St. Paul daily globe., 1894-05-15
THE HAIL AND FAREWELL.
FUNERAL or JUDGE WILKiN AN M-
PRESSiYE OCCASION.
A SERMON AND AN ADDRESS.
Bar association. Loyal Legion, Sons
of American Revolution There
in Bodies Beautiful Floral
Observation-Disclosures of the
Trustees of the Central Pres.
Dyterian Church.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OA thC
Trustees of the Central Pres
Dyterian Church.
The funeral of the late Judge West
colt Wilkin took place yesterday aft
ernoon from the Central Presbyterian
church. the ceremony being in accord
ancc with his expressed wish. The
exercises. as they transpired yesterday.
were wholly in conformity with plans
made by Judge Wilkin. shortly before
his death. in conference with his sister,
Mrs. Coleman aud his pastor, Rev. DR..
Carson. The burial at Goshen, n. y,
his boyhood home, was also especially
desired and requested by him, so that
in effect while in life he fully prepared
for the ordeal of death with that CALM
ness and thoughtfulness which was a
DISTINGUISHING trait of his career.
BAR ASSOCIATION.
Earlier in the day there was meet
ing of the Ramsey County Bar associa-
ton, with the six judges of the district
court, in Room No. /. Judge Brill pre-
siding After the formal opening of
the court Judge Charles E. Flandrau
made the following address, concluding
with motion:
If your honols please. beg leave to
interrupt the ordinary business of this
court by an announcement which must
carry with it profound interest in both
bench and bar. On the 18th day of May,
1858, the territorial court Of this district
ceased the exercise of its functions and
was followed by the present jurisdiction
of all matters civil and criminal pre-
sized over by your hOnOrs. The whole
functions OF this tribunal were then
vested in single judge, and Edward G.
Palmer was chosen 10 administer the
important trust. AS we ali well remem-
Der. he presided over the destinies OF
this judicial district successfully until
the expiration of his term IN 1854, when
he was succeeded by Hon. Westc0tt
Wllkin, who assembled the bench alone
to grapple with the immense and COM
plicated interests Of the capital district
of phenomenally growing and expand
ing country. How well we all remem.
Der the cultured professional knowledge
and equable temperament that he
brought TO bear on the administration
of the vast duties he had assumed.
How, solitary and alone. he grappled
with the conflicting questions with are
the outgrowth of new, prosperous and
advancing community, and how we'll he
succeeded ill-solving them all to the EN-
tire satisfaction of the litigantS and the
demands of an eXacting public.
We remember when mis- duties became
so oherous that no one man could meet
their demands; the state afforded relief
through the medium of a court of equal
| jurisdiction known as the court of COM
mon pleas, and how, as time passed. and
fb.ar re f,f nr yi,,tr
mtg increased, this auxiliary court was
| blended into the present and original
tribunal, and the judicial force was in
| creased until it at present embraces six
| Judges.
During many of these transitions. and
I for twenty-Seven years, Judge Wilkin
was consecutively elected his own sue
cessor without any opposition and by
| the unanimous voice of his fellow citi-
ZeEs. Such distinction cannot be en-
| HANGED by comment.
| His mind was purely judicial. Moth
| ing could or ever cid divert his
| and narrow line of exact justice as he
| understood it, and his understanding
was superlatively correct.
| His early education was rigidIy re-
| ligi0uS and orthodox, as such matters
! were understood more than half Gen.
| tury ago. and while more modern and
| advanced ideas had prevented his unit
| ing with any church or protesting any
| particular creed, he lived no to all the
! good that is found in all churches and
all creedS. He was religion unto him
/ self. He knew what was right. He
| loved his fellow man, and his conduct
| in life was governed by these consider
ations. He was cultivated and genial
gentleman, beloved by all who knew
him, generous to fault, if to be too
! generous can be called a fault. He
| lived long life of usefulness, and died
| regretted by all who knew of his exist
ence. What better fate can any man
| have in this world of trouble, tempta-
ton end disaster? He is dead. If there
| is any futuIe for the inhabitants of this
| world, feel assured that he will enjoy
| its choicest gifts and pleasures. think
| l will not be asking too much if move
| your honors to adjourn this court for
one day in recognition of the sublime
| character and exalted merit of our de-
| ceased brother and his past services to
| this court. l therefore make such mo-
| tio II.
Judge Brill, spe aking for his associ-
| ates, said:
Judge WIlkin was the presiding judge
of this court for many years. He was
| the personal friend of US all. This is
| not the time for us to express our ap-
| probation at length of his character and
service, but it is eminently fitting. and
| Is in entire harmony with the feeling of
| the judges of this court, that the motion
should be granted, and that we should
| turn aside from our usual duties, for
| one day at least, to pay homage to the
| memory of Judge Wilkin. The motion
| will be granted, and court will adjourn
| until tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.
LYING IN STATE.
In accordance with previous arrange
ments the casket containing the re-
mains of the deceased jurist was COLI
veyed from his residence Windsor
hotel-at p. m, the remains lying in
state until p. H., the hour for the fu-
neral services, many citizens availing
themselves of the opportunity to look
for the last time upon him who had
! gone in and out among them for many
years. Among the floral tributes was
beautiful pillow of roses and lilies from
the bar association. Upon the casket
reposed wreath of laurel and roses
from the Loyal Legion. Like the life
of its occupant, the caskes was plain,
yet elegant in the grace of its simplic-
ity, plate having this inscription rest
| ing upon the top: