The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-02-09
BAR BAHOuEr-
Happy Finale of Judge S. Meyers omciaH
Term.

Last night the last grain of sand in
the official hOurglass ran out, and to-
| day Judge Seraphim Meyer takes his
place IN the long and receding process
sion OF hOnored ex-Judges of the Court
OF Common Pleas of Stark county. Dur
ing the five years that he has occupied
tnls eminent position, he has won, by
his uniform courtesy, his strict intee-
rlty, and unhlnching impartiality, the
respect and affection of the legal fra
ternlty, as we'll as the confidence and
esteem of the people in the district. To
ntuhgly express their feelings of good
VIII, ana testify to his merits, the Stark
pllmentary banquet at the st. ClOud HO-
tel last night which was an occasion.
Ol unnlx0d enjoyment to as Intelligent
Douy OF men as usually meets together.
representatives of Summit. Carroll and
OIner counties were present, in answer
10 lnVltatlOns, several of them old and
gray-halred veterans, whose recoIIac-
tiOns of Stark county date far hack in
the misty history of the past. Occnr-
ing so near publication day, we are nm
willingly compelled to condense our ra-
port, not for lack of good material bnt
want of space. The incoming trains
brought the visitors, and by 8 O'clock
the parlors OF the st. Cloud contained
nearly eighty lawyers and ex-Judpes-
Supper was announced at $40. and 1n-.
der the direction of the COMMITTEES the
company was ushered into the spacious
d1n1ng-rOom, where they were greeted
with choice musical selections by the
Grand Army Orchestra. The tables
were tastefully decorated and we'll
niIed ana next received close attention.
AFTER the wine and cigars were passed
around, Mr.. John Lahm called the
meeting to order, and stated that as
Judge j. W. Underhill, the Chairman.
was absent i'll New York, he was nm
willingly compelled to act in that ca
paclty, and he had but one word to saw
to the gentlemen speaking, and that
was; Life Is short and time is fleet
lng. In happy manner he then gave
the hrst tOast-"Greeting," and cordial
y, welcomed all to the entertainment.
The second toast:
OUR HONORED GUEST,
Was presented by Mr.. j. j. Parker. who
said: Long before the five years lust
past, we knew our honOred guest as an
attorney of unusual merit, and expect
ed to hear of him in the future, and he
has much more than met our expecta-
tlOns. 1t was formerly a TeprOach to
the Common Pleas Court that if a case
went in, it would not be tried
seOrt of two years. The Judge, by his
industry and application, greatly ex-
PoulCou AidGIelS anu ulu away with
great deal of 1.-THE laws delay" We had
able Judges before, but this present one
is their peer; he is the brightest, ablest
and most upright of them all. He al
ways meted out justice with exactness
and lmpartiality to all, and, as five years
ago he dOnned the judicial ermine un-
Sullled. so at this time he lays it down
unspOtted.' [Applause.1 Judge Meyer,
with much emotion respOnded: The
nf
ternity, which has so often been made
manifest in our long professional inter-
course, and finally eliminating i'm the
festivities of this evening, imposes upOD
me debt of overwhelming gratitude
which adds to the oppression of the
weight of obligation resting upon me.
and paralyzes all my efforts to utter the
grateful feelings of my heart. and | can
only DO as others have done before me.
apply for the benefit of the bankrupt
law and become morally bankrupt, and
nave the debt cancelled. | know too
we'll the honor you do me is undeserved,
for the many shortcomings of my Judi
clal career, none knows betteTithan nv
self. It's true entered upon the duties
of that high position with good inteD-
tlOnS, but after reaching the high eIeya-
ton of the bench, found there was a
great difference between the intention
and its achievement. The thoughts of
my poor merits became oppressive and
dlscOuraging, and | think of the in
splTed poet who said of that part of the
neither regions, which the legal profess
sion do not dread, that it was paved
with good intentions. What few good
achievements | had the good fortune to
accomplish were done by the aid of the
eminent counsel at the bar, who were
ever ready to assist the court with their
enlightened help, counsel that is a
credit and an ornament to the bar of any
State. While making this confession ON
my part of my utter inability to occupy
the station | filled, cannot pass the
present occasion without expressing
sincere thanks to counsel for whatever
good was done on the bench, but when
compared with what L have done more
than my predecessors, l again become
dlsmayed and prOstrate. They did more
and the comparison is disastrous to me.
and take refuge in the expression of
one of the old Roman sages, Compare
sons are OdiOus,' and of another, of
the dead, let there be nothing said, ex-
cept good for the sands of my official
life are running out, and by midnight
will be exhausted, and then am Off
cially defunct and dead. But, perhaps,
| am too egOtisLical and misapprehend
the purpose of this gathering? In oIden
regal times, the cOurtiers would cry,
The king is dead, long live the king
and is this not human nature to-daYP
Even in our Republican institutions the
hungry crowd sing hOsannas to the new
and rising sun, while the setting orb,
unattended, is permitted to pass to dark
oblivion without a thought of regret ex-
pressed at its disappearance. Have we
not gathered tonight to say the Judge
is dead, long live the Judgep This is
human nature, and in a spirit of philOsO-
ply would myself seek to flask in the
genial rays of the rising sun and con-
gratulate the people in the good selec-
tiOn of my successor. AS the setting orb
leave my position, and had to part
with my professional brethren for good,
would do so with painful feelings; but,
as by the voice of the people, am not
only the setting orb, but also the rising
sun, can again meet them in judicial
and professional intercourse, and in my
new office, although Subordinate to the
one leave, hope to have the same ad-
vice and counsel as in my former posi-
tion. Before resuming my seat, let me
express to the many eminent guests
from abroad, the Unitad thankS 0f tho