he comes to the Bar, he shall be prepared to begin a public ministry which will bring no harm to those who seek his aid or to the traditions of the Bar. Standards of qualification are not so well established as to be immediately conceded and differences of opinion exist as to what these standards should be. Surely, the standards should be high, but they should not be so high as to close the door of hope to worthy aspirants. The American Bar Association has by resolution declared two years of college work to be an indispensable prerequisite to admission to the Bar. This standard ought not to be too high and ought to be welcomed by everyone, but we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that such a standard would have precluded the admission of desirable persons, and might in the future keep from the Bar those who would adorn it. Certainly some elasticity should be allowed so that no worthy person may be denied admission. We cannot be blind to the fact that in Baltimore in recent years, three of the leading members of its Bar were without a college education, and it is not unreasonable to suppose that others may reach the same heights without having entered college. A similar condition has existed in many other cities of this country, and in England one of the most brilliant of its lawyers and judges was not admitted to the Bar until he passed the age when college life is practicable. Desirability of a college education is unquestioned, but whether two years in college should be a prerequisite must give us pause. In Maryland, it would be futile to establish qualifications which would not receive the support of public opinion, as reflected by legislative enactment. Without such legislative standards the adoption of artificial standards would but result in the creation of new Law Schools and the graduation of lawyers less qualified to practice than many of those who are now admitted. The question is one of practical difficulty, so to lay the measure that the standards may be kept high, and unfit and mistaken applicants be deflected from an inappropriate career, yet not so high as to exclude those worthy to enter and to join the band of high-minded and educated men, who desire to be worthy of the best traditions of the profession. The Bar must be select but not exclusive. In addition to the educational qualification, that of character should be imposed, as a lawyer of character with minor ability would be more useful than a lawyer of pre-eminent ability, without character. The standards of the profession must be maintained and this Association should align itself with other Associations, which have adopted the code of ethics promulgated by the American Bar Association and see to it that all members of the profession adhere to its requirements and let it be known that infractions will be visited with condign punishment. Upon the future lawyers depends the future of the profession. It must not be made too easy nor too difficult to enter the ranks. Steps should be taken to see to it that the high and noble traditions of the profession are preserved. No greater service can be performed by this Association. There are, of course, many other problems which invite and require the attention of the lawyer, but, at the present time, those, which I have discussed, intrigue the lawyer and appear to be most pressing. These he must solve, as upon their proper solution depends the future of civilization and mankind. Notwithstanding the obloquy which sometimes attaches to it, the profession is recognized as containing those to whom the public looks for leadership and direction, and to whom the community turns when large projects are to be launched or great works undertaken. A lawyer is ever on the firing line bearing the brunt and leading the charge. His responsibility is great. He must realize it, and he must be equal to it. In the words of that great Maryland lawyer, Severn Teakle Wallis, "The influences of our profession are as wide as society; its duties are arduous, refined, delicate and responsible; its honors and rewards, when fairly sought or earned, may fill the measure of a great ambition; we cannot be too wise, too learned or too virtuous for it; we can make all knowledge tributary and yet not transcend its compass. The problems which I have discussed may perhaps produce a feeling of pessimism and create the impression that all is not well in the world and that we are tending towards danger which will end in disaster. Constructive work must be undertaken by the lawyer and such work will be done and the dangers which now seem so great will be met and vanquished and a solution will be found which will preserve our liberties and protect our rights. Pessimism must give way to determination to protect our heritage, so that it may be handed on to those who follow. Pessimism must yield to hopefulness. We must all determine that this hopefulness shall and will be justified, so that despite the lowering and menacing clouds we may see the stars and feel as did Mr. Justice Holmes "The other day a dream was pictured to my mind - it was evening I was walking homeward on Pennsylvania avenue near the Treasury and as I looked beyond Sherman's Statue to the west the sky was aflame with scarlet and crimson from the setting sun. But like the note of downfall in Wagner's Opera, below the skyline there came some little globes, the pallid discord of the electric lights. And I thought to myself the Gotterdammerung will end, and from those globes clustered like evil eggs will come the new masters of the sky. It is like the time in which we live. But then I remembered the faith that I have partly expressed, faith in a universe, not measured by our fears, a universe that has thoughts and more and more thoughts inside of it, and as I gazed after the sunset and above the electric lights there shone the stars.' THE PRESIDENT: The first business in order is report of the Committee on Admissions. MR. S. MORRIS TYSON: The following is the report of the Committee on Admissions. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ADMISSIONS Sylvan Hayes Lauchheimer, Esq., President of the Maryland State Bar Association: Dear Sir: The Committee on Admissions wishes to report that the following applications for membership in the Maryland State Bar Association have been approved by your Committee and filed with the Executive Council of the Association : JAMES F. KLECKA. 210 E. Lexington St. F. STANLEY PORTER. E. MCCLURE ROUZER. 363 Calvert Bldg. .900 Continental Bldg. 1109 Calvert Bldg. Cumberland Cumberland 931 Munsey Bldg. .214 St. Paul St. .700 Equitable Bldg. .905 Fidelity Bldg. .355 Title Bldg. JR...Chestertown .928 Equitable Bldg. 1110 Continental Bldg. 1303 American Bldg. 1303 American Bldg. Frostburg, Md. Md. Casualty Tower 1110 Continental Bldg. .Md. State Bank Bldg. 905 Fidelity Bldg. 342 Equitable Bldg. A. MORRIS TYSON, Chairman. THE PRESIDENT: Have all the gentlemen named been elected by the Executive Council? MR. TYSON: Yes, sir. This report was prepared some days ago, and since the last meeting of the Executive Council of the Association our Committee has received applications from five gentlemen all of which have been passed on favorably and I now submit this favorable report to the Association for action. Their names are as follows: WILLIAM M. SOMMERVILLE.. Berlin, Md. H. C. POFFENBERGER. .Baltimore, Md. Baltimore, Md. JOHN HUBNER RICE. .Baltimore, Md. Baltimore, Md. Marlboro, Md. HERBERT L. GRIMES. Upon motion duly made and seconded, and after vote, all were declared elected. THE PRESIDENT: Next in order is the report of the Secretary. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY The Secretary begs leave to report that he has endeavored to perform the usual duties appertaining to his office. Respectfully submitted, JAMES W. CHAPMAN, JR., Secretary. THE PRESIDENT: If I may be permitted to supplement that report I shall say that he has done so and has done so very well. WALTER H. BUCK: I move a vote of thanks be given to both the Secretary and Treasurer at this time. THE PRESIDENT: Wait until the Treasurer reads his report and then perhaps you will not want to include him in the vote of thanks. The Treasurer's report is now in order. THE TREASURER: I beg leave to submit the following report: REPORT OF THE TREASURER The Maryland State Bar Association, In Account With R. Bennett Darnall, Treasurer . $1,407.11 To balance as shown by 1921 report.. To membership dues 1916-17 received from the following member: James W. Bowers.... To membership dues 1917-18 received from the following three E. J. Colgan, James W. Bowers and M. Hampton To membership dues 1918-19 received from the following E. J. Colgan, Elmer R. Haile, William Stanley, Albert 5.00 15.00 55.00 |