The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-03-23
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43. 3;I n ~, I. ), ,5F
llf / Another tribute to the legal pro-
fession may beaded from one whose
! words are worthy to be read careful
! .5'The Expositor's Bible = is
1steeent English commentary in many
| volumes, by many authors. The first
Epistle to the Corinthians was as..
Esigned to DR.. Marcus, Dods, profess.
sort Of theology, Edinburgh. In this
epistle Panl refers to the lleathen
| court at that time. This opens the
way for the learned Scotch conmen-
ftatort tnSspeak Of the court and law
yer of today i.
! st. Paul, therefore, while he con-
trasts the subjects in which law-
yer-likc mind will find employment
III this world and the next, reminds
us that those who are here trained to
understand character and to discern
where right and justice lie will be in
no want of employment in the world
F! to come. The matters which come be-
! tore our courts, or which are refer
red privately to lawyers, may often
be i'll themselves very paltry. a vast
proportion of legal business is created
by changes from which the future life
IS exempt, changes consequent on
death, on marriage, on pecuniary dis
astcrs. But underneath such suits as
these the keenest. of human feelings
are at work and it is often in the
power OF lawyer to give to man ad-
vice which will save his conscience
from lifelong stain, or. which will
bring comfort into family instead
OF heart-burning, and plenty IN place
Of poverty. The physician keeps us
IN life; the minister Of Christ tells ia
on what principles we ought to live,
but the lawyer takes our hand at ev
cry great practical step in life and it
IS his function (and surely there is
| none higheE) to insist on a conscien-
tlous use Of money, to point out the
just claims which others have npon
us, to show the right and the wrong
in all our ordinary affairs and thus
to bring justice and mercy down
from heaven and make them familiar
to the market place. And therefore
many of the finest characters and best
mtcllects have. devoted themselves
and always will devote themselves to
this profession. 1t may attract many
from less worthy motives, but it will
! always attract those who are not con-
cerned to save men from practical
folly, and who wish to see the high
est principles brought into direct con-
tact with human affairs. IF the legal
mind degcnerates into q mere memory
for technicalities and acuteness in ap-
plying forms, nothing can be more
contemplate OF dangerous to chairac.
ter. but if it takes to do with real
things and not with forms only y: and
tries to see what equity requires and
not merely what the letter Of the lay
enJolns and seeks to forward the well
being of men, then surely there is ne
profession in which there is sucl
abundant opportunity of earning the
beatitude which says, blessed are the
pcacemakers, none in which tho
senses can better be exercised TO dis.
Germ between good and evil, none il
which men may better be prepared TO,
the higher requirements Of n heaven,
ly society in which some are made
rulers over ten cities.',.
The first and last sentences OF DR.
Dods perhaps surprised or even start
led the reader. But the entire pass
age is suggestive. Any respectable
lawyer may hear quietly and calmly
the coarse sneers or hippant fling.
mado at his profession. Yet it sloult
be great restraint on some of tho
profession and great inspiration tc
others to remember that the bcnc}
and the bar through the private and
professional lives Of their member:
must keep a very high rank amops
the agencies that restrain, protec
strengthen and, enrich modern SO
ciety.
Jas. Fl. Carlisle.
Wotford College, Spartanburg, S. C..