The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-08-03


one Of the constitutions Of King Alfred
express ly required that his nobility
should be instructed in the laws, and
we are told by Cicero that in the days
Of Ancient Rome the boys were obliged
10 learn the twelve tables by heart as
carmen necessarium, or indispensable
lesson 70 imprint upon their tender
minds an early knowledge of the con-
stitution and the laws But when We
remember that in our country every
citizen is liable to be called upon tc
take counsel with his cOuntrymen IN
affairs Of government. TO assist In the
maintenance Of good order IN the com
munity where he lives to serve upon
grand and petit juries, TO advise hi,
neighbors in matters Of contract and
upon questions affecting their rights Of
person, liberty and property, to attend
at the bedside Of dying friend and
assist in the preparation Of his last will
and testament and above all TO repre-
sent his cOuntrymen in the halls OF
legislation, where the laws are enacted,
amended or repealed, II must be con
ceded that entire ignorance Of the law
would be lamentable indeed.
Ii is not my purpose. however, at this
time 70 recount the many benefits and
advantages 70 be derived by our people
generally from the study and knowledge
Of the law. but 10 remind you Of the
special obligation resting upon those
who have adopted it as profession
and have dedicated to it their talents
and their lives How is the Science
If Jurisprudence 10 be cultivated and
advanced: | venture 10 suggest that
method should be combined with in
dustrv n tn study Of the most learned
authors who have explored the vast and
almost illimitable field, a field that
embraces among other subdivisions, the
Roman or Civil Law, the Unwritten
or Common Law. the Written OF Stat
ute Law, Equity Law the Law Merch
ant. the Law Of Grimes and Punish
ments. the Laws Of Nations. the Mari
time and Admiralty Law, the Law Of
COrporatiOns Medical Jurisprudence.
Military and Naval Law. Legal Bio
graphy and BibliCgraphy. the Oonsti-
tuition and laws Of the United States.
and particularly the Constitution and
laws Of our own State.
1t is our privilege % live in an ex'
traordinary period Of the worlds his
rorv. Nations are contendiug with
Nations in exploring the fields and ad-
ding new discoveries in the realms OF
science. Laws Of Nature which have
hidden mysteries since the morning OF
creation, have been made the daily
servants Of man. Steam and elcctri.
city have broken down the ancient bar
riers Time and space has been anulhl'
/ lated. and intelligence is now commu
nicated with a rapidity unsurpassed by
the speed Of winds or the flight Of birds.
A. the result Of the wonderful improve
ment that has been made in the means
| Of communication, we can no Longer
/ live within ourselves Our business
relations have become coextensive with
the world Und er these Circumstance;
/ il becomes indispensable TO devote
more attention than ever before TO the
/ Comparative Jurisprudence and Inter
national Law. We must study histO'-
ically and comparatively the Govern.
mental systems Of other Countries, ano
our Own Constitutional system W.
must study the laws Of different ma
tions with which we carry on trade
and commerce We must study the
principles Of international law which
/ regulate aud control our relations witt
other nations. The acquisition OF dis
tant territory in another hemisphere
as the result Of our recent war witt
| Spain. must not only be accepted as
new departure from our traditions
policy but as bringing with il increased
responsibilities of a grave and delicate
character In order TO meet those respOn
sibilities and discharge them properly
sOas - avoid troublesome complications
thorough knowledge Of all the intrica
cies Of International Law is absolutely
| essential
In cultivating the science OF juris
prudence. it would be unplrdOnable Il
neglect the study of the Bible. If vi
desire TO find form of government de
vised and enjOined by the Creator him
self: il we desire to find an authentic
history Of the origin of mankind. th'
formation Of society and the creation o.
the social complct. it is only necessar!
10 have recourse TO the Old Test ament
II we desire TO fad Code Of Moral
unexamped in purity and sublimity
! ,,,f hn Naxxr Hao a N
Mr Locke has said that on morality
there have been books enough writer
both by ancient and modern Philoso
pliers. but that the morality OF th'
Gospel go exceeds them all, that Il
give man a complete knowledge
of genuine morals he would send hin
no other book but the New Testament
Sir William Jones has expressed him
self thus II have carefully and reg
larly perused the Holy Scriptures ant
am Of opinion that the volume indie
pendently of its divine origin, contain
more sublimity, purer morality, NOR
important history and finer strains o
eloquence than can be collected from
any other book in whatever Language
il NAV have been written " The fore
most statesman of this age, Gladstone
of England, the "Old man eloquent, ,
who so often electrified the House o
Commons, is reported to have born
his testimony as follows: "TalkiDi
about questions of the day, there i
but one question and that is the Gospel
1t can aud will correct everything
that needs correction. My only hop
for the world is in bringing the human
mind into contact with divine revela
tion. " This is the testimony OF ma
who was permitted to pass far beyon'
the limit of human life allotted by th
Psalmist, who throughout his eventfu
career was a most profound student I,
men and of books, who 80 often in me
ments of public difficulty and peril
exhibited the highest talent for leader
ship, who successfully scaled all tn
heights of human ambition anC
sounded all the depths and shoals @
honor, and whose history for nearl
half a century was the history Of th
English government.
Another object for which this assooi
alton has been formed is the promotio