The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-02-10
JAMES #. GRAY.
nj citing of the Bar.

Gray Esq. On mOtlOn Oh Oolouel rnhips, 1ne
meeting was organized by ex.Chief Justice Benja-
min F. Duncan. being called to the chair and Mar
tin L. wilkins, Esq, appointed secretary.
On taking the chair, Justice Dunkin remarked
that they were assembled to render g. tribute OF
respect to one whose life and character made
him an honor to the brotherhood ALL to the com
munity ct large. For more than forty years
he had occupied the responsible position OF Master
In Chancery for this district and throughout tnat
period his course had been repeatedly tested and
approved by discriminating legislature Inper-
forming the functions Of that office, Mr.. Gray had
exhibited rare ability, while his fidelity to public
duty conduced to the public welfare. Prompt
courteous and just, he embodied in his person
those virtues which secured universal esteem' ano
made him an example among men.
REMARKS OF HON. j. B. CAMPBELL.
Hon. J. B. Campbell then addressed the meet
ing. He said:
Mr.. Chatrn,an-It was few days since sug'
Rar that IL would be agreeable to them II would
omen these proceedings 10 their 6enall 9y onsl.
ing to their consideration the testimony misnt
thfnk /. nt and becoming lor them 70 give upon ata
mi at the moment how likely it b that my taste
and habit OF expression on such occasions WIN
fall short OF the usual expectation. Inere can oe
no difference Of opinion upon the character OF Mt
Gray or as to how he discharged 10 taelr lulnl.
ment the highest duties, public and private, OF
llfe-and l have thought this opinion pest anu
strongest expressed wltn tne usmosS
In the use OF the simplest language To speak OF
character so simply pure as l thlnS MT;
Grays character. When came 10 the Bar. 1
found him In office, where he had oeen, tninS,
two or more years have known him ever since
In most of his relations OF life. For more IMAM
twenty years he has been my near nelgh9or anu
friend AMI with the experience or such an oppor-
tunity enjoying the charms OF almost daily inter-
course, and for a long time my judgment has been
long fixed that his character was one OF rare nueli
ty purity and truth, the practice OF which virtues
he carried with admirable but uuoStentatlous
frmucss into his every day life. He never I'm.
agined he could do something better than Justice
according to td1 He never thought there was
abe:ter way to serve the law than oy lts uprlgat
administration. I do not know that could
speak higher praise. esteem 1t my good fortune
that may speak 1t truthfully. have not, in the
simple tribute shall offer, attempted, and shall
not now attempt, any analysis OF Mr. Gray 5
mind aud temperament, or o. ,5o, ms dane isan
could do IL by those who will follow me. Tney
were cultivated and attractive TO q very. large
degree.
portant part or Court Of Equity, that have most
delight in contemplating him. Agreeable and re-
fined persons may be found everywhere. lt Is
the greatest belssing Of any country TO SIT DOWN
secure OF pure and upright magtstracy.
Mr.. Chairman, more than thirty years ago, one
OF the great masters OF the law and OF forensic
eloauence addressed this our Bar OF Charleston:
You and and many OF tn9se nov peese p Sn, aHe ne
said then, hetter than can now say i. wnas M l
now feel In the contemplation OF Mr.. Gray g cnar-
acter. "In my opinion" said he, there IS no
character on earth more elevated and9more pure
than that OF q learned ana upright judge. There
is no cause to which would more cheerlully and
more largely contribute the earnings OF my lne
than to the adequate support OF the learned anu
upright Judge. Such acharacter IS an important
influence for the public good-liEe the deWs OF
heaven, falling without observance. No morali.
ty save that or the lesson OF mankind Is more en-.
nobling than that OF Court OF Equity no mGla, ,Sa
teachings Of the great lights OF that court on
the subject Of nduclary relations, and IN matters
OF trust and confidence, pray Heaven we
mag neTer relinquish the independence OF tne lu.
dietary. A time.servlng Judge is spectacle TO-
inspire adherence" This language and train OF
thought comes back to me now after the lapse OF
near q quarter century, while think aud attempt
example and practice the gulf.wlde difference
which separates the upright from the time.serying
Judge more distinctly than James W. Gray.
II there is any higher praise than that 10 De
speak 1t. 1 subscribe fully to what have repeat
ed In the language OF another, and again repeat
there is no character on earth more elevated aod
pure than that OF an upright Judge. such oe-
lieve Mr.. Cray TO have been.
After these remarks Mr.. Campbell moved the
following memorial and resolusions:
The late James W. Gray was born at Charles
ton on the I'd day Of july 1895, and here received
his primary education and preparation ior the
South Carolina College, where he received MS nrss
degree with his class OF 1918. and the same year
commenced the study OF the law IN the omce OF
Mr.. Yaucey A. ktnsman, ut Abbeville. and alter
wards pursued 1t Ia the office or the late Judge
Hnger, at Charleston.
He was called to the bar IN lS2l, anu oegan
and followed the practice OF his profession as tie
junlor partner OF the late George Warren Cross
until 1929, when he was elected 5y the General
Assembly one OF the Masters OF the C0art OF
Equity, the duties Of which responsible ONCE ne
continued to discharge under repeated contnu-
Ous elections until the Slst day or December,
1868, when the court itself was oyerthrown, and
gave,place to an untried system Tor the admins
tration OF equitable jurisprudence.
He survived the court, OF which he had been SO
long q most important part. nearly Two years,
and then, OH the morning Of the 21flI day OF De-
cember 1870, went peacefully to his dnal rest, IN
the 10th year OF his age: For ner LOFTY ~ years nd
judicial functions Of Master In the Court OF
Equity. II was there, and In that responsible
trust, that the whole Bar knew him especially.
The administration of his ONCE for that long
period Of years was the cork OF hts l1p by It, ne
Will be most known and have The longest puoilc
remembrance. He was not long enough at the
Bar to have left any very distinct traditional re-
collection OF his career there Perhaps ths gentle
ness, drmness and purity Of his nature were bet
ter developed In the exercise or administrative
and judicial dulles than cou.d have been by
the iostng conflicts OF active professional lie.
His tourney OF life is ended In the lullness OF years.
and now, The Bar Of Oharleston-h's brethren 0l
the professionals well those who rvtve TO re.
member him before and when he came Into ONCE,
and all the way down through 80 many years, as
those who have grown up remembering him only
where they found him dlsciaro:ng the duties OF
his ofce until its end, have come together TO pear
their testimony and pass their Judgment how ne
bore himself In lie, and In death what memory ne
has left behind; and therenpon they do hereby re-
solve and say
i. That, In their Judgment the late James W.
Gray for nearly forty years administered tue
great trusts OF his office with drmae3s, fidelity,
truth and purity. That justice, according 10 law,
was In his heart, aud was the standard and rule
or his conduct That his lrmness and fidelity
assistance that his death Is accepted oy them
with grief softened by the contemplation OF MS
well.acted public and private ltfe-as magistrate:
as the head OF family; as citizen-the memory
Of which will be preserved by them with faithful
affection.
widow and children their sympathy and condo
lence and Herewith offer this expression OF thelr
Judgment OF their grief, and OF their anection Ior
their deceased friend and brother.
The resolutions were seconded by General Jas
Smous in an eloquent and affecting address.
lie was followed by Alexander H. Brown, Esq.,
who spoke as follows:
REMARKS OF A. h. BROWN ESQ.
3fr. Chdtrnldn-lt Ia my habit TO attend sucn
calls as these and, save in single instance |
nm yc heen content to remain silent listener to