The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-03-02
HoN0RINe THn EbrrTCE.
Meeting OF the Bar in Honor OF the
New COurt-HOuse.

first time. The space inside the bar was
well-flled by the attorneys of the county,
and the auditorium by a goodly num-
ber of spectators. Judge Frease took
the chair to call court, when S. Meyer, ESQ.
arose and suggested that the members Of
the Court and Bar take some appropriate
action prior to opening court for the first
time in this magnificent and stately edi-
fee. He moved His Honor, Judge Frease,
act as chairman of the meeting, which was
seconded by R. h Folger, Esq, and unan-
imously carried. On motion, Clerk Hell
denbrand was chosen Secretary. On mo-
ton of S. Meyer, the chair appointed
a committee of five to draft resolutions, as
follows: S. Meyer, R. H. Folger Harvey
Laughlin, Alex. Bierce and John McSwee-
ney. On motion, adjourned till p. m.
On reassembling at 2 p. m, the Court
room was well filed, and after Judge Frease
called to order, Mr.. Meyer, chairman of
the committee, arose and read the follow
ing report:
The committee appointed at the meeting
of the Bench and BaI, and other officers Of
the Court, to report a preamble and reso-
lutioRs appropriate to the occasion of
poses of justice, beg leave to report as
follows:
WHEREAS, on taking possession of this
stately ediice for the purposes. .contempla-
ted by its builders, the people of the coun-
ty of Stark who have cheerfully borne
great sacrifices to secure its construction,
1t is meet and proper that the Bench and
Bar with the various officers Of the Court
who are called upon to exercise their re-
spective functions and discharge their re-
spective duties within its sacred precincts,
now appropriately and solemnly dedicate
the same to the administration of Justice.
Therefore, be it
ReSolUed, That His Honor Judge Frease
on behalf of the Bench and Bar, and va
rious officers of the Court, formally dedi-
cate the same as a Temple of Justice,
where ready redress may be found for
every wrong, and where the cherished
rights Of personal hberty,-security Of
right and property-will ever be sacredly
enforced and secured, whilst now formally
throwing open its portals for the admins
tration of even-handed justice.
ResolVed, That the Court be PRAYED to
cause the proceedings of this meeting, fol-
lowed by the respective names Of the
members of the Bench and Bar, and Off
GERS of the Court, to be spread on the
Journal records of the Court as a perpetual
memorial of the dedication of the new
Courthouse.
y By the Committee.
S. MEYER, Chairman.
After reading the resolutions, Mr.. Never
made some remarks, referring to the SPLEEN
died edifce erected by the people of Stark
county as a Temple of Justice, and in
which he trusted law and justice would
ever be administered. He referred to the
time he had been at the Bar and the
changes among the lawyers and officers of
the Court since then. He mentioned Dr.
Harman Shdger, who was Clerk when he
came to the Bar, thirty years ago, and
who still survives and honors US with his
venerable presence.
R. H. Folger, Esq. followed in the same
happy remarks, adverting to the old Court
house which he remembered when COM
pleted IN 1916, and the lawyers and judges
of fifty years ago-naming Tappan, Hal
leck, and others Mr.. Folger also spoke
of the many able lawyers and judges of
the court twenty-five or thirty years
ago when he came to the Bar. He re-
Bferred in feeling terms to his deceased
friend, Judge Belden, and complimented
Mr.. Schefer for his energy as County
Commissioner in assisting to give us this
admirable and beautiful structure.
NAlexsnder Bierce, ESQ, spoke for q few
minutes in feeling terms about the great
change in the Stark County Bar since he
became a member of it. He spoke OF
those swho had "gone to that bourne
whence no traveller returas," and to which
we are all rapidly passing He mentioned
Clerks Stidger, who still survives, John
Lahm and Daniel Raffensperger, and
named the deceased Clerk, LIE Anderson.
John McSweeney, Esq. followed, and
spoke of his boyhood days in Canton, and
| the eminent members of the Bar, such as
Goodenow, Loomis, Metcalf, Harris, Stark
weather, Belden, Brown, and others. Mr..
4 McSwsen5y- IN bHautifri- and etiU4u1nl
terms alluded to Temples of Justice like
this, giving evidence of law and order-oi
security of person and property. 1t was
here wrongs were righted,-it was here the
injured could seek redress and ever find it
CouFtG of Justice were not what many
people imagined, mere places for fraud anc
trickery. On the contrary the great anC
eternal principles of Right, the basis o.
law, were held sacred n the Courts. These
after all, were the only guides recognized
in dispensing justice
On closing, Mr.. McSweeney's remarks
were warmly applauded.
| Judge Frease remarked that, as no 9th
er gentleman desired to speak, he woulC
put the question on the passage of the res
olutions, whereupon they were adopted
unanimously.
Judge Frease then directed Sheriff Dun
bar to open Court, which being done, Hi
Honor delivered the following remarks ap
propriate to the occasion:
| faal Aoftarad ond vat am h ,-,.o coed h,
the part assigned me by the meeting o
the Bar held this morning, the proceeding
and resolutions of which have Just beel
read. l could have desired more time Il
which to prepare more fitting respons
to the request contained in one Of the res
olutions After the ceremonies here o.
the 22nd inst, l had supposed there woul
probably be no other formal recognition
of the completion for public business {
this symmetrical and beautiful room. Yet
since the meeting of the Bar and officer
Of the Court, held this morning, 1 hav
been forcibly impressed with the prophet
of the course which has been adopted.
. think that the Bar and Bench, and a
+ others directly connected with the admin
istratlon of Justice in Stark county, al
under weighty obligations, and should en-
tertain deep sense of gratitude towar
the good people of this county for hayin
! provided a Courtroom so elegant, so con
modious, so comfortable, and in all az
pointments so near perfection as not to t
an unfit type of that noble system of il
risprudence hereafter to be administers
: within IFS walls, and which has aptly, an
T almost without exaggeration been describe
by one of its most distinguished votar1e
! as the Perfection of Reason.
am now impressed that it would eve
! have been unbecoming to have opened Il
public business here to-day without sil
nalizing the occasion by some public an
ceremonious proceedings. And standir
here, upon the threshold of years and eve
E ages. during which this room may be o.
G e1pied as a Temple of Justice, and in r
sponse to the request kindly embodied
> one Of the resolutions of the Bar meetin
1 here in this public presence dedicate
to the uses for which 1t has been designe
y May Liberty, regulated by Law, here ev
: find a shield and entrenehment and mi
Law. corrected and Modified by the spin
of Equity and Justice, tempered by Mere
: be here. dispensed with an even-han
z | lica raSciOn batrad l