exact compliance with the strictest principles of moral law. lle must also observe and advise his client to observe the statute law, though until a statute shall have been construed and interpreted by competent adjudication, he is free and is entitled to advise as to its validity and as to what he conscientiously believes to be its just meaning and extent. But above all a lawyer will find his highest honor in a deserved reputation for fidelity to private trust and to public duty, as an honest man and as a patriotic and loyal citizen.

III

OATH OF ADMISSION

The general principles which should ever control the lawyer in the practice of his profession are clearly set forth in the following Oath of Admission to the Bar:

I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR:

I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York.

I will maintain the respect due to Courts of Justice and judicial officers;

I will not counsel or maintain any suit or proceeding which shall appear to me to be unjust, nor any defense except such as I believe to be honestly debatable under the law of the land.

I will employ for the purpose of maintaining the causes confided to me such means only as are consistent with truth and honor, and will never seek to mislead the Judge or jury by any artifice or false statement of fact or law;

I will maintain the confidence and preserve inviolate the secrets of my client, and will accept no compensation in connection with his business except from him or with his knowledge and approval;

I will abstain from all offensive personality, and advance no fact prejudicial to the honor or reputation of a party or witness, unless required by the justice of the cause with which I am charged;

I will never reject, from any consideration personal to myself, the cause of the defenseless or oppressed, or delay any man's cause for lucre or malice. SO HELP ME GOD.

PROCEEDINGS

The Association convened in the meeting room of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 42 West Fortyfourth street, New York City, on Friday, January 16, 1920,

at 10 A. M.

The meeting was called to order by the President, Hon. Henry W. Taft.

Louis Marshall, of New York:

Mr. President, I appear before you, in association with brother Saxe, as a welcoming committee from the city association to extend the facilities of the building to this gathering. and to render any assistance that is in our power in an endeavor to make this meeting a success.

The President:

The chair returns the thanks of the State Association for the courtesy extended, and expresses our appreciation of the fact that the Association of the Bar of the City of New York has always added in many ways to the convenience of our members and to the success of these occasions. I may say that a suitable resolution, more expressive of the appreciation of the Association, will be introduced later.

The first item of business in order is the reading of the minutes of the preceding meeting.

Albert Hessberg, of Albany:

Inasmuch as the Annual Report has been printed and distributed to the membership, I move that the reading of the minutes be dispensed with.

The motion was duly seconded and carried.

The President:

The next order of business is the Report of the Executive Committee, which will now be read by the Secretary.

To the Members of the New York State Bar Association:
A meeting of the Executive Committee was held in the City
of New York, Thursday afternoon, January 15th, 1920.
William D. Guthrie, Chairman, presided.

The substance of the business transacted at the last meeting of the Executive Committee on November 15th, 1919, was thereupon stated, and upon motion duly made and seconded, the stenographer's transcript of the minutes was approved.

The report of the Treasurer of the Association, duly audited. by a committee previously appointed by the President, was presented, and on motion duly made and seconded was received and filed.

The Treasurer presented a list of members of the Association who are in arrears in the payment of their dues for the years 1918 and 1919.

The following resolution was offered and duly adopted:

"Resolved, That the names of members of the Association who are in arrears in the payment of their dues for the years 1918 and 1919 be stricken from the membership roll for non-payment of dues, unless their arrearages shall be paid on or before the first day of May, 1920." The Treasurer presented a list of names of members who were elected during the past year, and who failed to qualify. The following resolution was offered and duly adopted:

"Resolved, That the names of candidates for membership in the Association who have failed to qualify shall be stricken from the membership roll, unless they qualify by paying their dues on or before the first day of May, 1920,"

The Secretary presented a list of twelve (12) applicants for admission to membership in the Association, and these were duly elected.

The Secretary further reported that one hundred and eighty (180) new members had been elected since the proceedings of

the last annual meeting were published, in addition to those elected at this meeting of the Executive Committee, making a total of one hundred ninety-two (192) new members so elected during the past year.

It was duly moved and seconded that the communication of Mr. Harry Weinberger of New York be referred to a special committee of the Executive Committee, to consist of the Chairman and four (4), others to be designated by him, with power to investigate and to report either to the Executive Committee or to the Association, as may be deemed expedient.

The motion was duly carried.

A motion was duly made that a special committee be appointed, to consist of the Chairman and four (4) other members of the Executive Committee to be selected by him, to investigate and consider the subject of establishing headquarters for the Association in Albany, with facilities for the convenience of members of the Association.

The motion was duly carried.

The Secretary presented a letter from the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, dated January 10th, advising him of the action taken by the Executive Committee extending the privileges of the use of the house of the City Bar Association to the members of the New York State Bar Association during the period of its meeting in the City of New York on the 15th, 16th and 17th of January, 1920.

On motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously resolved that the Secretary be requested to acknowledge the receipt of this communication and to express the appreciation of the Executive Committee and of the Association of the courtesies and hospitalities extended by the Association of the Bar to the State Bar Association.

On motion duly made and adopted, the sum of six hundred dollars ($600) was appropriated for the Secretary to cover the expense of clerical assistance for the year 1920.