Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

PART II.

ADDRESSES DELIVERED BEFORE THE ILLINOIS STATE BAR ASSOCIATION, AT THE TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL

MEETING, CHICAGO, JULY 12 AND 13, 1900.

ANNUAL ADDRESS

DELIVERED BEFORE THE ILLINOIS STATE BAR ASSOCIATION, AT CHICAGO, JULY 12, 1900.

BENSON WOOD, President.

My acknowledgments are again due you for the high honor conferred upon me in having been chosen as your president; as also for the uniform kindness and courtesy extended to me by the members during the past year.

Our Association is older than that of any of the States and Territories, with but three exceptions. It antedates that of the American Bar Association, and goes back to January 4, 1877. On that day, some ninety gentlemen of the bar of the State met, in convention, at Springfield, and took the initial step that has resulted in the permanent establishment of this Association. Most of those who participated in that preliminary meeting, and many who became members during the first year, by virtue of their attendance upon it, have been permitted, by a kind Providence, to remain until this day. But the shadow has encompassed some. Ficklin, Decius, Townshend, Cooper, Gregg, Gillespie, McNulta, Swan, Williams, Boyd, Puterbaugh, Greene, Hay, Hinchcliffe, Munn, and perhaps some others, whose names escape my recollection, have gone hence. Those were genial and gentlemanly lawyers, whom it was a pleasure to meet at our annual meetings. We recognized them all as able and honorable men in their profession. Nearly every one had served the State in high

« PreviousContinue »