The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-12
THE LAW SOCIETIES.

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In the olden time, when Philadelphia was the
seat of government for the whole United States,
che courts of this city were looked upon from
all quarters as models, and as the head of all
legal proceeding. Action in any of our courts,
whether Federal, State, or county was prece-
dent for proceedings In any court throughout
the land. The very best legal talent of the
whole land was then here gathered together,
nor has the good legal name which was then
earned entirely forsaken us as yet. Philade-
phia lawyer is yet synonymous term for all
that is talented, learned, and successful, as well
as sharp, in the profession.
At this time, or Immediately preceding it. Just
after the Constitution of the United States had
been adopted, party of young disciples of the
law met together for the purpose of forming
society that should have for its aim the improve
ment of its members in all things appertaining
to the law. This society they formed and the
end they sought was afterwards well accom-
plished. Its members all became well known
to fame, and helped to obtain the good legal
name which the city had while q Federal capital.
This association embraced among its members
the names of Bushrod Washington Richard
Stockton, Samuel Sitgreaves, William Rawle,
Edward Tilgman, and others who afterwards
took an active part in political and national life,
and became greatly distinguished. Many of
the profession of their fathers.
This society continued for some time with
various changes and notifications, with rota-
tion in membership, as the older members got
into extended business, with no need for outside
improvement, new and younger members taking
their places until the year 1900, when its
existence came to an end, there being at that
time but very small membership and but little
Interest from those who still held to the orgapi-
Zation. The principal upholding members had
before that time been called away from its
mimic duties by others more real in political
and professional life.
For five years from this time there was no
organization of Philadelphia lawyers of any
kind but in 1905, on Saturday evening, the
Goth of December, the old association was re-
vived under a new name. 1t was then called
the Law Society, and the reorganizers were
Bayse Newcomb, Clement G. Biddle, Joseph r.
Ingersoll, Samuel H. Jacobs, John Lowber,
Magnus NJ. Murry, Philip Nicklan, Edward
Tilghman, and Samuel Wilcox. These, after
being regularly organized, adopted new con-
sritution and bylaws, elected officers, and ap-
pointed committees. The minutes Of this first
meeting state that the association was for the
purpose of improvement In legal knowledge and
in public speaking. The evening of meeting
was fixed for Thursday. Bayse Newcomb was
elected President, John Drinker, Vice-President,
Samuel H. Jacobs, Secretary, and Magnus NJ.
Murry, Treasurer. When the new constitution
was prepared the following persons signed it, in
addition to those already mentioned:-G. r.
Hopkins, Jr., William Grinell, William Milner,
P. H. Nicklan, B. Newcomb, Jr., John Ed
wards, Jr., Thomas Darrach, John Q. Lowber,
E. Spencer Sergeant, William Delaney, Thomas
Kittera, and Thomas f. Gordon.
This society continued until 1872. Those who
IL. III 4 Af 1.~l
young, though several lived long enough to
all lived the longest, with one exception. This
was Bayes Newcomb, who died in 1850, at the
age of eighty j. R. Ingersoll, who was at one
time our Minister to the Court of st. James, was
the one exception, and he died lately. Of those
who were added to the society up to the year
1912, in number about one hundred, less than a
dozen survive. Many names were included in
this hundred of high honor in our midst.
This society," as we'll as all the others of the
same kind both before and after, was for the
improvement of the younger members of the
bar, the older members Withdrawing as their
business grew upon them. By the former class
the want of such an organization was greatly
felt after it had been disbanded, and several
efforts were made to re-establish it, But it was
not until September, 1Sl7 that another institu-
tion of q similar description was founded, and
this was done by members of the bar newly
admitted, and by law students In the offices of
the members of the profession. 1t has been
said with truth that many of the men who won
honors at the bar during the ensuing twenty.
five years, some of whom are still heads of the
profession, were the direct fruits of this organi-
Zation.
The roll at first consisted of Richard Biddle
James c. .Biddle, H. j. Williams, William M
Meredith, Thomas Dunlap, David Paul Brown
Bloomfield McElvain, John N. Conyngham
John NJ Read, John X. Kane, Francis Hopkin
son, Duncan s. Walker, Joseph Tate Thomas
NJ. Petit George M. Stroud, Persifor f. Smith
George Selden, NJ r. Sayers, John Musgrave
John Wurts, r. Dillon, Drake Travanian, B
Dallas Arthur Middleton, Henry Middleton, ID
j. Desmond, Jonathan Fowle, T. A. Budd, an(
Robert Bethel. OF these, Richard Biddle, tn,
brother of Nicholas Biddle, became the mos
successful lawyer of Pittsburg, where he died il
1850. Sheldon, Dallas, and Walker also re
moved to the same place, where they becam
eminent men. Petit became member of thu
Legisature-which, by-the-way,is is no such grea
honor nowadays-also Attorney General of th
State, United States District Attorney, ant
President of the District Court. Stroud wa
also Legislature-man, and, except for two years
has been Judge of the District Court for quar-
ter of a century and over This position he ye
holds. Csnyngham was another Legislature
man, and also a member of Congress, and
now President Judge of the Court of Commo
Pleas of LuZerne county. Like Judge Stroud