The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-15

within the last seventy-years-sin
the death of Chief Justice Leonard
Henderson in 1882. Within that time
naen of distinguished mark, gifts and
qualities have passed away-Judge
Robert r. Gillian, Hon, Abram w
Venable and Hon. Josiah Crudup, but
none equalled Marcellus V. Lanier
LII. D., in legal proximity and linguis-
tic attainments Judge Gillian and
Mr. Venable were more extensivef-
read in Literature, and the latter and
Mr.. Crudup We're greatly his superiors
as orators and debaters, BIT he was
unequalled in his knowledge of the
languages and in his great legal at
tainments. DR.. Lanier was as modest,
as unobtrusive, as retired as he was
profound and skilled in the law. He
was a native of Virginia, State that
has furnished SO many men of Gran
vile, and other counties, who became
eminent and were able citizens-Judge
Richard Henderson, Judge John Will
liams, Gov. James Turner, Bishop
John Stark Ravenscroft. Col. Robert
Burton, of the War of Independence,
John Penn, the Signer of the Phila-
delphia Declaration of Independence.
and Gov. Hutchings G.. Burton. DR..
Lanier was born in MecklenburS
county Va, in the county adjoining
Granville. He was educated at the
University of Virginia, and after leav-
ing that institution of learning he
first settled at Danville, Va, not far
from his birthplace. He came to OK
ford to live in 1912, when twenty
four years of age. He was a school
teacher, and became the assistant in
the Oxford Academy, that for quite
twenty years had borne a good repu-
tation. In the thirties when in charge
of a famous and excellent teacher by
the name of Johnston, it enjoyed a
reputation perhaps second to no 9TH
er North Carolina school. l was a
pupil of Mr.. Lanier's in the year he
came, and recall easily his appear
ance. manner of teaching and kind
ness to the boys. | can recall after
sixty-two years a little pleasantly he
held at recess with one of his pupils
the late Daniel S. Osborn.
/ do not think that he taught in the
Academy more than one year. He in-
tended to devote himself to the study
of the law, a most noble profession
when honorably and studiouSly and
conscientiously pursued. He read law
under the late Judge Robert B. Gill
liam, one of the noblest of men and
of decided ability. He was graduated
at the University of North Carolina
only a superior lawyer, but well read
in some departments of bellies let
tres. Mr.. Lanier became his law
partner and it continued until the
death of Judge Gillian in 1870, in
his 64th year. / have never known
a better, a more genial, and more
kindly man naturally than he was. /
could tell things of him as a lawyer
that not only elevated Inn above his
high profession, but that greatly adorn
human nature. l could easily illus
trate his goodness, his generosity, his
conscientiousness and great popular
ity. The University bestowed most jul
diciouSly the degree of LII. ID. upon
Mr.. Lanier. / heard Judge Robert
Winston, of Durham, say that Gran
TsIlle within less than twenty years re-
ceived from the University the degree
of LII. d. for three of it's citizens, and
that they were more deservingly be-
slowed than upon any other men who
had ever been so honored by the VEN
cradle institution of learning. In the
case of Marcellus Y. Lanier and James
II. Horner the remark was most justly
made, as they were certainly entitled
to the degree if any North Carolinians
ever merited such a distinction. AS
/ would not mortify the third recip-
lent by mentioning his name, | will
OHly Sdy lie Ildu IlO proper CldlIll ~
such an honor and if asked | am sure
he would endorse willingly what
have said of him. 1t is a fact that
neither of the three was a native of
Granville. Dr. Lanier was of Virginia,
DR.. Horner was born in Orange coun-
ty, n. c., and the unnamed was born
in Wake.
Not being a lawyer, it is impossible
for me to write of DR.. Lanier in fitting
Il. HI
uncommon attainmentS. | know how
he ranked among distinguished law
yers from 1865 to 1890, as one of the
most learned, most accurately inform
ed. He was not q distinguished
speaker, but in argument and the
fulness of his legal equipment he rank
ed high. All the lawyers of Granville,
and adjacent counties know of his le-
gal acquisition, high character, and
superiority as an office lawyer. ] re-
member in 1876, to have been stand
ng in conversation with my intimate
personal friend, the late Mr.. James ).
Amis, when Mr.. l.. C. Edwards, a
prominent lawyer of Granville, as was
Mr.. Amis, joined us. Mr.. 4. said to
Mr. Amis: 81 was in Raleigh O. few
days ago and met Chief Justice Pear
son. He said to me how is Mr.. Lam
Ter? l told him, and then he said;
IL lIicIc 10 dlly luOTG iedI1eu ldNySi
in North Carolina than Mr.. Lanier is,
he does not appear before the Supreme
Court DR.. Lanier was rigidly an
honest, upright man, and one of the
most CONSCIENTIOUS have ever known.
For uprightness his name might stand
as a synonym.
His attachments outside of his pro-
fession were eminent for our section
of the Union. He was as a theologian
quite as we'll read as probably any
Presbyterian minister who has had
charge of that church at Oxford for
more than a half century. He knew
Latin, Greek and Hebrew. He read
his Old Testament in the origina Ian
guage-Hebrew. He real his New
Testament every day in the original
Greek He was rigid. decided faith
full Presbyterian, was probably Rul-
ing Elder for fifty years or more, and
kept the Law of God as to the Sab
bath Day with conscientious particu-
arity and inflexiblity. He was the
only native Southron | have ever
known who could read German easily,
and had translated some poems into
English from it. He had the main
German poets-Goethe, Schiller, Herd
er, Heine, &c. He could read French
and without knowing it, / rather