Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-12-19
|. 0. 0. F.
THE ORDER MoURNs.
Services at the Cumberland Presby,
terian Church Last Night
In Memory OF the Late James L.
RidgeIy, Grand Secretary OF
the Order of Odd Fellows.

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Imposing and interesting services
were held at the Cumberland Presby-
terian church last night out of reyer-
ence and affection for the late James L.
Ridgely, Of Baltimore, for fifty one
years leading member Of the order
of Odd Fellows, and acknowledged
generally as the greatest and most
useful member Of that brotherhood
that has ever belonged thereto. The
attendance was very large, embracing
members Of all the lodges and the
Encampment in the city together With
their families, and numerous persons
who are not connected with Odd Fell
lowship.
The order of Odd Fellows in many
other States of the Union had selected
yesterday as the time for memorial
services in honor of the late distin-
!, guished brother. Ia Ohio, Nevada
and elsewhere all lodges joined in the
movement, and it was a day Of general
mourning for half = million Of Odd
Fellows, all in response to prOcla-
nation issued several weeks ago by
the Grand Sire of the Sovereign
Grand Lodge of the United States,
announcing the death Of Mr.. Ridgely
aud suggesting such action as might be
deemed fitting for so solemn an event.
and also requesting that all lodges be
draped in embloms Of woe for the Pc
riOd Of thirty days.
A committee of arrangements to
prepare programme was appointed
some weeks ago, and included the fol-
lowing Odd Fellows: John W.
Waynesburg, 2. G. of No. 6; r. j. |
Black, P. G. Of No. s; John Link.
hauer, P. G. of No. 40; Ben Bing-
ham, P. G. of No. 147; II. Dudley |
FraysOr, P. 9. P. of GayosO Enoamp-
ment No 3.
The committee of coincidence were
as follows; A. i. Davis, P. G.; j. w.
Voegeli, p. g.; r. A. Burton, P. g.;
j. s. Wilkins, P. g.; Dan. Schloss,
P. G.
The exercises began promptly at half
past seven in the evening in accord
ance with the following programme:
/. yOluntary-"Guide Ne 0 Thou" Choir. |
3. Some. ......." "Gveth Beloved Rest,j
4. X, Dudley frayser, 2, Il. NJ will call the
| Lodges 10 order.
Reading Grand Sir s Proclamation,
By 2. q. M, Chas NJ Carroll.
D. Services Of tho Order,
W. S. Bruce, =. q
. seldins Neutrality-suspicious. W. Graham;
8. Memorial Address.
| Rev. ii. A. Jones.
| y. closing SOng.."-.. ........ Abide with Me
To- Benediction ......"...... Rov, 4. j. Rowan
The service of song was splendidly
rendered by the choir, which included
some Of the oest voices among us, and
the minister S station in front was oc-
cupied by various prominent Odd Eel
lows, and Chief Patriarchs of the
order in this city, all in semi circle.
the Revs. T. j. Rowan and II A
Jones among the number. The lead
ing feature Of the services was the
admirable memorial address of the
the Rev. II. A. Jones a beautifully
wOrded tribute to the life, character and
memory of the venerable, upright aud
hOnored Secretary. Besides highly
entertaining word illustration of the
three links of 0ddfellowship, Friend
ship, Love and Truth" all of which
were embodied in the character of tie
late Mr. Ridgely, the reverend gem
tleman recounted the most conspicu-
Gus events in the career of the depart
ed brother. These points in brief
were that Mr.. Ridgely's ancestors set
tied in the pine forests Of Maryland
over two centuries ago, his father,
Lot Ridgely, was leading merchant
of Baltimore. James L. Ridgely was
born in Baltimore January 18th, 1907,
was educated at St. Mary's College
that city, studied law a. Emmetts
burg, was admitted to practiccin 1923,
became an Odd Fellow by joining
Columbia Lodge No. 3 in 1929, when
the entire membership of the order
was barely 5000. Served as a member
the Baltimore City Council ip 1884 .al.o
as a member Of the House ofDelegates.
then in the Constitutional Conven-
tions of lS49 and 1864, was for twelve
years Register of Dee'ls, aud for many
years President Of the School Board,
being the acknowledged father Of the
present school system of that city, and
was the Grand Corresponding aud Re
cording Secretary Of the Odd Fellows
Sovereign Grand Lodge. At the
time Of his death, which resulted from
paralysis at the ripe age Of seventy
five years, be was President
Of a Baltimore insurance
company. lie was also the editor Of
the Official Magazine of the order of
Odd Fellows, and the author Of the
various rituals now in use lie became
an Odd Fellow when the order was
in its infancy and lived to see the
noble order spread throughout the
world, while he was himself
the foremost member of it. |
He lived an irreproachable aud
upright life, and died beloved by every
0dd paiIo,v in tho ,,,;vo-,o tlo o-J..