The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-04-11
memorial
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other phase Of his character. that
It seems to mo win leave its inn
press not only here. but over a wide
circle. over . wide extent OF the ter
ritory Of this state and that was
his pure. clean. blameless life. So
far as any one can say. he lived up TO
tho model standard that ought
to be the ideal OF every young
man at the bar. and OF every young
man Of the community and Of tho
state. There is not q stain on that
character. Brilliant, wonderfully tai
ented. . clear reasoner, he was also q
profound student and O man Of vast
knowledge. acquired from the most
careful reading and study Of books,
upon the widest variety OF subjects;
and especially there comes TO me the
realization Of the fact that he was q
profound believer in religion. In
all my intercourse with him there Is
nothing that will more impressively
enforce upon me the loss OF associa-
ton with him than the absence OF the
long talks that we have had from time
to time upon the most important
subject OF our immortality and
the certainty OF the life beyond.
Brothers and elders Of the same
church, I know that John ]. Davis had
studied the problems OF life, not only
here. but Of the life to come, and that
he was sincere, earnest. devout
Christian man. and while 1t is not the
province. Of course, Of justice. to in
dulge in. theological and religious dis
cussions, yet 1t seems to me that may
ask the members of this bar to pause
o moment and consider whether
there Is not reason to believe-wheth-
er there Is not reason to follow the
precepts, the teachings OF religion,
when they have been accepted by the
brilliant. the learned. the strong, the
intellectual giants Of our profession
such as Mr.. Davis was: and It seems
to me that we might we'll recognize in
a spirit Of humility, the good that has
been done by such men. notable
example OF whom was Simon Green
leaf, who wrote his great work on evil
dence, and then wrote q greater work,
the Testimony of the Evangelist, that
took. the four gospels, and applied to
them the rules Of evidence by which
we determine causes had in our courts
Of Justice, and showed that, accord
ing to the rules governing the
acceptance Of human evidence and
human testimony, the life Of
the Christ was true. and the immor-
tally OF the soul Is certain. Mr.. Davis
believed this. .He,was one Of the great
men Of this bar and OF this state. He
had reached that conclusion after pro-
found study and research; may we not
still entertain in that regard tho re-
spect and confidence In his Judgment
that we.were accustomed to feel in his
Judgment and clear reasoning powers
when 1t came to a discussion Of human
affairsfand Of human difficulties?'
Judge Raymond Maxwell then spoke
as follows:
MAY it please the court, and mem
bers of the bar, l speak as one OF the
younger members OF the Harrison
County Bar. Among my pleasant recol-
lections among the memories Of child
hood that shall carry throughout my
life were those stalwart. old men. those
Venerable gentlemen whom I knew
from the time have known anyone.
refer to the Honorable John. j. Davis,
Judge Harrison, the father of the
worthy clerk Of this court: Mr.. Basel,
and my own father. These three gem
tlemen other than my father, knew
as children. and went to their home
as. a child would go to the home OF a
neighbor. and I loved them because
knew OF their worth and Of their stand
ing as men. and because they touched
my childish heart by the interest that
they showed In me as a child, and
again later, when Il came to the bar.
These three gentlemen took such a
kindly interest. In me that learned to
respect them as shall never respect
and admire any other men-not that
other men might not be Just as worthy
Of respect, but because Of the peculiar
way that they had touched. my life.
| I feel that 1t has been an incentive to
| me as a man and as a lawyer,-that
1t. has been an incentive for me to
strive to live better life-to be a bet
ter man and a better lawyer. by rea-
son Of my acquaintanceship with these
gentlemen. ~
your. Honor has we'll said that Mr.
Davis has set an example worthy Of
the emulation Of every member Of the
bar. not only Of Harrison. county. bu,
generally. and while we refer thii
morning especially. to Mr.. Davis. we o.
course. remember, and this community
can well reflect upon the memory Of
these stalwart associates Of Mr.. Davis
with whom he has set examples fol
US OF which we NAV we'll he proud. ant
to. which we may strive to compare a.
hest we can. and II we live up to those
standards. feel sure that the Harri.
son County Bar and the bar of West
Virginia will have "a standing Of which
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