USA > Iowa > Clinton County > Wolfe's history of Clinton County, Iowa, Volume 1 > Part 19
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On the first floor is a hall and vestibule, a spacious reception room, ladies' parlors, coat rooms, secretary's office, etc. The second story is the working floor, and contains two large lodge rooms, with necessary antechambers, and reception rooms, also the armory room. The mezzanine floor furnishes a gallery about the lodge rooms and a small dining room. The third story con- tains the magnificent banquet hall of the structure, also kitchen, pantries, serving rooms and other apartments.
At the same time that the plans were adopted, a holding corporation was organized, and May 3, 1907, articles of incorporation were filed of the Clinton Masonic Temple Association, with G. E. Lamb, L. C. Eastman, George W. Allen, F. P. Batchelder and C. B. Mills as incorporators.
The Grand Lodge of Master Masons was to hold their sixty-fourth com- munication at Clinton, June 4th to 6th, inclusive, and the consistory requested Grand Master William F. Cleveland to call an emergent communication on June 3d, for the purpose of laying the corner-stone, which request was granted. In the presence of a great throng, the grand lodge was convened by Grand Master Cleveland at 4:30 P. M. of June 3d, the cornerstone was laid with Masonic ceremonies, and a short and eloquent address made by L. P. Allen, the orator of the day. The lodge was then convened.
The Cathedral has been occupied by the Scottish Rite bodies since its completion, and is fully up to the description given by the committee in their reports above. The present membership of the Scottish Rite at Clinton is six hundred and forty.
The present officers of the bodies are as follows : Iowa Lodge of Perfec- tion : Frank P. Batchelder, thrice potent master ; J. F. H. Sugg, senior warden; William H. Childs, junior warden; Frank C. Brayton, orator; Frank W. Leedham, almoner; John H. Potts, treasurer; Frank M. Howard, secretary. Delphic Chapter, Rose Croix : Louis C. Moeszinger, wise master; Frank P. Batchelder, senior warden; Howard S. Wilson, junior warden; Henry H. Turner, orator; secretary, almoner and treasurer for all the bodies same as the
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Lodge of Perfection. Hugh de Paynes Council, Knights of Kadosh : Fred E. Batchelder, commander; Calvin D. May, first lieutenant-commander; Frank C. Brayton, second lieutenant-commander; George B. Phelps, chancellor; Henry H. Turner, orator. De Molay Consistory : Lauren C. Eastman, com- mander-in-chief; Ward W. Cook, first lieutenant-commander; John Q. Jeff- eries, second lieutenant-commander ; George B. Phelps, chancellor; Frank W. Ellis, minister of state.
MASONRY AT LYONS.
There were a good many Masons among those who located at Lyons in the forties, but no attempt was made to establish a lodge until September 3, 1849, when a dispensation was granted St. John's Lodge No. 19, with John S. Bope appointed worshipful master. The records of this lodge are lost, and all that is known is that it was chartered and instituted June 6, 1850, with fifteen members, James McCoy, worshipful master, and that the charter was surrendered in June, 1855, Judge A. R. Cotton being grand master, largely on account of the removal of brethren from the town.
Next year, prospects being brighter, a dispensation was granted for Eureka Lodge to W. E. Leffingwell, G. H. Bonney, James Hazlett and six others and the lodge was organized with about twelve members as Lyons Lodge No. 93. It was chartered June 3, 1857. The records were destroyed by the fire of 1870, but it is known that W. E. Leffingwell was the first master, G. H. Bonney, senior warden, James Hazlett, junior warden, Rev. H. W. Beers, secretary, William Soules, treasurer. The other charter members were Thomas Crew, Stephen Fuller, Charles Arpe and Martin Frank. The first meetings were held in the brick building on Pearl street, later used for manu- facturing. Then the lodge met for several years in Rice's block, on the cor- ner of Fourth and Main streets. Thence the lodge removed to the old post- office block for six years, then to the rooms in which the Mirror is published for eight years, then into the Lyons temple in 1872. The cornerstone for this temple was laid on August 15, 1871, with complete Masonic ceremonies.
This temple, since the removal of the Scottish Rite bodies to the Cathe- dral, is practically owned by Lyons Lodge, the Scottish Rite having sur- rendered their interests to them, giving to them control of ninety-five per cent of the stock of the holding corporations. The lodge has now about one hun- dred and twenty members.
The elective officers for 1910 are: A. J. Meyer, master; Louis Eigel. senior warden; Charles Reusche, junior warden; John H. Meyer, secretary ; Louis G. Moeszinger, treasurer.
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Oriental Chapter No. 39, Royal Arch Masons, was instituted at Lyons in 1867. Its records were also destroyed by fire. W. E. Leffingwell was the first high priest. The charter members were Dr. W. MacQuigg, Judge A. R. Cotton, S. W. Baldwin, W. E. Marquis, G. W. Parker, J. B. Denison, L. A. Ellis, C. W. Warner, A. J. Kynett, Dr. G. F. Wetherell, J. S. Hart, T. R. Beers, S. Rand, and F. L. Blakely. They met in the old lodge room over the postoffice until the Lyons temple was built. The increasing popularity of the Scottish Rite seemed to draw from the chapter, and although C. W. Warner and others made strenuous efforts to preserve it, at last its charter was surrendered. John H. Potts was the last high priest.
DE WITT MASONIC BODIES.
The dispensation for De Witt Lodge No. 34, the second organized in the county, was granted December 4, 1851, to R. H. Dawson, Sr., worshipful master ; S. D. Golder, senior warden, and George Goudie, junior warden. The first officers elected were A. R. Cotton, senior deacon; S. N. Bedford, junior deacon; A. R. Bissell, secretary; G. W. Ames, treasurer; and D. C. Oakes, tyler. The first initiates were R. H. Dawson, Jr., and S. G. Dawson. The charter was granted June 2, 1852. Father Daniel McNeil was one of the members of the lodge who stood high in the community. A. R. Cotton rose to high Masonic rank, and W. E. Leffingwell, later very prominent in Masonic affairs, received his three degrees in De Witt Lodge. At present De Witt Lodge has about sixty-five members.
Right Hand Lodge No. 281 was organized at De Witt under charter of June 8, 1870, granted by John Scott, grand master, the charter members being from De Witt Lodge chiefly. The first meeting was held June 18. 1870, and the following officers elected: P. C. Wright, worshipful master; R. G. Brown, senior warden; A. J. McGarvey, junior warden; J. M. Gates. treasurer; D. G. Butterfield, secretary. The present membership is about twenty-five.
Kilwinning Chapter No. 56 was organized at De Witt under dispensation granted April 18, 1870, to the following charter members : W. A. Cotton, E. P. Hubbard, R. G. Brown, W. H. Talbot, R. J. Crouch, W. R. Ward, T. F. Butterfield, George Rule. George B. Young, A. J. McGarvey, Moses Gage, K. W. Wheeler, A. H. Runyon, D. Whitney, T. Wilson, W. H. Buchanan, M. H. Haskins, J. M. Gates, and William Familton. The dispensation had been granted on the recommendation of Mount Moriah Chapter No. 17, of
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Camanche, by P. C. Wright, grand high priest, on April 15, 1870. The first officers were: W. A. Cotton, high priest; George Rule, king; and W. R. Ward, scribe.
CAMANCHE MASONS.
Camanche Lodge No. 60 was instituted in 1855, under dispensation of April 4th, and was chartered on June 6th. The charter members were Sam- uel Doolittle, John McLoskey, Amos W. Gordon, H. A. Hart, Lewis Birk- head. George W. Miller, Corley Tyler and A. M. Littig. Lewis Birkhead was the first master, John McLoskey, senior warden, Samuel Doolittle, junior warden. The lodge has now about sixty members.
In 1857, Mount Moriah Chapter No. 17, Royal Arch Masons, at Camanche, the first in the county, and for many years the only one, was char- tered. In the tornado their hall was demolished, their furniture, jewels and charter blown away. They continued their organization, however. Their charter was picked up by a farmer near Sterling, Illinois, who did not know what it was, but kept the parchment as a memento of the tornado. Three years later, the farmer showed the relic to a stranger who had stopped for the night, and was told what it was. He returned it to the chapter, and the 'charter long hung on their lodge room wall. The tyler's jewel was also found, near Thompson, Illinois, by a lady who wore it as a breast pin until she found out what it was, when she returned it to the original owners. This chapter gradually dwindled in numbers and interest and at last surrendered its charter.
ZERADATHA LODGE NO. 184.
Zeradatha Lodge No. 184 was organized in Wheatland in 1865 under dispensation of September 6, 1865, and chartered June 6, 1866. It has had a flourishing existence, and now has about sixty members.
MONITOR LODGE NO. 330.
The dispensation for Monitor Lodge No. 330 at Delmar, was granted September 26, 1873, and the charter issued June 3, 1874. The first officers were B. C. Rich, worshipful master; George Heritage, senior warden; M. W. Tipple, junior warden; S. R. Gold, treasurer; A. G. Thompson, secretary ; C. C. Smith, senior deacon; Harvey George, junior deacon. The present mem- bership is about fifty-five.
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HARBOR LODGE NO. 556.
The dispensation for Harbor Lodge No. 556 at Lost Nation was granted February 2, 1898, and the lodge was chartered June 6, 1899. It now has about sixty members.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.
Lyons Lodge No. 61 was chartered October 26, 1854. Previously there had been a lodge in the city known as Clinton No. 21, which for several years held its meetings in a wooden building at the corner of Second and Main streets. All official documents relating to it were burned. Lyons Lodge was instituted by District Deputy Grand Master James Thorington on November II, 1854, and the first meeting was held November 18, 1854. The charter members, with the offices which they held, were as follows: G. W. Stum- baugh, noble grand; J. J. Mathews, vice-grand; J. D. Fegan, treasurer; J. F. Fegan and George B. Pierce. S. R. Johnson and John McClay were initiated at the first meeting, and Mr. Johnson was elected secretary. Three of the charter members, Messrs. Pierce, Mathews and J. D. Fegan, are living in 1910.
The lodge first met at the former rooms of No. 21, but shortly after moved to the Washington Hall block, on Main street, near the railroad track, then in 1860 to Rice's building, at the corner of Main and Fourth, in 1864 to a convenient hall expressly prepared for its use in Wright's building, later known as the Briggs building, where their headquarters remained until the building of the present handsome and commodious Odd Fellows Temple just south of the public square. This is a red brick building, with stone trimmings, containing two stories and basement. The basement is occupied by the kitchen, dining-room, etc .; the first floor is an auditorium and reception room, used for entertainments and dances ; the second floor contains the lodge room and anterooms. The building is the property of Lyons Lodge and was erected in 1899 at a cost of twenty thousand dollars.
At present the lodge has a membership of about one hundred and sixty- five and the present officers are : Louis Eigel, noble grand; M. H. Bormann, vice-grand; A. J. Meyer, treasurer; W. G. Romer, financial secretary; Ed- ward Horst, recording secretary.
PATRIARCHS MILITANT.
Lyons Encampment No. 21 was chartered October 20, 1869, by Orlando McCraney, grand patriarch. The charter members were: George Allen,
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Howard Bell, Daniel Romer, J. M. Rice, John Eddy, C. D. Scott, O. Blood, H. J. Wright, N. Showerman, A. C. Root.
The encampment has always met in the rooms of Lyons Lodge. Its present membership is about fifty-five. The present officers are: Henry Kist- ing, chief patriarch; Otto Rockrohr, high priest; Louis Eigel, senior warden; John Seno, junior warden; W. G. Romer, scribe; I. M. Armstrong, treasurer.
ODD FELLOWS AT CLINTON.
It was some years before there were enough Odd Fellows resident in Clinton to justify the organization of a lodge, but after organization the order made rapid progress.
Lincoln Lodge No. 139 was instituted May 12, 1865, by District Deputy Grand Master H. S. Butler, assisted by brethren from Eagle Lodge No. 86 and Lyons Lodge No. 61. The charter members and first officers were : John B. Crosby, noble grand; Samuel Jaffa, vice-grand; L. B. Wadleigh, secretary ; John Breitling, treasurer; James Tuke, warden; George O'Boyle, conductor; Henry Gerhard, guardian. James P. Crosby was the first mem- ber initiated. The charter is dated October 19, 1865.
The lodge first met in the Bucher block on First street, then on May 27, 1869, moved into the Cubbage block on Fifth avenue, where it remained till January 1, 1874, when it moved to the Harding block. Its present quarters are in the Young block, Fifth avenue and Second street. Among the brothers have been three who have occupied the office of grand master of the state, H. A. Stone, John W. Bulen and Will V. Tufford. Judson Hyde was treasurer of the lodge for thirty-two and one-half years. He died August 3, 1902, and a fine clock suitably inscribed in his memory hangs in the lodge room. George O. Boyle, now of Muskegon, Michigan, is the only living charter member.
On August 4, 1900, Shekinah Lodge No. 42, of Camanche, consolidated with Lincoln, taking the name of the latter, but the number of the former, so that the lodge is now known as Lincoln No. 42. The lodge is incorporated and is in a flourishing condition. The present officers are Louis Walde, noble grand; Chris A. Hoffman, vice-grand; William N. Monaghan, secretary; Dr. J. S. Lowell, financial secretary ; and Lorenz Peterson, treasurer.
Walhalla Lodge No. 150 was instituted May 9, 1867. The charter mem- bers and first officers were as follows: Adam Buechner, noble grand; Henry Gerhard, vice-grand; John Breitling, secretary; Thomas Richardson, Fred Shuve, Frank Witzigmann, Charles Arlen, John Weber, Charles Seifert.
The lodge first met on First street next the Grand Hotel, then on Fifth
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avenue above Korn's bakery, then at No. 212 Fifth avenue, and for some time has met in Walhalla hall over the carpet department of Towle & Spreter's store, in the Toll building. They have about eighty-five members at present.
The present officers are Claus Rief, noble grand; Juergen Danielsen, vice- grand; William J. Wabrass, secretary; John Gerche, financial secretary ; Ed- ward H. Carstensen, treasurer.
America Lodge No. 567 was organized February 7, 1893, with two hun- dred and thirty-three members, by Grand Master J. W. Bulen and Grand Secretary William Garrett. The names of the following members appear on the charter as representative of all : J. F. H. Sugg, E. H. Farr, J. D. Fegan, past grand, J. F. Kingsberg, A. D. Van Horn, C. G. F. Cook, Adam Wageck, E. S. Wilson, John Tong, George McLain, W. J. La Rue, A. H. Paddock, S. Whistler and E. Little. The first officers were : Eugene H. Farr, noble grand; Jens Bohnson, vice-grand; Charles E. Beaumont, recording secretary ; C. H. Miller, financial secretary ; L. H. Bowman, treasurer. This lodge was organ- ized in the hall of Lincoln Lodge, then for two or three years rented the G. A. R. hall, then returned to the Odd Fellows hall as proprietors.
America Lodge has now one hundred and ninety-five members. The present officers are : S. D. Haller, noble grand; R. L. Clark, vice-grand; C. S. Petersen, recording secretary ; C. H. Parker, financial secretary ; L. H. Bow- man, treasurer.
PATRIARCHS MILITANT.
Clinton Encampment No. 96 was instituted April 26, 1877, with officers and charter members as follows: C. C. Van Kuran, chief patriarch; Samuel Taylor, high priest; Samuel Abernathy, senior warden; George McBride, junior warden; N. G. O. Coad, scribe; H. H. Hatton, treasurer; and John Hogendobler.
Clinton Encampment meets in Wallhalla hall, and has about fifty mem- bers. The present officers are Jens G. Christiansen, chief patriarch; Jens Bartelsen, high priest; Carl Witt, senior warden; Hans C. Sand, junior warden ; Lorens Petersen, treasurer.
Canton Twin City No. 24 was organized on July. 13, 1890. The first officers were J. W. Bullen, captain; C. F. Grafey, lieutenant; Richard Price, ensign; Clair Munson, adjutant; W. H. Bock, clerk. All members of the encampment branch are eligible to the canton. The present membership is thirty-five, eighteen active, and seventeen honorary members. The canton meets in Odd Fellows hall.
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The present officers are C. S. Petersen, captain; R. A. Holle, lieutenant; S. D. Haller, ensign; R. Larson, adjutant; M. W. Bailey, Jr., clerk.
Unity Encampment No. 79 was instituted July 27, 1896. The installing officers were George Williams, grand chief patriarch ; J. Norwood Clark, grand high priest; I. N. Manville, grand senior warden; James Rogers, grand junior warden ; E. B. Hoxie, grand scribe; W. G. Romer, grand scribe. Grand High Priest Clark was at this time eighty-two years old, and a man who endeared himself to the members of the camp by his worth. There were thirty-five members, fifteen of whom had cards from other encampments, the remainder being petitioners for the honor of admission. These members and the first officers were as follows : Cards, J. W. Bulen, past chief patriarch, Charles A. Kohlmier, Hans Miller, Rasmus Larsen, Mark Campbell, George Kuhns, W. M. Parks, past high priest, C. F. Eggers, H. C. F. Behr, R. E. Everhart, J. M. Ferris, H. W. Lee, past senior warden, Will V. Tufford, Waldo Grumstrup, H. Torgerson; petitioners, H. O. Coykendall, L. H. Bowman, C. S. Petersen, E. F. Frink, C. H. Parker, J. S. Conger, J. L. Bohnson, C. L. Cook, R. J. Hughes, Walter Mather, Fr. Dieckmann, H. F. Freund, A. H. Claussen, John Deyo, W. H. Norman, L. C. Champlin, E. S. Wilson, H. E. Carr, August Rebelsky. First Officers: H. W. Lee, chief patriarch; C. H. Parker, high priest; Will V. Tufford, senior warden; L. H. Bowman, junior warden; E. F. Frink, scribe; J. S. Conger, treasurer.
Unity Encampment has met in the rooms of America Lodge. It has now seventy members. The present officers are : M. W. Bailey, past chief patri- arch ; H. C. Roman, chief patriarch ; S. D. Haller, high priest ; J. P. Doll, senior warden; R. A. Holle, junior warden; L. A. Henderson, treasurer; C. H. Parker, scribe.
The Odd Fellows of Clinton have also a Life Association, which offers to its members many advantages in insurance.
The Odd Fellows Orphans' Home of Iowa, one of the most commendable enterprises which the order has engaged in, was fathered in Clinton, and has been productive of a very great amount of good.
EAGLE LODGE NO. 86.
Eagle Lodge No. 86 was instituted by John Pope, grand master, at De Witt, upon petition of Charles Schlabach, Isaac F. Morgan, A. J. Kellar, Samuel Jones and John Jones, members of the order of Odd Fellows, March 22, 1856. A. J. Kellar was elected noble grand; C. Schlabach, vice-grand; M. Gage, recording secretary ; William H. Buchanan, treasurer. At the first
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meeting the following were admitted as members : W. S. Norman, J. P. Butler, J. W. Haney, F. Amos, Levi Clark, T. G. Hide, W. E. Vary, E. W. Preston, William McKim, G. G. Adams, Jonathan Morgan, Israel Hall, T. W. Butler, David White, Isaac Rhodes, Ephraim Cameron, David Goff and Dr. Asa Mor- gan.
This lodge was very prosperous at first, then about the beginning of the eighties fell low in membership, but is now in good shape with about eighty members.
SHEKINAH LODGE NO. 42.
Shekinah Lodge No. 42 was organized in Camanche September 22, 1852, and flourished until the tornado in 1860, when it became extinct for awhile. On September 7, 1874, it was reorganized. The charter members were A. B. Ireland, John Kahl, Robert Wilkes, Samuel F. Dillon, H. W. Smith, S. Hy- man and M. H. Spooner.
It was later united with Lincoln Lodge No. 139 at Clinton, and the united lodges are known now as Lincoln Lodge No. 42.
OTHER LODGES.
Elk River Lodge No. 162 is located at Teeds Grove, with a membership of fifty-five.
Low Moor Lodge No. 395 has fifty members. They are the owners of a fine building of white brick, erected since the fire.
Grand Mound Lodge No. 448 is flourishing with one hundred and five members and is one of the strongest lodges in the county.
Lost Nation Lodge No. 618 has about forty-five members.
Elwood Lodge No. 715 has fifty members. In 1908 was instituted at Elwood, Elwood Encampment No. 191, the fourth to be established in the county, the only one outside of Clinton, which is in a prosperous condition.
The eleventh lodge of Odd Fellows now located in the county was re- cently established at Welton.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
Ivanhoe Lodge No. 45, Knights of Pythias, was instituted March 25, 1879, by John W. Green, of Davenport, district grand commander. The charter was issued February 11, 1880. The following were the charter mem- bers and first officers : J. C. Root, past chancellor; L. P. Adams, chancellor
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commander; L. E. Dean, vice-chancellor; G. W. Brayton, prelate; C. L. Root, keeper of records and seal; H. Penn, master of finance; W. A. Lyall, master of exchequer; T. Balch, master at arms; P. Traub, inner guard; Walter Wilkes, outer guard; J. H. Potts, F. C. Brayton, J. Hashall, J. E. White, L. G. Blain, S. B. Cary, A. Mccullough, A. M. Pelton, G. A. Gray, M. Rudman, Anton Meyer, C. S. Tuller, Henry Woodward, A. A. Root, W. E. Buell.
The lodge was organized in the Briggs building, and has met for the past two years in the Odd Fellows Temple.
The present officers are: A. D. Wilson, chancellor commander; O. L. Dearborn, vice-chancellor; J. M. McNulty, prelate; Charles H. Lee, keeper of records and seal; J. M. Crouse, master-at-arms; H. Toenningsen, master of finance; R. Fair, inner guard; N. C. Nelson, outer guard.
There was also organized Clinton Lodge No. 355 in the Toll block, but is not now in a flourishing condition, and Herman Lodge No. 169, now the strongest lodge of all the three Knights of Pythias in Clinton.
OTHER FRATERNAL ORDERS.
There are numerous lodges of fraternal insurance interests, such as Woodmen, Workmen, Knights of Columbus, Foresters, Red Men, etc., located in the cities and in different places within the county, the number and history of which are precluded by reason of space. The Woodmen and Knights of Columbus are especially strong in this county.
The Elks are another strong brotherhood in Clinton, and, as in many an- other place, have for their membership many of the best citizens of the young and middle aged men.
FOUNDING OF THE TWO WOODCRAFT ORDERS.
While this volume does not seek to go into the history of the dozen or more semi-secret and beneficiary orders that are really mutual life associations, it is an historic fact that should be here noted, that Lyons is the birthplace of all modern Woodcraft and that the founder of this order, Hon. Joseph Cullen Root, was long an honored citizen of Lyons and well connected in family ties.
It was in 1883 that Mr. Root organized the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, a fraternal insurance order, the headquarters of which order is now located at Rock Island, Illinois. In 1890 he formed the now famous order, the Woodmen of the World. At first it had its offices at Lyons, but on account
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of the more liberal laws in Illinois, the headquarters were moved to Fulton, where it remained a short time and was then voted by the grand lodge to Omaha, Nebraska, where it is still located. This is an important item when one considers that this order now has a membership of over a half million. The total number of camps in 1909 was 8,651. Mr. Root is still the sovereign commander. The Modern Woodmen of America, the original woodcraft society, in 1903 had 701,655 members and had paid to its members $27,508,- 760, and its membership is now over the million mark. Mr. Root, of Lyons, has the distinction of being the founder of both orders.
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CHAPTER XIII.
THE BENCH AND BAR OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Go where one may, wherever civilized life and commerce exists there we find the representatives of the legal profession. Most laws are today based upon the principle of right and equal justice to all persons, be they native or foreign born. If all men were informed as to the law, and possessed a law- abiding spirit, there would be little use for lawyers and courts, but until the Bible picture of the millennium appears on earth in reality, the rights of one must be met and justice forced upon another, at the hands of wise, learned jurists and attorneys-at-law. The legal profession is one of profound prin- ciples, and it is for it to point out and enforce the rights of one set of citizens as against other men and classes. While the world has no use for dishonest lawyers, it has great need of truly honorable attorneys, who seek to secure peace rather than encourage endless litigation among the people of a commun- ity.
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