The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-03-18
The Late Judge John A. Meredith.
MEETING OF THE MEMBERS or TIE BEycr
AND BAR; RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED-TuE ~


COuIt OOfil VI tftt tDttt va
peals yesterday to take suitable action In
memory Of the late Judge John A. Mere
dith. Judge Joseph Christian was called to
the chair, and Robert Howard and George
X. Taylor appointed TO act as secretaries.
Judge Christian. upon taking the chair.
addressed the meeting in eloquent eulogy
Of the deceased.
Upon motion the following committee
was appointed 10 present TO the meeting
suitable resolutions: Messrs. John Is.
Young, B. X. Wexford, Jr., Thomas j.
Evans, Edward Y. Cannon, James Pleas
ants, II. Coalter Cabell, W. W. Crump,
James Alfred Jones, John II. Guy, James
q. Blackwell, George l.. Christian, James
Caskie. and Thomas ". Carter, who retired,
and in short time returned and presented
to the meeting the following
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS:
We have met to-day to render the last
tribute OF respect and affection 10 the memo
ry Of John A. Meredith. Such an assem-
blage Is inspired not only by the dictates Of
professional courtesy, but by the prompt
ings OF higher ard deeper feelings. For in
him who has so suddenly been called from
our midst we recognize man OF mark and
note; judge who has worthily worn the
ermine; profound and able lawyer and
advocate; citizen who possessed in IN
eminent degree the respect and confidence
Of the public at large; and friend and
companion whose uniform courtesy and
kindly offices have won the afectionate re-
gard OF his brethren OF the bench and bar.
John A. Meredith, at the time Of his
death, was in his siXty-ninth year, having
attained very nearly the period appointed
for the days OF man. Yet his life may be
regarded H. one Of eminent success. Grad
uating with the highest honors at the Cni-
versity OF his native State, he embarked In
his profession soon after he attained man
hood. At IN early period Of his career he
rose to distinction, and enjoyed for several
wears lucrative and increasing practice.
Popular and engaging in his manners, and
with abilities commanding public CONT
dencc, he filled in rapid succession the
offices OF attorney for the Commonwealth.
member Of the Constitutional Convention
OF 1850, senator in the Legislature OF
the State, and Judge OF the then newly
created Circuit Court Of the city Of Rich
mond. In this last position il was his Of
flee to discharge the functions OF both COM
mon law and equity judge for this city,
then advancing in population and wealth.
The popular verdict was made up and rem
dcred, and has passed into history, that he
discharged these delicate and responsible
duties with ability and fideliiy-with an
impartiality that never swerVed from lis
path. and IN integrity beyond suspicion
till the end. His high trust was never re-
called from his hands by the Legislature
or people who conferred il, but was sur
rendered only at the dctatiOn Of military
reconstruction. Assuming again at its close
his place ut the bar, he reacquired with
almost uneXampled success q lucrative and
extending pacticc, in which he was labo'
riously engaged almost TO the very period
OF his death. But he was not permitted
! long to remain IN retirement. Again was
he called into the public service Oi the cit,
OF his adoption in the capacity Of City At
| torney, and at a later period az % membe
| OF the Board OF Aldermen, over whose dc
/ liberatiOns he presided till the close Of hi
earthly career.
In reviewing his lie, who shall say tina
he lived too long or that he died too sool
for his reputationi
| IL only remains for us, his brethren, VIII
survive TO place upon his bier the mourn
ing-wrcaths OF atlectionate remembrance
and to tender 10 his bereaved widow ant
family oiT deep and respectful condoenc
and sympathy.
"Ous desiderio sit pudor aui modus
| Tam earl c1pitisYo
ReSoired. That copies Of this mem0ri:
tribute be presented to the courts in whic
he practiccd, with the request that the sam
be spread upon their minutes. and that
copy be transmitted TO his widow and fan
ly and to the newspapers OF this city 10
Resolved, That we will in body atten
his funeral.
The Chair appointed the following gen
tlcmen
70 PRESENT TO THE COURTS
the proceedings Of this mceting-to wit
Court OF Appcals-James Aired Jones
Robert Ould, aud John o. Stcger; Chan
cery Court-H. G.. Cannon, VI. NJ. Gillian
and A. Austin Smith; Circuit Court-A
VI. Kelley, l.. Il. Page, and Tazeweli Elicit
United States Court-W. w. Gordon, johl
6. Wise. and James H. Dooley; Husting
Courts. B. Witt, James n. Dunlop, Az
T.. Darlington Cabell; County Court q
Henrico-E. &. Minor, James {. Lane, an
w. NJ. Sydnor.
ELOQUENT SPEECHES
were made by Colonel John b. Younl
Judge B. Il. Welliord, Jr., Judge W. W
Crump, Colonel Thomas j. Evans, an
General George william Richardson, e.
pressing their appreciation OF the priyai
and public character OF the deceased.
on motion, the meeting adjourned.
THE FUNERAL.
The funeral services took place yesterd;
: evening at -. James Protestant Episcop
church at O'Clock. The sacred ediilce VI
crowded with the friends OF the dlsti
guished dead.
The procession entered the church in q
following order:
Z Remains Of the deceased borne 10y u
: palI-bearers heretofore named; family an
! friends; Mayor w. &. Darlington and Cal
I tain l.. l.. Bass, president pro temp0re
the Board OF Aldermen; members OF II
4, Board OF Aldermen; Captain Maxwell !
Clarke, president OF the Common Connci
and ex-Mayor A. NJ. Kelley; members OF q
j Common Council and the officers OF Il
! Council: ex-membcrs OF the Board
!, Aldermen and Common Council, anon
y whom we noticed Colonel LLOYD y. Beal
c Afr. n. W. Pickrell, and Captain Charlie
( II. TAYLOR; members OF the Board OF II
y lice Commissioners.
n The members OF the Richmond lar, WI
! were present in large numbers, occupit
r seats on the left-hand side in the cent
y aisle.
e The services were conducted by the pa
tor OF the church, Rev. Joshua feterki
: ID. d., assisted 10y the Rev. Charles Mimi
perode, ID. y. The music rendered by u
I. choir OF the church was very solemn AZ
IL impressive. The hymns Just a. ~
i without one plea" and 81 would not III
;. alway,v were sung with pathos that aw
u kened the saddest emotions.