Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-11-10
VERMONT BAR ASSOCIATION.
Presidents Address Delivered by Judge
James M. Tyler.

James W. yer.
The annual meeting of the Vermont
Bar association was held in Montpelier
Tuesday, with the profession from all
parts of the state well represented. In
the evening session Judge James NJ.
Tyler of Brattleboro delivered the presi-
dents annual address.
Judge Tyler gave the history of the
building of Temple church in London by
the knights Templars about the begin
ming of the 18th century, of its finally
falling into the possession of the two So
cieties of the Inner and Middle Temples
and briefly described some of it's present
attractions. He gave a sketch of these
two inns and the extensive and beautiful
grounds lying between Fleet street and
the Thames upon which these and many
other buildings connected with them are
situated, also of Lincoln's and Gray's
Inn not far remote from the others, and
explained that these -four institutions are
in fact law colleges or universities. He
then spoke of the supremacy gradually
gained by the common law over the civil
law which latter had come from Italy
with the Roman invasions and had been
administered by the clergy until early in
the 18th century when hey were finally
prohibited by canon from acting in the
temporal courts. Students of the com
mon law then began to settle in hotels
and inns which came to be called inns of
court. The names of some of Englands
distinguished men who had graduated
from these universities were given.
William the Conquerer held courts in
his palace, and, as he rode about the
kingdom administering its affairs, suitors
with their counsel had to follow him
and get their cases tried as best they
could until courts were established by
law at Westminster.
The speaker then described the various
courts of England, and their jurisdic-
lions and characteristics. He next con-
sidered law schools and the advantages
offered by them to students compared
with those obtainable in law offices. Such
schools were in existence in Rome and
in Constantinople as early as the be-
ginnig of the 3rd century. The first one
in this country was established in Itch
field. Conn, in 1884, but was closed in
1893. There are now upward of a hum
dred law schools in this country.
The current doctrines of initiation, ref
erendum, recall, and the control of the
courts by the people were touched upon
and the duty pressed upon lawyers, from
their education, training and influence
in the communities where they reside, to
become advisers and guides of the peo-
pie upon these subjects.
At one point in his address Judge Ty-
Ter said:
The medical profession, through its
various publications, and especially
through boards of health, has, in recent
years, been instructing the people in the
laws of health and how to prevent
diseases as well as in means of cure. AS
the general good of the public demands
that the spread of diseases be prevented
as far as possible, resort is had to the
police power of states for this purpose.
In schools and in various ways the peo-
pie are being taught more than ever be-
fore about the mechanism of their bodies
and the prevention of diseases.
The time NAV come. when. for the
conservation of a government for the
people, the people by whom it must be
maintained will themselves have to be
instructed in the fundamental principles
of self government, and in respect to
their duties and obligations to the state,
the national government and to each
other. 1t may become necessary for
the preservation of our republican insti-
tons for the federal and state govern
ments to enlarge the requirements fol
granting the suffrage to the myriads OF
immigrants that are coming to Oui
shores and to certain classes of our owr
people. Here may be a field of labor fol
law schools and other universities OF
~learning,-by courses of popular lectures
and by publications-to instruct the
people in at least the elementary re-
quirements of citizenship"
President Tyler presided at the ban.
quet and introduced Col. John H. MimmE
as POSTMASTER. The speakers and theil
topics were: F. D.. Thompson, The SUI
preme Court; Judge William H. Taylor
The Superior Judges; Congressman D
]. Foster, 1.-THE Development Of Interna'
tional law; E. Fabre, surveyor, X. C.
The Bar of Montreal; George B
Young, The American Bar Associa'
ton; Levi p. Smith of Burlington, The
Glass of 1911"
In a meeting Wednesday morning the
following officers of the Bar association
were elected: Pres, l. E, Brown of Bur
lington; vice pres, c.. c. Fits of Brat
tleboro, j. G. Sargent of Ludlow, F. G
Fleetwood of Morrisville; sec, j. II
Mimms of Burlington; librarian, j.
Mimms; treas, f. NJ. Harvey of Mont
pelier; manag gers, c. d. Watson of st
Adams, Charles l. Button of Middlebur!
and Max l.. Powell of Burlington.