49 / 82
DECEMBER,
T&e Gazette of .the laeorporated Law Society ot Ireland,
and the result of the scrutiny showed that
out of that 800 only 390 thought fit to vote.
While members criticised the Council they
ran away from their own Society, kept their
vote in their pockets, and did not pay any
attention to it. Every Solicitor in Ireland
should be an active mem-ber of the Society ;
but if the present condition of affairs con
tinued the .result would be that, no matter
what legislation would be proposed, Parlia
ment would not give the slightest attention
to the profession. He knew how the President
and the Council had exerted themselves dur
ing their period of office in the interests of the
profession, but it was hard to expect them to
insist upon the rights of men who would not
look aifter their own interests,
who
would not
join the Society, but who left it to others to
work for them.
The motion for the adoption of the Report
was then put by the President, and passed.
Upon the motion of MR. JAMES BRADY,
seconded by MR. QUAID, a vote of thanks
was passed to the President and Council for
the steps taken to obtain from the military
authorities
the necessary permission
for
Solicitors to interview person's under arrest
in connection with the recent rebellion.
THE PRESIDENT having vacated the
chair, and MR. JOHN H. WALSH, one of
the Vice-Presidents, having been moved
thereto,
MR. RICHARD A. 'MACNAMARA pro
posed a vote of thanks to Mr. Orpen for the
m-anner in which he discharged the duties of
President during his period of office.
In
doing so he said they never had a more
energetic President. Ever at the -call of the
Society, when anything required ;to be done
the President took the matter in hand, and
interviewed the various parties and tried to
get
everything
right.
He
interviewed
Registrars, Judges, and other persons, and
everything that could 'be done for the welfare
and interests of the profession he did it.
They had had many active Presidents, but
they never had one more active than Mr.
'©rpen.
That was what was only to be
expected from the grandson of Sir R. J. T.
'Orpen, who was for six years President of
-their Society, and whose portrait adorns their
•*Kall.- They hoped also to see .a portrait
of his grandson
there, •
painted "by his
own
brother.
He was sorry that fee
President's period of office terminated in a
period of such gloom, but it was a gloom
which they would face with full hearts, and
to him they owed a deep debt of gratitude
for what he had done for every member of
the profession.
THE CHAIRMAN .—We needjiot ask any
one to second this resolution ; you all feel in
concurrence with
it.
You
feel
deeply
grateful to the President for the work he has
done during the year.
I declare the resolu
tion carried.
.
.
MR. ORPEN, in acknowledging the vote,
said he thanked the members extremely,
especially Mr. Macnamara for the manner in
which he proposed the resolution. He could
assure them that to work with the Council of
the Incorporated Law Society was a pleasure
to him ; but it would be quite impossible for
the President to do very much, no matter
how well-meaning he might be, except .he
was backed up by the entire Council, and
•every member of the Council had worked
loyally together. He expressed his appre
ciation of the work done by the Secretary
for the Society.
He also thanked their
representative in Parliament, Mr. P. J. Brady,
who was always ready to help them in every
way he could.
He could very -easily form
an idea as to how they would take any
reference to Mr. Brady, he had come out at
the top of the poll, and rightly so, for he had
got the confidence of -every Solicitor iin
Ireland.
The -proceeding* then terminated.
Meetings of the Council.
November 1st.
The late Mr. Gerald 'Byrne.
A resolution was passed expressing the
regret of
the Council at
the death of
Mr. Gerald Byrne, a past President, and
expressing the sympathy of the Council with
Mrs. Byrne in her bereavement.
Court of Examiners.
The report of the Court of Examiners upon
the October Preliminary and Final Examina
tions -and
'the award of
the Eindlater
•Scholarship was submitted .and adopted.