The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-22
Restatement and UnificatiOn
of Teaching Methods
Are Objects.
PLAN TO INCORPORATE
Headquarters to BE in Washing
ton-FOremOst Attorneys
Behind Move.

One OF the most important meetings of
lawyers ever held in this country took
place yesterday afternoon and evening at
,he Bar Association. when a number OF
leaders OF the American bar met ana
arranged for the organization of the
American Academy OF Jurisprudence,
which has for its purpose the systematic
res,atement Of all American law In form
such as that OF the Code Napoleon.
The academy also purposes to unity
the methods OF teaching law In all the
schools Of the country In order that con-
fusion, contradiction and uncertainty may
he removed from all the laws. A third
object is the Incorporation Of the academy
under an act OF Congress. with central
office in Washington. to assemble and dis
sernnate all the legal knowledge OF the
country
Among the noted lawyers who signed
the call for yesterdays meeting were
William II. Taft. Alton r. Parker. Elihu
Root Henry Wade Rogers. James Dewitt
Andrews, for many years chairman of the
committee on classification OF laws Of the
American Bar Association. who has had
charge OF the active work OF organization ::
Ezra Ripley Thayer. Roscoe Pound.
Joseph H. Beale and Samuel Wiiiiston, all
Of the Harvard law school: Victor Mora
getz, Frank b. Kellogg. ex-president Of
the American Bar Association; Attorney
General McReynoids. cx-Attorney-General
chersham, James NJ. Beck. Gov. Simeon
T. Baldwin Of Connecticut Frederic n.
Coudsrt lodge 4. J. Rodenbeck. william
D. Guthrie. c. 3. Lobingier. Judge OF the
Court Of First Instance. Manila Moorfisll
Storey and Judge John +. Dillon.
Andrews Explains objects.
Mr.. Andrews stated the general OBJ.
the meeting to order. He said that one
Of the great objects Is "the recognition
o. Jurisprudence as a vital force in the
creation. exposition and administration OF
!aw. The scientific check against the
natural tendency OF the law toward con-
fusion and uncertainty IL everywhere rec
ognized TO be the systematic statement OF
the law. The practical function Of juris-
prudence Is to give simplicity and har-
mony TO the body OF laws which otherwise
will fall into confusion"
NJ. Andrews said:
p be carried out Systematically, COM
?ietely and tremendously requires system
In the process Of research. the recognition
vale teaching the young OF the system OF
.aw the comprehension Of which consti-
iutes legal education. Systematic ex-
position is an absolute essential to prac-
teal comprehension. and indeed to the
very existence Of a system. Speaking Of
these In their order. what treasures OF
research and learning are lost 10 the
world because Of the lack OF some organ!-
ration which shall aid the Individual
scholars in their research and shall pre-
serve the results Of these researches.
Some years ago in company with Mr..
Justice Mclean visited st. Louis to ex-
anime manuscripts left by the late DR..
william G. Hammond, chancellor Of Iowa
University. There In vault In a box at
least three feet in length and eighteen
inches wide were the unpublished manu-
scripts Of this great scholar. unfinished and
unarranged for publication. What days
and nights of toll. what years Of thought
And study those manuscripts represented
Aid TO Scholars.
The great danger Is always that the
scholar worn out by his zeal, unchecked
and unguidtd. wears himself out before
his task Is finished. With an organiza-
ton u The kind proposed the labor Of the
scholars can be lightened. the results pre-
served for the general good
In the matter OF legal education the
proposal is 10 secure a general recogni-
ZION among the schools that there 10 a
system Of law. an existing corpus juris
YOU like. the comprehension Of which
Aecessarily constitutes the object OF study.
Without in any manner interfering with
established courses or with well known
methods OF study and teaching the eyes Ut
goa! OF their endeavor namely. the knowl-
edge and understanding Of this system
"h'cn is common to all.
Ny own belief Is that this will prove to
DC one OF the greatest influences for the
attainment OF uniform conception Of
what must needs be the central body Of
IA" Identical In most OF Its parts through
out the land. A comprehensive. concise
ana complete restatement OF the existing
Jaw has been found to be necessary In
every developing country.
May he INDUCED In one further
thought, thought, namely the paramount i'm
portancc to the profession OF this move-
Ineht! II may not be too much to say
that the dignity Of the bar Is at stake |;
surely It's dignity and welfare are In
volyed"
Urged by Great Lawyer.
In organizing the academy yesterday
frequent reference WAS made to COM
ments by great lawyers on tho necessity
'of such body as the American Acad-
ei'y az Jurisprudence. Justice Holmes
u the United States Supreme Court had
s''d The importance. n II could be OBJ
'a'hed cannot be overrated."
justice Brewer emphasized the need
Continued ON Third Pu0s