Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-08-28

Monday afternoon and was largely attended
showing that the deceased was highly honored
by q large circle Of friends and acquaintance.
Among the clergy present were Kevs. A. At
wood, J. Maddux, and W. NJ. Gilbert Of the
Philadelphia Conference Bishop Scott, DR..
Matiack, J. d. Curtis, J. ID. Quigg, j. u. Mer-
rItt, J. Humphries, Z. Stubbs, Ii. Sanderson, J.
L. Tomkinson, J. d. Quigg, aud J. France Of
the wilmington Conference; also the following
local preachers: N. Yarnall Of Chester, Pa; j..
w. Loan OF Baltimore; Thos. Plummer, Will
liam vanhori, II. Ii. Davis, W. Ii: Hendrick-
soii, II. W. Zimmerman, and others. The
Messrs. DUPONT, the Mayor Of our city and
many Of our prominent business men, were also
present, beside large number Of others from
the surrounding country, and hundreds OF wo-
men and children.
Prior to leaving the house Rev. j. d. Rigg
read an appropriate Psalm, and very sppro-
pirate and affecting prayer was offered by Rev.
A. Atwood The casket was then closed and
carried TO the hearse, and the cortege proceeded
to Mt. Salem. On arriving there The body was
carried into the church, which unfortunately
was not large enough to contain ne-tenth of the
people. A hymn was given out by Rev. j..
Quigg;and it was sung most beautifully un-
der the leadership of the Messrs. Pickels. Rev.
Mr.. Curtis then offered very effective prayer, In
the course of which he asked that God would
be more than husband TO the widow, more
than father 10 tie daughter and son-in-law
ard that more than the mantel Of the father
should descend upon the son, and closed with
q pathetic alusion 10 little Jimmy the grand
son, that brought tears from many an eye.
The second hymn was announced BY Kew. j.
Maddux, and after it was sung, portion Of
Scripture was read by DR.. Mailsck. "pishop
Scott then followed In very appropriate SER
mon concerning those who sleep in jesus; the
happiness experienced In heaven and the gran
deur of the resurrection from the dead. He
concluded by remarking that James Riddle is
no more. Although for months lie had been
in very precarious health, and 1t was known
that he was liable to die at any moment, yet
bis death produced shock In this entire sec
ton of country. To the church, to the neigh
borhood, to the community at large, and espe-
cially 10 his family his death Is more than an
ordinary loss. It was his privilege to know
the deceased for many years and he esteemed
him highly as friend. What Is mortal of him
lies In that beautiful casket at the altar, but his
spirit Is with the just made perfect, aud he sleeps
in Jesus, peacefully and TRANQUILITY. Nothing
awaits him but blessings and happiness. The
relatives need no other words TO comfort them
In their bereavement than contained in the
scriptures. He prayed that the everlasting
arms should be around and about them and
they would realize more and more the blessings
that await all who conform TO the Divine will.
sketch prepared for the occasion
Our beloved friend and brother James Rid
die, whose loss We this day deplore, but over
whose departure we do not weep as those who
have no hope, was born in Ireland In the year
1908 and fell asleep In Christ OH the 2lst inst.
In the list year of his age. His parents, being
members of the Presbyterian Church, and de-
voted Christians, he was early and carefully in
structed in that knowledge which maketh wise
mn 4 ha Of aft
several month s Of earnest seeking,he was sound
ly and happily converted 10 God. Having been
brought to Christ through the fundamentally
of the Methodists lie Immediately united with
that body of Christian believers-and whilst he
was ever ready to extend the hand of Chris. ian
fellowship to churches OF other denominations,
yet he continued steadflst, consistent, and
useful member OF the Methodist church until
the day of his death. In the year 1927, he, with
his father, mother, and three sisters, his brother
Samuel having preceded them, came from
Ireland TO this country, and made their home
in Delaware county, Pa. Commencing life In
an humble manner, our brother by his indus
try and superior wisdom won his way to the
very trent rank of successful business men.
In the year 1915 he calae to the Brandywine
where he has built up and improved the valua-
bic property, now the home and estate Of his
bereaved fainily-aud ii will not be improper
for Inc to state, that such was the confidence
and respect inspired by his superior business
capacity and sterling integrity, that many OF
his fellow citizens, would have conferred upon
him the highest honors within the gitt of his
adopted state.
But, it is to his Religious life and success thu,
l would especially speak upon the present 0c.
| caslon. Soon after, our brother arrived In this
| country he united himself with the Methodist
church at Union and afterwards at Mt Hope
on what was then known as Chester Circuit
| The church perceiying that he possessed talent
| that might render him useful In the cause o.
| Christ, gave him license to exhort, and thel
/ license to preach-and from that date 1920 un.
til failing health caused him to desist, lie was
one Of onr most active, efficient, and acceptable
Local Preachers. The principal scene OF hii
| labours was Chester Circuit, which for many
years embraced all the T, rdtory from Whining
ton tn Chester-and from the Delaware Rive
to West-Chester. His name stands on the plan.
| Of that circuit Tor many years as one of the
| most prominent and useful Local Preachers.
On coming into this community lie at ono,
became deeply interested in the cause Of Chris
In this immediate neighborliood. AT that tint
| CS45) there was no church here meeting,
were held In private houses by brother Riddle
and others. Very soor, and principally, through
his influence and Efforts, this building wa
erected, and here in this pulpit, here at thes,
affairs, he has preached, exhorted, prayed An,
i
| Christ. need not say that lie loved this church
his choice OF this as a place Of burial, and I'll,
| noble gift bestowed in his last Will and Tesla
ment, clearly attest his strong affection for AIt
| Salem church. Nor were his labors continet
10 this and other surrounding churches. Like
true evangelist he went out into the highways
and wherever he could find all open door, Their
lie preached Christ, and extended the preciou
| invitation to come to Jesus. 1t was the priv
| no. IN IN
pany him OH several of these itlnerating toui
and to witness his ardent zeal in preser tin
Christ TO those who seldom heard the gospt
Of Jesus. Thus whilst health permitted, Ii
ceased not to labor for Christ, and when h
could no longer go forth to labor, he low d u
think and plan for tho further extension OF til
Redeemer's kingdom. As expressive Of his fee
Jugs upon this subject, he again, and agaii
during his last affection, requested his Paste
aud others to sing those beautiful lines of III
Poet.
ellis only righteousness show" "a.
L Although our brother had been an Invalid +,
many months, yet II was not until recently tin
he gave up all hope of at least partial recover
He then set his houselin order and waited vii
strong faith in God for the coming Of his Divii
Master. The last limos that he penned were
his son, in letter to be opened after his d.
= cease. In that letter lie thus speaks of h
hope: 'And before your eyes look upon the
, liues shall have passed from the shores
I tlme.' Trusting in the blood of the everastii
covenant, shall have gained the celesli
heights, and through infinite goodness becon
an inhabitant Of the Plains of Immortality"
i At my last interview with him, when takil
!, my leave of him, l said good bye brother Ri
die, until we meet again. Lifting uphis trei
bling hand and pointing upward he replied.
Il In Hedren. In Uedren. Yes, dear broth,
. "Yet again We hope to meet thee, when the d
y of life is fed, Then, in Heaven, with joy
II greet thee, where no farewell tear is shsd.'
az For about two days he seemed to be uncc
n scious, and then quietly fell asleep in Jesus