Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-09-01
DEATH OF JUDGE WGUFFIN
Meeting of the Butler Bdr-Resolu-
tions Passed and Proceedings of
the Same.

Pursuant to previous notice the
members of the Bar of this county as
sembled in the Court House on
Wednesday Aug 25, at 2 o'clock, to
take action relative to the death of
Hon. Lawrence l.. McGufin, of New
Castle, Lawrence county, Pa. and late
President Judge of this, Butler and
Lawrence counties, Judicial district.
The meeting was called to order by
Hon. John n. Purviance, on whose
motion his Hon. James Bredin, was
chosen to preside. On motion of Hon
John NJ. Thompson, j. III. Negley,
Esq, was chosen Secretary of the
Meeting.
On motion of Gen. Purviance a COM
mittee of three was appointed on Res
olutions. The Chair appointed Gen.
Purviance, Hon. Charles McCandless
and Levingston McQuistion, Esq,
said committee, who in q short time
reported the following, expressive of
the sense of the Bar
RESOLUTIONS.
Resolved, That we have learned
with deep regret the death of our es-
teemed and highly respected friend,
the Honorable Lawrence l.. McGuffin,
and extend our sincere sympathy and
coincidence to the family of the de-
ceased.
RESOLVED, That Judge McGuffin was
true type of the American citizen,
who by his own individuality and self
reliance raised himself from obscurity
to the front rank of his profession in
his own county and in the State, and
as just tribute to whose talent the peo-
pie promoted him to the bench
Resolved, That during the time he
presided over the Courts OF this coun-
ty, he endeared himself to the members
of the Bar by his dignity, uprightness
and impartiality.
Resolved, That copy of the forego-
ing resolutions be forwarded to the
family of the deceased and be publish
ed in the papers of this county and re-
corded on the minutes of this Court.
Gen. Purviance, after reading the
resolutions, made the following re-
marks:
REMARKS OF GEN. PURvIANCE.
Mr.. PREsIDENT:- We have met to
pay the last tribute of respect to the
memory of our deceased friend, Judge
McGuffin | would do violence to the
prompting of my heart were | to re-
main silent ON an occasion that inspires
feelings of such profound sorrow.
In his personal as well as judicial
course Judge McGufin stood high in
the respect and confidence of the whole
and was justly esteemed
and upright Judge, good citizen and
a sincere Christian. His social, genial
nature, endeared him to all our people,
and his judicial integrity and imparti-
ality gave him strong hold upon the
confidence and admiration. not only of
the members of the Bar, but with liti
gants and the people generally. For
these sterling qualities the Bar of
this county honors his memory and ex-
tends to his family in their sore be-
their sincere sympathy and
coincidence.
An exemplary characteristic of Judge
McGuffin was the genial kindness, the
courtesy, the forbearance which it
seemed to be his pleasure to extend to
the junior members of the Bar. No
rude, no offensive or embarrassing re-
marks ever passed his lips, though oc-
casion might have justified it, but rath-
er by mild suggestions. inspired conf
dence in the young beginner that gave
hope of future success
The Judge has much to do in forming
the character of the Bar. His kindness
and magnanimity are sympathetic,
and begets like generous feelings.
/ will not rehearse the great labors of
his judicial course during the ten years
he presided over the Courts of this |
county, nor shall l repeat the statistics
of the numerous cases, civil and crimi-
nal, that were adjudicated during the
eventful period of his judicial duties.
The Bar is well aware that in no de-
cade of years of our county prior to his
judicial term was the business so great
as during his term of Office. New and
intricate questions arose, that required |
careful thought and laborious research |
to- solve them. The old channels were
infrequent and new modes of equity
proceedings were tie general practice,
causing manifold and extended labor.
1t is accorded to Judge McGufiin that
in all his official acts he was governed
by an honest desire to administer the
law with perfect impartiality. And to
the unfortunate who came before him
in the criminal Court he upheld the
scales of justice firmly, but ever exer-
ciscd the final sentence, in view, that
mercy is the darling attribute of the
Deity. And we feel gratified to day
that the benifcent influence in this res
pect did not cease with him, but has
been followed by his honored success
ors.
In his personal as well as his judicial
character, he stood high in the respect
and confidence of the who'e communi-
ty, and it is with pride that We pay !
the tribute justly due to him as an uD-
right Judge, q good citizen and
Christian gentleman. His social, genial
nature endeared him to all our people,
and his judicial fairness and integrity
gave him strong hold upon the con-
fidence and admiration, not only of the
members of the Bar. but with litigants,
and the people generally. No inscrip-
ton can be written upon the monu-
ment of any man that more honors his
memory, if merited, than that he was
an honest man. In it is implied the
noblest qualities that adorn the char
acter of man, and without it there can
be no greatness. OF Judge McGuffin it
may be truly said he was an honest
man and an upright Judge. And as
such the Bar of our county honors |