity
of his sentiments. he was ever far out OF the
reach Of the intrigues Of the lobby, or the ma,
neuvres Of parliamentary sophistry, and rested
in the virtue OF the man and the wisdom OF the
statesman.
And when the appreciative sense Of the fra
ternlty and the people elevated him to the
bench, he carried all these virtues thither, and
held the scales Of justice with an even hand.
Death has now claimed his inexorable
triumph over mortal things, and put an end to
Welt spent life, and, as when our departed
friend lived, We could say Of him,
Clarus OBJ id factum, donis ornatur honestis,
30 we can now indulge tie well founded con-
viction that he will receive from the Great
ward and benefaction, in comparison with
which the praises and gifts Of men are nothing
worth.
. When Gen. Simons had concluded, the Hon.
G. G.. Memminger said
Mr.. Chairman hold in my hand pream-
BILE and resolutions which I respectfully pre-
sent M las as the expression Of the feeling Of the
Bar upon this mournful occasion. Before
reading them ask leave to submit some intro
ductory remarks.
that when one of them, ripe in years, and after
having fulfilled all his duties in her service,
was summoned TO his rest, she could look upon
him as called to his reward, and console her
self with the noble substitutes which thronged
around. Now, alns the scene is changed, and
30 widely has desolation been spread that we
are in the condition Of an army compelled to
fall back upon its reserves; any contribution OF
skill, experience or labor, if it be even for few
wears, becomes important and the loss. OF one
becomes a public calamity. 1t is in this as
peot that the death of Judge Frost must be re-
earded. The ripeness Of his years had ripened
eoually his usefulness and ability, and his Ca
pacity to make available oil his talents yet re-
manned unimpaired. We, therefore, had just
reason to hope for continuance OF his car, or
of usefulness and virtue, and are now deeply
erieved Of our disappointment. II has pleased
the. Aim ghty disposer Of events to remove
him from among us, and we may console our
selves with the remembrance OF his worth and
the exhibition of his virtues.
As lawyer and judge, the members Of the
Bar have fully appreciated his merits. He was
one OF those who regarded the lawyer las in
truth he is) minister OF justice. His duty,
he thought. was to present his case in the form
which would subject it's true merits to the
neous covering. He regarded the profession
as high calling in the interests of peace and
iustice. and as composer, aud not mover, oil
strife. In this view he set before his younger
brethren the noble example Of one who insti-
tinted as plaintiff no suit which his Judgment
dieapproyed. As counsel for defendant, he
had. in common with us all, to make the best
tefcnce he could for one thus involuntarily
brought into court. But where he was called
to be actor, his consciousness impelled him
6rst to be assured that he was light. The
eouapimity Of his temper elevated him above
the region of passion, and whether as an ad-
versary or as o colleague, it was pleasant to
meet him. On all those occasions in which
litigation was capable OF adjustment, it was
only necessary to demonstrate the right, and
the candor and truthfulness OF his character
speedily recognized it.
Such eminent qualities when once perceived
could not fail to be called into requisltion for
the bench. In December, 184S, he was elected
Judge and remained in Office for ten years.
During that period his laborious patience and
courtesy commanded the respect and affection
of the bsr and Of the bench, and at every
courthouse he was welcomed as the faithful
and unbiased Judge. His practical talents,
his sound Judgment, and his Thorough ac-
quaintance with those branches OF the law
most commonly called in requisition on the
circuit, made him most efficient and accepta-
BILE magistrate.
After service Of ten years he resigned his
Office, but not for any purpose Of Withdrawal
many years served the State in her Legislature
before his election as Judge, and he knew that
there we're still many other ways in which he
could contribute to her prosperity. He took
charge of that great enter rise, the B.ue
Ridge Railroad, in which our Safe and city
wers 80 deeply interested. With the same
aarnest consciousness he devoted himself to