LATE MR COHEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 67, 21 March 1933, Page 9

LATE MR COHEN

MANY TRIBUTES PAID LEGAL PROFESSION AND ROTARY.

Tributes to the late Mr. Louis Cohen were paid by members of the Wanganui legal profession and of the Wanganui Rotary Club yesterday. Prior to the business of the Magistrate’s Court the Mayor, Mr. N. G. Armstrong, and Mr. J. H- Salmon, S.M., addressed a large gathering of the Wanganui Bar, every person in the Court standing. At the weekly luncheon of the Wanganui Rotary Club the programme was postponed, three of the late Mr. Cohen’s favourite melodies played and tributes paid by Mr. A. R. Donaldson, the president, Mr. F. Symes, Mr. J. S. L. Deem and Mr. N. Fulton. A letter expressing the sympathy of the club is to be sent to Mr. Cohen’s relatives. Speaking on behalf of members of the legal profession of Wanganui, Mr. Armstrong expressed the deepest sympathy towards the late Mr. Cohen’s sister and brothers. He sketched the early career of Mr Cohen, and told how, at the early age of 14, he had passed his entrance examination to the Canterbury University and obtained a junior and senior university scholarship and how, at 21, he had secured double honours and the degree of Master of Arts. Mr. Cohen had qualified in languages and political science and had been associated with a remarkable band of students, responding to the environment and making friedships which lasted throughout his life. “He was.” said Mr. Armstrog, “one nf the most picturesque figures we have had in New Zealand.” His Proper Sphere. “It was as a counsel that he found his proper sphere, his retentive memory, his wonderful grasp of true principles and ideals of English law, his appreciation of what that system of law meant to the Empire and the fact that our system of practice is the envy of the rest of the world, were all deeply embedded in his mind- His ability was such that on several occasions he received the compliments of the judges for the manner in which he presented his cases. He became a distinct force in the Court. “The Bar in Wanganui is not of a very great age but we have had in the past some < landing men. and. as we look back over the past, no doubt the name of Louis Cohen will bo coupled with those of the late Mr. S. T. Fitzherbert and Mr. W H. Barnicoat. All those who met him, whether as a solicitor in the Lower Court, or as a counsel in the Supreme Court, were impressed by his force of character, by ► his grip of business and law, and. withal, all respected him and knew they would be met with an honourable dealing. He was at times a vigorous opponent but he always remembered the ideals of his profession.” A Force in the Community. Mr. Armstrong referred to the late Mr- Cohen's activities outside his profession, to his love of literature, to the part he played in education and to his interest in music and art. was a force in our community and one that will be ditiicult to replace. One aspect of life upon which Mr. Cohen did not dilate unless to his close friends, was the subject of religion and his views of the next world. If he thought that he would meet the famous men who preceded him, the great artists and musicians, then he would cheerfully have left this world to join them and be in communion with them. “We who met Louis Cohen in the course of business and mingled with him in the outer world, will long retain the memory of his wonderful personality, and, as years go by, we will i all agree that, after all, it was better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”. “The death of our friend and leader j will leave a gap, not only in the local ' Bar, but in th e Bar of New Zealand,” I salt Air. Salmon. “His wide reading ] f made it a privilege and pleasure to j discuss any topic with him. He was j always able to throw further light upon j any subject and the light always aimed ' at the root of the subject. “We will miss his congenial person- ■ ality and. in remembering his many great qualities, we will remember not only his width of reading, but also his great memory, hi- deep knowledge of the his ready wit and keen mind. All these make for worldly success. But he had greater qualities, particularly his humanitarian outlook in life, his tolerance for the failings of human nature, and his great kindness of heart. These are the qualities he will take with him- Our sympathies go out to his relatives and his sister, who was his constant companion through life. Rotary club Remembrance. As the Rotary Club was in mourning for the passing on of past-president ■‘Louis.'' the usual programme was postponed and devoted to the memory of the late member. After lunch the old Hebrew melody “Koi Nidrei” bv Max Brusch. was played, it having been a favourite of the late Mr. Cohen. The Andante from Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, which was played by the Mr Cohen, on the first occasion it was heard in New Zealand, and the tonepoem “Finlandia.” by Sibelius, were also played. “Finlandia” was played by the Wanganui Orchestral Society and conducted by Air. Cohen at one of his last appearances as a conductor. Speaking on behalf of the club Air. Donaldson said: “In common with ail citizens we mourn the loss of one who wa held in the highest esteem, not only in Wanganui but throughout the Dominion. He was prominent in the preliminary measures required to be carried out in the founding of our club and his interest in its affairs has always been maintained. Our past presidents will agree with me that Rotarian Louis was ever ready to do anything for the club, and his guiding hand will lie sadly missed. “Our district governor has sent w.cthe following message: ‘Greatly regret the passing on of Louis Cohen who I looked upon as one of the stalwarts of Rotary. Please convey my sincere condolences to relatives.— Harry Valder. District Governor.’ 44 As a citize: Mr. Cohen played a part in all activities for the eiw’s welfare and in the field of sport he was a tower of strength. His cultural attainments were of high stand ard and as a consequence his valuable advice was incessantly in demand :.«i freely given in the realm of art and music. He has passed on. but the fond est memories will be retained by those who knew him, of a man who has played his part nobly and well. May the knowledge that his passing is

mourned by a host of friends here and abroad be some solace to his relatives wao have suffered such a severe bereavement.” Mr. I ulton referred to a conversation with the late Mr. Cohen, who had said what Rotary had done for him bv bringing tolerance into his life. He had admitted that his great weakness hai been an intolerance towards his feliowrnen but Rotary had changed his outlook. If Rotary had done nothing more for him that was one of its finest i achiet ements and had made him see Iffe from a different angle. “You ail knew Mr. Cohen well and that he was a man of parts,” said Mr. Bs aies. “He was a man endowed with many gifts and many talents. He did net hide those talents under a bushel but he cultivated them and gav e tho community the benefit. We shall all mils hiui, his kindly smile, his cheery word and Happy joke and his friendly handshake, not only the members of the Rotary club but many in the community of Wanganui, bo’th rich and poor, for h 0 was not only the friend of the well-to-do but also a friend to those in need. “We have listened to his speeches 'vith P leasure for he had the happy facility of sketching over a subject with a delicate touch given to few but admired by all. He was a complex character, a student of arts and at the same time a follower of football and bo ting—almost a contradiction. Every thing he took up he followed through and gave of his best. Wo shall miss hi m here and 1 can only say in the words of the Masons, ‘We cherish his memory here and we commend his spirit to God who gave it.’ ” “Louis was a man richly endowed with the community spirit,” said Mr. Deem. “He had the spirit of service —service above self, the Rotary motto. He was a great scholar, probably the most outstanding at the university in his day. A deep thinker he had wonder faculties which brought him to the fore and he was a tower of strength in anything he took up- He gave his tbue and service to many activities and was a member of the university senate for 13 years in addition to being a leader in music and many branches of sport. “He had* a truly phenomenal record of service and one that any man could be proud of. In past-president Louis we have lost a very close friend and a loyal and enthusiastic member of [ the club. Our deepest sympathy is I extended towards his relatives.” |