Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-20
judge Harold E. Cooks Tribute

Judge OF PROBATE Harold Il. COOK,
after moving that the resolutions for
Judge Hall be adopted, proceeded in
a very able manner to pay his trib-
ute to that distinguished judge.
May it please the court, l move for
the adoption of these resolutions, and
that they be entered upon the records
of this court; and it is in no perfume
tory spirit neither because l happen
to be a member of this committee on
resolutions.
l regarded the late oliver G. Hall
as my true personal friend. His de-
cease I deplore as a personal loss,
and the adoption of these resolutions
by this bar will give me, as l am
sure it will give all of us, sincere per-
sonal satisfaction.
On my admission to the bar, his
was the first hand extended to me in
welcome. My first trial was IN his
court l have received, as all of us
have received, many favers of kindly
courtesy and thoughtful consideration
at his hands. and l regard it as
privilege though withal a sad one, to
be allowed at this time, to pay brief
and hating tribute to his memory.
When we meet, as we do on occa-
sions like the present, to pay our re-
spects 10 the memory of one of our
number, who has been carried hence
on the crest of that tide which. al
ways setting toward the farther
shore, never returns, We naturally
look to find if we can, some dominant
trait in his character, some chafae-
teristic from which we can CLEAN en-
enlargement and inspiration to help
us, until we too, are called to follow
him.
When we consider for this purpose,
the character of Judge Hall, | think
we find as one of his principal char
acteristics a practical religion BY
this l do not mean a religion which
was ever obtruded on his friends, or
one in which cant and fanaticism are
ever substituted for true practicable
ity, but rather, a religion which had
for its very foundation the doctrine
of Mans accountability to God for
all his thoughts, words and deeds.
There seemed to be ever present with
him the feeling that in the position
which he held. he was but the SER
want of Ged, and that to his Master
count. His God was not an easy-go-
ing. easily placated Deity. but rather
Ea Deity whose throne was righteous
ness and Justice; Deity who is him
self a Judge. and whose code was con-
tanned in the 10 thou shafts and
thou shalt nots,n given to mankind
from Mount Sinai. l do not mean by
this. il it please the court, that Judge
I ny.
far from that. He tempered justice
with tho mercy of Him who for US
men and our salvation came down
from heaven, and modified the 10 laws
of the old dispensation with the TWO
orders, if l may so term them, OF the
new. Thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart and the sec
ond is like unto it, Thou shalt love
thy neighbor as thyself Believing
I am sure, if your Honor please, that
lin these few sentences, simply grand
and grandly simple" are pointed out
mans wholly duty to his Maker, ana
to his brother. This, it seemed TO me,
was his religion, not religion to be
turned TO in times of trouble alone,
then laid aside; not simply shelter
in times of storm, but a temple IN
which to dwell as a tenant-at-Wlli, IL
I may use that expression, ana TOT
the safe keeping of which he was ac-
countable.
One trait in his character in this
connection, always, impressed me-
that is, in a time and among peo-
pie. both of which seemed to nave
drifted away from those principles
that were formerly considered the
only safe and sure anchorage, he
chung steadfastly to the faith of his
fathers. He made, as l have tried to
saw before, his religion practical, US
ing IL not only as a refuge, but as
euide 1t gave him consolation IN
trouble but more than that, 1t shaped
his life. moulded his character, ana
was indeed and in truth, a lamp unto
his feet.
In these times, in which it seems
almost as though liberty of thought
was merging into license of action, we
Mood such men as he was. We need
examples and memories such as his
was and is. We need them; we need
more of that undying faith in which
he lived his life; we need more OF
that unfaltering trust in which ne
TOOK leave III IL. VI liAss AiAO
know. Like an open book there was
NO concealment His leave-taking is
described in more beautiful language
than any at my command, by Tenny-
sons immortal lines:
"Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call Tor me, 49, 49,
And NAV there be no moaning OF the pat
When I put out to sea.
Put like the tide which, rising, seems
asleep,
Too fun for sound or foam,
When that which drew from out the
restless deep
Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell
And after that, the dark,
And may there be no sadness OF 1areWeH
When / embark;
For though from out the bourne of time
and place
The tide may take me far,
7 hope to meet my Pilot face to face
When l have crossed the par
c. A. Knight
He was followed by Charles A.
Knight Of Gardiner, who seconded the
motion on resolutions and who also
paid his tribute to the late Judge
| Hall.