Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1903-05-09

Chicago. May 3. - The temptations
Of the legal profession as well as its
highest opportunities are set side hs
side in vivid contrast In this discourse,
which has an interest for all classes.
The text Is | Timothy /, 8, "The law is
good If a man use it lawfully"
Paul had all the mental qualifications.
of a great lawyer. When he stood be-
fore Felix and as his own advocate
tore into pieces the charge made by the
prosecuting attorney, Tertullus; when
he argued before King Agrippa until
the king admitted he was almost per-
suaded;" when he pleaded upon Mars
hill with the jury of Greek scholars
until at last even that central seat or
Athenlan culture was shaken to its
very foundation by his proclamation
of the unknown God" we find the
highest development Of forensic train
ing and legal acumen. AS one schooled
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 1t IS
needed not only for the vindlcation OF
the right, but for the punishment or
wrongdoers, 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, celebrated
Australian judge, once pessimistically
commented upon the fact that there
was a 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 maligned. Like other
professions, it has in its ranks un-
worthy men who disgrace 1t, and there
is no profession in which trickery and
rascality reap so rich n harvest But
il has also in its ranks noble, honest,
sterling men, whose knowledge ana
talents are devoted to the cause or
right and justice. want to say to all
Young men who are entering that pro-
fession that If they set before them
selves a lofty ideal and hold fast TO
Christian principle they may win sue
cess in it, serving God faithfully and
keeping their character unstained. Let
me try to give you briefly my concep-
ton of the principles Of a Christian
lawyer.
The Christian Lawyer.
He will never champion a cause that
he knows to be dishonest. Why? Be
cause he would be aiding one man to
1enriye another of his rights oh, the
wrongs that are perpetrated by the rich
and poverfuli Oh. how many there
are who suffer all their lives at the
hands of unscrupulous foes. For years
in the French Bastille was confined 4
state prisoner known as the Man WIN
t1e Iron Mask" He died in 1903. This
prisoner was supposed by many writ
ers to have been twin brother OF
Louis NV. He was confined IN MS
living tomb with an iron mask over MS
face lest he should come forth ana
claim the French throne and thus
cause revolution. The iron mask
concealed the face because the prison
or was supposed to be facially an eXacl
duplicate of the reigning king. If this
story be true. it brands Louis NV. as
one of the most stony hearted monsters
who ever sat upon throne. NO mat
ter what his own rights may have
been. to protect those rights he was mol
justified in practicing a 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 a partaker with them in their crime
7 am not here contending that it !;
wrong for the lawyer to defend Grim
inal in court Every man is entitled tC
n fair trial. Even the wretch Czol
gosz had his rights before the law. anc
Justice required that those rights D'
protected. A lawyer often does he
roic part In defending criminal or II
pleading that mercy be shown him
but there Is no heroism-there Is only
sbame-in aiding a client to cheat ol
defraud another.
Yet there are great many lawyers
who affirm that they have nothing Il
do with the honesty or dishonesty OF
client. All that they must do is TO pre-
sent the. best side Of civil SUIT, anC
then the Judge or the jury will decld'
whether a cause is just or UNJUST.
drunkard by his own carel'ssnes
falls off a moving electric cal, the.
will bring suit against the street ca
corporation for $4,000 and MT hav'
one oualm of conscience. If distan
relative by a technical flaw can breal
O will, they will help him do il ana Oil
vert the money Of rich man into
channel where it was never INTENDED
by the testator to go. This was tn
way the estate of famous lawye
statesman was legally stoleL Ever!
one who read his will cleary under
stood what the dead Statesman wisne'
TO have done with his proprty. H
wanted to have built a graf publ
Institution. Yet some distant relativ
with whom he never had my clos
affiliauon. by the aid Of schening iaV