Since such is the record of our profession and the part it has taken in the upbuilding and history-making of our state, should we not feel happy upon this, its one hundredth birthday celebration, and jon joyfully therein?

So, I repeat, that we and all our citizens are especially glad to have you here at this particular time. And now, in behalf of this entire community, congratulating ourselves that we have you with us, I want to congratulate you that so much of Nashville's beauty has lent its presence to grace this occasion.

The fact is, gentlemen, wherever you find a lawyer upon such an occasion as this, if you do not find the ladies with him, you are sure to find him with the ladies. This is so, because of that mutual attraction always existing between beauty and gallantry, grace and chivalry. When a girl marries a young lawyer, to the superficial observer she displays a degree of heroism that is sublime, while, really, for this she deserves no special credit, for he is irresistible and she is willingly led into captivity. All the lawyer needs to do is to pick the girl he wants, and then, if he properly shapes his pleadings, he is sure to win his case; he is never demurred out of court, and but seldom has to amend his declaration. This, of course, will be traversed by the lawyers' wives, who claim that levy was never made until after many judgments had been rendered in their favor and new trials granted.

Ladies, we are happy that you are here, and now consider all these nice things that have been said of you, both in poetry and song, repeated, and fully indorsed by every member of this association; and we would have you remember that it was the lawyers who freed you from serfdom and placed you upon that high pinnacle where your graces now challenge their admiration, and around which they stand, your most trustworthy defenders, as well as your most willing bondsmen.

"Long live this association" is a sentiment that I am sure finds hearty echo in the heart of every member. I have heard some complain that we have accomplished little-I think we have done much. If we have not secured all the legislation we have

recommended, we have provoked a discussion of these matters, and I am confident, too, to the extent that they are wise and just, they will at no distant day find place on our statute books.

Another good that this association can and will accomplish, if its movements are in the future conducted by the same motives as in the past: Among no inconsiderable number of people, and to some extent with the most intelligent, there is towards the lawyers a kind of prejudice or suspicion. How often have we all heard the remark, "You lawyers make the law to suit yourselves, and have things all your own way," and others of similar import. While it is true that nine-tenths of the laws upon the statute books that ought to be there were put there by the lawyers, I challenge any man to find a single one that has been dietated by selfish interests, while every other class and profession, the tenant and the landlord, the mechanic, day laborer and contractor, the merchant and farmer, the physician and minister, all, save the lawyers, have, through the lawyers' influence, been made the object of special legislative care and protection.

How better can this prejudice be dispelled, and this unwarranted imputation refuted than in our annual meetings, always held with open doors, where our ends and aims are so freely and fully discussed, and all of which we publish to the world.

Within this association are the possibilities of many good results. I will mention one other only, and along this line I am glad to say much has already been done. I mean the development and cultivation of that spirit of friendship which should exist among us, and that stimulus we each should receive from the other, to practice our profession upon a high plane and always with purest principles of ethics.

In all our annual meetings

"Let each such brief contact be
A glorious helpful ministry;

Each giving to the other's need,
Each helping on the other's best,
And blessing each as all are blest."

Let this association be so conducted as that every member will feel honored by his membership and that none but honorable lawyers can find entrance here; then we have done much for ourselves and more for our fellow-citizens.

But, gentlemen, my only mission is to bid you welcome. I am not going to give you the key to this city, nor even content myself with throwing the gates ajar, but I raze its very walls to earth and bid you take the town, and should you do those things which are "contrary to the form of the statute in such cases made and provided," or trample beneath your feet "the peace and dignity of the state," then I offer you the consolation, for the fears and regrets that will come in your hours of sober reflection, the assurance that you have "a friend in court."

Judge S. F. Wilson, of Gallatin, upon request of the president, made an appropriate response to Judge Anderson's address. Upon motion, the reading of the minutes of the preceding meeting was dispensed with.

The following letter from Judge Wm. F. Cooper was then read to the association by the president:

New York, May 17, 1897.

W. B. Swaney, Esq., Chattanooga, Tenn.

Dear Sir-I appreciate the compliment of the invitation to prepare a paper for the next annual meeting of the Bar Association of Tennessee, and am grateful for the very kind terms in which you have made it. But my answer must be the same as that which I have heretofore given in such cases. As long as I was engaged in active life my motto was: "Laborare est orare," work is worship, and I did my best. Now I am content to adopt the conclusion of wise old Montaigne: "La plus grande chose du monde c'est de scavoir etre a soy a loisir et a son aise." Which may be translated in the language of Uncle Eben, between whiffs form his corn cob pipe: "De older a fellow gits, de more he larns what not to do."

With high regards,

W. F. COOPER.

President W. B. Swaney then read the annual address. (See Appendix.)

The report of the Treasurer was the next order of business, but this, upon motion, was referred to the Central Council to be audited.

The Central Council recommended the following persons for membership in the association, all of whom were elected: C. T. Boyd, R. L. Kennedy, J. Washington Moore, Thos. J. Tyne, Stith M. Cain, J. P. Atkinson, Nashville; W. W. Pardue, Edward T. Seay, Gallatin; Geo. W. Henderson, Knoxville; Henry H. Cook, Franklin; N. G. Robertson, Walter L. Faulkner, Lebanon.

The association then adjourned until 3 P.M.

The association met at 3 P.M., President Swaney in the chair. The first order of business on the programme was a paper prepared and read by the Hon. H. M. Doak, of Nashville, entitled "The Life and Public Services of Hon. Howell E. Jackson." (See Appendix.)

The report of the Committee on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar was the next order of business, and was submitted by Jos. G. Branch, of Nashville, chairman of the committee. The report is as follows:

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON LEGAL EDUCATION AND ADMISSION TO THE BAR.

To the Bar Association of Tennessee:

At the meeting of the bar association in 1895, a resolution was adopted instructing the committee on admission to the bar to prepare and submit to the next general assembly, such amendments to our statutes as would confer sole jurisdiction upon the supreme court of the admission of members to the bar, and allow it to pre

scribe rules therefor. In accordance therewith, the committee prepared and submitted to the general assembly the following bill:

A bill to be entitled, "An act to establish a State Board of Law Examiners, to regulate the admission of persons to practice law and to repeal sections 3967 and 3968 of the code of Tennessee."

Section 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Tennessee: That a citizen of the state, of full age, applying to be admitted as an attorney or counselor in the courts of the state, and who has not been granted a license to practice law by some law school in the state, must be examined and licensed to practice as herein prescribed. A state board of law examiners. is hereby created, to consist of three members of the state bar, who shall be appointed from time to time by the supreme court, and shall hold office as a member of such board for a term of three years, except under the first appointment, which shall be for terms of one, two, and three years respectively until the appointment of his successor. Such court shall prescribe rules providing for a uniform system of examinations, which shall govern such board of law examiners in the performance of its duties, and shall fix the compensation of its members. There shall be examinations of all persons applying for admission to practice as attorneys and counselors at law at least twice in each year in Knoxville, Nashville, and Memphis, and at such other times and places as the supreme court may direct. Every person, at the time of applying for such examination, shall pay such fee, not to exceed twenty dollars ($20), as may be fixed by the supreme court as necessary to cover the costs of such examination. On payment of one examination fee the applicant shall be entitled to the privilege of not exceeding three examinations. Such board shall certify to the chancery division in which each candidate has resided for the past six months every person who shall pass the examination, provided such person shall have, in other respects, complied with the rules regulating admission to practice as attorneys and counselors, which fact shall be determined by