Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-07-07

SG1gs taking their d !i
mas for an illus
trious profession, and is 1t not appro-
pirate that l address such young men
from moral and religious standpoint,
as upon them are now rolling the re-
sponsibilities of that calling represent
ed in the text by Zenas the lawyer.
ave all admire the heroic and rlgor-
Gus side of Paul's nature, as when he
stands cooily deliberate on the deck of
the corn ship while the iack-tars of
the Mediterranean are covering in the
cyclone: as when he stands undaunted
amid the marbles OF the palace, before
thick-necked Nero, surrounded with
his twelve cruel lictors; as when we
find him earning his livelihood with
his own needle, sewing hair-cloth, and
preaching the gospel in the interstices;
as when we find him able to take the
thirty-nine lashes, every stroke OF
which fetched the blood. yet continu-
ing in his missionary work: as when
We find him, regardless OF the conse-
quence to himself, delivering a tenn
perance lecture to Felix. the govern
ment inebriate. But sometimes we
catch glimpse Of the mild and genial
side OF Paul's nature. 1t seems that he
had a friend who was a barrister by
profession. His name was ZenaS, and
he wanted to see him. Perhaps he had
formed the acquaintance Of this lawyer
In the courtroom. Perhaps. some
times. when he wanted to ask some
question in regard to Roman law, he
went to this Zenas, the lawyer. At
any rate, he had warm attachment
for the man, and he provides for his
comfortable escort and entertainment
as he writes to Titus Bring Zenas
the lawyer"
This man or my text belonged to a
profession in which are many ardent
supporters of Christ and the Gospel
Among them, Blackstone, the great
commentator on English law; and Will
berforce, the emancipation; and the late
BENJAMIN F. Butler, attorney general
of New York; and the late Charles
Chauncey, the leader OF the Philadel-
phia bar; and Chief Justices Marshall,
and Tenterden, and Campbell, and Sir
Thomas More, who died for the truth
on the scaffold, saying to his aghast
executioner: PLUCK up courage, mar.
and do your duty; my neck is very
short; be careful, therefore, and do not
strike awry."
Among the mightiest pleas that ever
have been made by tongue of barrister,
have been pleas in behalf of the Bible
NJ hri St 10 Nil vxrhn til
Webster stood in the supreme court at
Washington, pleading in the famous
Girard will case, denouncing any at
tempt to educate the people without
giving them at the same time moral
sentiment. as "low, ribald and vulgar
deism and infidelity;" as when Samuel
l.. Southland, Of New Jersey, the leader
of the forum in his day, stood on the
platform at Princeton College COM
mencement, advocating the literary ex-
cellence of the Scriptures; as when Ed
mund Burke. In the famous trial of
Warren Hastings. not only in behalf
of the English government, but in be-
half Of elevated morals. closed his
speech in the midst Of the most august
assemblage ever gathered in West
minister Hall. by saying: II impeach
Warren Hastings in the name OF the
house Of commons. whose national
character he has dishonored; impeach
him in the name of the people of In
dia, whose rights and liberties he has
subverted; l impeach him in the name
OF human nature, which he has dis
graced; in the name of both sexes, and
Of every rank, and OF every station,
and of every situation in the world,
impeach Warren Hastings"
No other profession more needs the
grace of God to deliver them in their
temptations, to comfort them in their
trials, to sustain them in the discharge
of their duty. While would have you
bring the merchant to Christ, and
while would have you bring the farm
er to Christ. and while would have
you bring the mechanic to Christ. ad-
dress you now in the words OF Paul
to Titus: Bring Zenas the lawyer"
BY so much as his duties are delicate.
and great, by so much does he need
Christian stimulus and safeguard. We
all become clients. | do not suppose
there is man fifty years of age, who
has been in active life. who has not
been afflicted with lawsuit. Your
name is assaulted, and you must have
legal protection. Your boundary line
is invaded. and the courts must re-
establish it. Your patent is infringed
upon. and you must make the Offend
ing manufacturer pay the penalty.
Your treasures are taken, and the thief
must be apprehended. You want to
make your will, and you do not want
TO follow the example OF those who,
for the sake of saving 500 from an at
torney, imperil $250OO0, and keep the
generation following for twenty years
quarreling about the estate. until 1t is
oil exhausted. You are struck at by ali
assassin. and you must invoke for him
the penitentiary. All classes Of per-
sons in course of time become clients.
and therefore they are all interested in
the morality of the Christian integrity
of the legal profession. Bring Zenas
the lawyer"
But how is an attorney decide as to
what are the principles by which he
should conduct himself in regard to his
rlients? On one extreme Lord Broug-