Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-05-07
TALMAGE
SERMON
BY Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMASE. DID,,
Pastor of jefferson Park Presby-
terrain Church, Chicago

AnlC1CO. May -. go nc temptations
of the legal profession as \ III as its
highest opportunities are set side by
side in vivid contrast in this discourse,
which has an interest for all classes.
The text Is / Timothy i, s. THE law is
good If man use it lawfully"
Paul had all the mental qualifications
fore Felix and as his own advocate
tore into pieces the charge made by the
prosecuting attorney, Tcrtullus; when
he argued before King Agrippa until
the king admitted he was almost per-
suadcd;" when he pleaded upon Mars
hill with the Jury of Greek scholars
until at last even that central seat Of
Athenan culture was shaken to its
very foundation by his proclamation
of the unknown Cod" we find the
highest development of forensic train
ing and legal aCumcn. AS one schoolcd
in the law, Paul knew the mighty and
| majestic power of the law. both spirit
ual and temporal. Therefore he lays
down the broad proposition that law is
good for the community and that it is
needed not only for the vndication of
the right. but for the punishment of
wrongdocrs, whether the laws that
they break are human or divine.
But, though the legal profession offers
such wonderful opportunities to defend
the weak and punish the bad. there are
some cynics who profess to believe
that an honest lawyer does not exist
Sir Hartley Williams, n celebrated
| Australian Judge. once pessinistically
commented upon the fact that there
was n pious lawyer in his circuit who
used to regularly pray that he might
get clients. Imagine" said the judge.
"the insult to the Almighty contained
in the request that God should stir up
strife among the people. foment dis
cord and promote litigation, just to
serve the selfish purpose of this pious
SOLICITOR" But that cynical comment
of the learned judge might have been
entirely wrong. That lawyer might be
innocent Of any desire to foment strife
and only anxious to have the opportu-
nifty of serving his fellow man and be
able to redress the wrongs of some in
jured person.
The noble profession of the law is
often unjustly maigncd. Like other
professions. it has in its ranks IN
worthy men who disgrace il. and there
is no profession in which trickery and
rascality reap so rich n harvest. But
it has also in its ranks noble, honest,
sterling men, whose knowledge and
talents are devoted to the cause of
right and justice | want to say to all
young men who are entering that pro-
fession that if they set before them
selves lofty ideal and hold fast to
Christian principle they may win sue
cess in II, serving God faithfully and
Keeping their character unstained. Let
me try TO give you briefly my concep-
ton of the principles of Christian
lawyer
The Christinn Lawyer.
He will never champion Il cause that
he knows TO be dishonest Whyf Be
cause he would be aiding one man to
deprive another of his rights Oh, the
wrongs that are porpctrated by the rich
and powerful, Oh, how many there
are who suffer all their lives at the
hands of INSCRIPTIONS foes. For years
in the French Bastille was confined
state prisoner known as the Man With
the Iron Mask" He died in 1903 This
prisoner was supposed by many writ
crs to have been twin brother of
Louis XIV. He was confined in his
living tomb with an iron mask over his
face lest he should come forth and
claim the French throne and thus
cause n revolution. The iron mask
concealed the face because the prison.
er was supposed to be facially an exact
duplicate Of the reigning king. If this
story be true, 1t brands Louis XIV. as
one of the most stony hearted monsters
who ever sat upon a throne. No mat
ter what his own rights may have
been, to protect those rights he was not
justified in practlcing lifetime in
justice upon a brother How many
men are trying to deprive their brother
man of his rights! The lawyer who
helps them In their nefarious attempt
is partaker with them in their crime.
| am not here contending that it is
wrong for the lawyer to defend a Grim
inal in court. Every man is entitled to
a fair trial. Even the wretch Col
gosz had his rights before the law, and
justice required that those rights be
protected. \ lawyer often does he
roic part in defending n criminal or in
pleading that mercy be shown him,
but there is no heroisn there Is only
shame-in aiding a client TO cheat or
dcfraud another.
Yet there are great many lawyers
who affirm that they have nothing to
do with the h2lcsty or dishonesty of n
client. All that they must do is to pre-
sent the best side of civil suit and
then the judge or the jury will decide
whether cause is just or unjust. If
n drunkard by his own carelessness
falls Off a moving electric car they
will bring suit against the street car
corporation for $4,000 and not have
one qualm of conscience. If distant
relative by technical flaw can break
will. they will help him do it and d.
vert the money of a rich man into n
by the testator to 20. This was the
way the estate Of Il famous lawyer
statesman was legally stolen. Every
one who read his will clearly under
stood what tIp Iao1 81 a ocnau tuichoJ