Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-17

self that has gathered here in such
large numbers this morning, l would
present the following resolution and
move that it be entered upon the
records Of this court.
Resolved. That in the death of Hon.
Winfield Sc It Choate, for thirty years
a member of this Bar and for fourteen
years the clerk of our court, IL great
loss has come to the profession, the
city, TIE county and State. OF fine le-
gal attachments, of untarnished char
acter, Of Il sweet and charitable tenn
permanent. faithful TO every trust and
true to every duty. his life will stand
as n type of the loyal citizen. the up
right attorney, the faithful official. the
trusted friend. the true man.
The records of this court. that for so
many years have shown the work OF
his hand, contain no truer judgment
than this which his associates render
upon the brother who has left them
and whose memory they desire to per-
petuatc.
Remarks were made by Hon. Orvilie
D. Baker, ana Hon. Herbert Nj. Heath
of Augusta and Hon. George W. Hesei-
ton Of Gardiner.
Associate Justice William Penn
Whitehouse responded as follows in
behalf OF the court: ~
have listened with more than ordl-
nary interest and sensibility TO thes=
nerited tributes Of respect for the life
and character of Il deceased brother
The resolutions seem to me appropriate,
and ju2t and the terms of appreciation
land eulogy, with which they have been
presented. meet my cordial approval.
Even in its sadness it is a grateful SER
vice. The observance of any conVen-
tional forms incident to memorial exer-
cises may not be important or useful,
but the pathway OF the living may re-
ceive helpful illumination from the eX-
ample of the private virtues and sound
pub principles illustrated in the lives
of the trusted and honored who have
gone before, provided the portraiture
is drawn with fidelity and truth to the
original The honorable life and manly
character Of brother Ehoate. as well as
his faithful public and official services.
have beer so fully and fittngly udelin-
Gated at the bar that the occasion may
Well be deemed complete with but q
brief response from the court. Finish
cd gariands and chaplets have been
woven in honor of his memory; but in
justice to my feelings I cannot allow
the occasion to pass without presenting
soEle token of my great respect for his
worth as man and his ability as a law
yer. my personal esteem for him as
friend. and my grateful remembrance
Of his helpfulness as Il faithful and eff
cient clerk of courts.
AS lawyer Mr. Choate always cher
ished an exalted conception OF the dig
nifty and importance of the legal pro-
fession, and never failed in loyalty to
its highest ideals and most honored
traditions. I have heard him remark
that in his Judgment the position of a
thoroughly educat ed lawyer and q, wise
and faithful counselor of the court was
second in responsibility and honor to
none occupied by man; and when it is
considered that the administration OF
Justice is the chief end Of human socie-
ty, and that the protection of life, lib
erty amt property depends upon the
conscientious iabors of those to whom
it is committed, the remark viii be &C
ceptel as Only the statement of Il sim
pie truth He realized that law was a
science as we'll as an art. that it was
necessarily calling of thinkers, aud
that all scholarship is the hanlniaiden
of the lawyer. af:ording instruction in
both the history and the philosophy Of
the law. While in the practice of his
profession he was constantly increasing
his own store of accurate and useful
knowledge and growing steadily strong
er in the community and ut the bar. He
was naturally possessed of those intel
lcctual endowmentS which constitute
the legal mind. and during his long and
faithful service as clerk of courts he
never lost his deep interest in the prac-
teal administration of the law or his
keen enjoyment Of the discussion. and
solution of legal problems. He delight
cd to claave the twisted knots of truth
and error and discover where right ana
Justice lay. His mental temperament.
was in n marked degree of judicial
cast He would have made an excellent
Judge His integrity was of the most
sterling character. In his philosophy
of life truth was the coul of being"
and Justice the application of it to the
affairs of men. In his professionals
ethics there was no place for falsehood
in the practice OF the law. He realized
that truth was always consistent and
loyal and eventually triumphant. while
faisehood was always treacherous and
eventually fatal to the success of him
who practiced it. His probity- and fide!-
ity however did not rest upon the re-
n,,ir,,1,ents of the statute, but were in
terwoven with every fibre of his moral
being.
As citizen Mr.. Choate was a watch
full and intelligent observer Of the con-
duct of public affairs. and all his SYM
nathies and endeavors were in harmony
with the best interests Of society. IN
municipal office he evinced genuine
interest in the welfare and prosperity OF
the city. and all his public and official
dn,;es we're Invariably discharged with
eveentional fidelity and ability.
His department among men in all the