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Opening of New Building of the Law Society of Upper Canada,
Toronto, March, 1939.

I am always glad to be in the company of lawyers,
of members of my old and cherished profession. Occasionally I
am required to speak on a legal topic, and then I realize sadly
that while I may be still a lawyer I am no longer learned in the
law, and I have to appeal to my audience in the words of the
poet -

"Let there be no moaning of the bar
When I put out t o sea".

Tonight I have no such duty. I am here as an
honorary Bencher of Osgoode Hall to declare open a new wing of
the Law Society's Building. I say to "declare open", not to
open, for it has been already opened and in use for many months.
That is very like our profession; we are sticklers for form, but
we are very ready to throw form to the wind when there is a
practical reason.

When I first saw Osgoode Hall I was struck with
its similarity to the Inns of Court in England, of which I have
the honour to be a Bencher. Its living inhabitants had the same
look; the portraits on its walls showed the same kinds of heads
as you will find in the Middle Temple or Gray's Inn; the whole
atmosphere, the whole flavour was the same. That, I suppose,
is due to the pre-potent influence of our Common Law.

Well, gentlemen, what I want to say to you tonight
is that I hope you will cultivate this resemblance, and