Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-01-17
Eu!0gieS

y, liyered by members Of the Bar, al
the meeting held in the Court House
Saturday. January Glib, 1883.
REMARKS BY W. =. WILLIAMS EsV'
Mr.. CHAIRMAN:
Again has solemn =
lv impressive warning come to teach Us
Haiin ,be midst of life we are in death.
One ofour number has gone to that
honr, o from whence he can never re-
tnrn. A scat has been vacated towards
which our tyes have been accustomed
to turn with no common interest. a
voice has been bushed forever, TO which
we have been won't to listen with pro-
found attention aud reverence. n
venerable form has faded from our
s.c,t around which we have often
gllberei win afIectonate regard
Ours. Mr. Chairman, is no common
bereavement. Whatever advanced age
ny experience, strong ma tural abili'
les and a sponess private character
could 90 10 render any one an object OF
Interest, respect and admiration the'
have done for Judge Mark Bird.
No acts Of ours are necessary TO his
fame. lie has now passed beyond the
reach OF cn.icisu. and the judgment OF
his contemporaries Will assign him a
mace with those who are Learned ID
The law and have discharged their
judicial duties without fear or favor
Bp. ID +, due 10 ourselves, due to his
amil, ard to the people, that a iost
estimate Of character and worth be
publicly formulated.
When a fiend dies, We see what we
had only lelt before and his form and
qualities appear clearly outlined 90
not rise on this occasion TO indulge IL
lie language Of unmeasured panegyrlc'
nv love for lie dead aud my regard Tor
the living, would rebuke such COURSE
But q, this hour. "the severity of truth
is at once our proper duty and our best
consolation"
As man, Judge Bird vas pure, up
| right, benevolent, unchanged, aye, un-
su.rccled even Of the commission oI the
smallest premeditated wrong. Frank
and fearless in the expression OF his
onjnions and in the performance ofhis
duties. In all things bis sincerely was
evident and his honest beyond question.
| lie was man Of undoubted courage
aud vet as gentle, modest aud unassum-
| mo as o woman. His politeness kue"
no caste-the rich and poor, white aud
black met the same uniform polite and
confederate treatment at his hands
| Endowed by nature with a vigorous
| int llect aud trained in the contests ol
stirring, active life he was the archl'
iect of his own fortune-a noble Illus
ration of the equality Of our institu'
| ions which freely offer all their re-
wards to all who justly seek and right
ly deserve them.
There seldom yet, said great judge
az been an able and determined man
ubo really I'D justice to the law, to
whom II did not. in turn. at one time
or another, amply do justice. Ho"
| rue, in the case of Judge Bird. As
awyer ne bad few equals. lie was
thoroughly grounded in the fundamental al
principles of the law. No, only did he
possess legal knowledge, but great
readiness in using It. GTasplng the
salient points in bis case, he pressed
them home upon the jury with clear
ness and a directne5s which alway'
commanded tner attention. With the
court. he was frank, fair and manly
mauifesting an in1exible regard ioI
Truth which never admitted OF loose
cautious statements. In the prose
culion oi bis profession he regarded
h mselfas serving in the Sacred Temple
OF Justice and heedsd no voices bu
those OF Honor. Truth and Justice. lie
nllv realized that the World at large is
better or worse for the lawyers iAfl'
ence; hat the people are lifted up b,
the GOOD and true and are either de-
prayed or dlsgusted by the unprlncipled
lr.ckster.
Who that knew Judge Bird in the ac'
i've practice Of the law, can forgot hi'
courteous bearing to his brethren OF tie
Bar! lie never carried from the cOur
room the memory Of wrong aud never
INDUCED in bitter wrangling and per-
s0nalilies, which IS bringing dishonoI
upon tie profession. rhO,e Of YOU who
came 10 the bar bile hc was in active
practice will bear witness with me {,
mis- inrariaJie kindness aud Thoughtful
consideration. Always ready, even -
the press Of business, to give Us The
benefit of his great learning and ex-
lpericrce.
In The death Of Judge Bird the State