Telegram-herald., 1891-06-25

Proceedings Ia superior csart Com msaa-
oxAfise 81 Jaags n sInses.

II the superior court non. l. IL.
Norris. on behaif of the committee APP
pointed 10 draw up set of resolutions
on the death Of Judge Holmes, arose
and. prefaeiBg their presentation with
the following remarks, presented the
resolutions Of regret and remembrance:
'If your honor please, IA the dis
charge OF this duty on behalf or the
committee, Il has occurred 10 me That
q proper presentation would be In
formal, not IL all elaborate and more
from the heart perhaps than the head.
AZ more IN cOnsOnance with Judge
Holmes be AMI work; rather an aHec-
tIonai tribue than an intellectual one.
Ii - a maxim old as u Is honored, mi
de mortuIs, MS bonum '-speak moth
ing but good of the dead-and Vet u
has occurred 10 your honor andsto all
OF Us who are long at the bar that this
maxim is Ottentimes more honored IN
It's breach than It's observance, and II
affords me great pleasure on such an
, occasion as this when II Is true In letter
and Ia spirit, 10 give vent fully 10 our
feelings IN this regard.
Judge Holmes was rot learned
man. not brilliant man, but he WAS
good man, an honest man, a just man.
a true mau, a man who prIzsd friend
ship aud the associations of home and
the surroundings OF neighhorly love,
higher than ne did public employment
or the resources which wealth brings. |
think that when any OF us depart from
TINS world and take our way TO the next
II will be more grateful To have II SAID
OF Us, he Was good man ana lust.
rather than q great man. The LIE of
the best of US cuts but very little figure
IN the rafting din OF this worlds ma
chinery. One after another of our
leading men depart, and their depart
ure has caused no more interruption
than II would 10 drop q bullet in the
middle of mill pond; there is a little
ripple IN a widening circle. In few
days they are forgotten. Their remem-
brance IS in the affectionate cherish
ment of their friends, and to those
whom they have done good and who
were attached to them, but the world
does not miss them. The machinery of
| lie goes on, others are eager TO crowd
! forward and take their place and every
| thing IL shortly as it WAS. OF course
| this IS a lesson to us so to mould our
| lives as TO leave at least In our own
| home circle, kindly remembrance for
our good works rather than for our
great deeds. With this brief preface,
spoken upon the impulse of the mo-
ment, without elaborate preparation,
! submit on behalf of the committee, the
| report:
The undersigned, a committee ap-
| pointed at n meeting OF the members of
the bar OF Grand Rapids, held in the
| circuit court rooms on the 18th inst,
were instructed 10 prepare and cause to
| be presented 20 the several courts of re-
| cord, appropriate resolutions in CON-
memoraton of the life and work of
| John Taylor Holmes, deceased, as citi-
zen, jurist and Judge. In the perform
ance OF that duty they beg leave to re-
port:
Judge Holmes, born December IL,
lsl5, at Carlisle, Schoharle county, New
York, died at Grand Rapids June 10,
1891. He received an academic educa-
ton. and during his minority followed
! farming and clerking. March 81, 1895.
he married Mary Ann Pratt and Febru-
airy II, 1888, came to Grand Rapids
| Here he Was successfully clerk
merchant, law student and May H.,
ls43) lawyer, justice of the peace, mas
ter In chancery, prosecuting attorney,
| Democratic nominee for State Senator
and Attorney General. judge of the
superior court, dying Judge of the
| police court.
From all these varied OCCUPATIONS,
/ covering a period of more than half
| century, during which the little hamlet
OF his early home had grown to city
| of 10 200 people, be has passed to the
\ Ntk 81 f,.linxraI kx..
TEEN of all who knew him, leaving to
! his family and mis- friends priceless
| heritage. In the remembrance that IN
| and through all the years of his long,
| busy and useful life he "stood four
| square to all the winds that blew" that
modest work OF Cod an honest man,
| and while it is not for us his brothers
left behind yet for little season TO en-
ter into that which ia beyond, still we
have a right TO confidently affirm that
his tenure to that SIX feet of mother
earth, allotted TO all alike, is under
that common law ne had so long
studied, revered and justly admins
tered:
Cujus est solum. eius est. usque ad calum.
Therefore:
Resolved, That in parting we trust
nv WIN Jul dttt0Std
that we kindly cherish and lovingly
commemorate his many sterling quail
ties of head and heart.
In his and our own chosen profession,
he was far above the average, in pains
taking investigation, in wise counsel,
and in faithful work.
Asa judge he was patient, easy of
access, even tempered, incorruptible
and just; ever leaning TO the side of that
| mercy which falleth like the dew OF
heaven upon the just and the unjust,
| tempering the rude wind OF the law to
| the shorn lambs Of the municipal fold
As n citizen he was ever true TO HE
convictions of right and duty, and
earnest in every good work, for the ad-
vancemert Of the common good.
As = neIghtor he was warm hearted,
courteous and sincere.
Asa friend be Was always trusted and
true.
Light lie the turf above thea
Friend Of our better days
None knew thee but 10 love thee.
Nor spoke Of thee. but 70 praise"
Resolved. That this report and these
resolutions he presented TO the supreme
court, the circuit court for the county
of Kent. the superior court and the po-
| lice court of Grand Rapids. and moved
upon their records; and that the clerk
| of the superior court of Grand Rapids
engross, certify and transmit copy to