The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-09
IN MEMORIAM
Alden Pardee BRYAN.

On Friday, November 30th, the Angel
of Death bore to immortality the soul Of
Alden Pardee Bryan. Mr.. Bryan was
born in Branford, Conn. September the
18th, 1898. He was the son of the late
William Bryan, of Connecticut, and
grandson of Captain James O'Brien, who
distinguished himself at the battle of Ira
falgar, and was afterwards lost at sea in
command of the British ship of war,
Diana
A P. Bryan inherited love of the sea
and at the age of twelve he left home TO
be d sailor, he soon returned and dill
gently applied himself to study, and es
pecially the science of navigation. At
the early age of seventeen he was pro-
fcient navigator and was appointed mate
upon a merchantmen engaged in foreign
trade. After some years, yielding to the
opportunities of his family. he reluc-
family surrendered the fascinating life of
a mariner and entered the express SER
vice. In 1863 he came to Raleigh as
agent for the Southern Express Company,
which position he held until his death.
Mr.. Bryans sympathies were intensely
Southern, and he identified himself with
our people, their cause was his cause, and
he Immediately developed that popular
ity that made him easily one of the first
citizens of the city and no man ever
lived in Raleigh who more endeared him
self to our people. In 1881 he married
Miss Isabelle Bryan, a daughter of the
late Hon. John H. Bryan, who was
member of Congress and long an honored
citizen and distinguished lawyer of this
city Mr.. Bryan has been in declining
health for several years, and he well
coined as deliyerer. In his long sick
ness his faith failed him not and pa
tiently he waited for the great Messen-
ger to come to bear him away to rest and
happiness at the Masters feet. He was
tired and full of pain, he was weary of
waiting and was ready when the shad-
ows fell Love Of humanity was indeed
a religion with him which creed he de-
voutly followed. His charities were great
and only circumscribed by his means. He
was a friend to the poor and oppressed,
a nurse to the sick, a father to the or
phan comforter to the afflicted and
protector to the weak. Sympathy for dis
tress in every form was one of the moving
instincts of his nature. His generous,
sympathetic nature especially attracted
to him men of whom he was peculiarly
fond. He took an affectionate interest
in their affairs and was a fatherly coun-
sellor in their troubles and it is safe to
say that no one ever exerted a greater
influence for good in molding the char
acter of the young men who came in
touch with him. He was leader in all
coed works He was one of the founders
of ST. Johns Hospital, and always its
most ardent supporter. He was one of
the first members of the Church of the
Good Shepherd and for years superintend-
ent of its Sunday school, His friendships
were strong and enduring; firm for the
right, he was generous and forgiving of
wrong. He was gentle in all his deal
ings, and his attachments and affections
were as constant as woman's. To
know him and not be his friend was ar
que yourself unworthy. AS the news of
his death was waited abroad, it brought
a twinge to hearts that had known his
friendship or felt his charity, and on
many lip there trembled a murmured
prayer, 'fGodd bless Mr. Bryan"
His friends will most love to remem-
Der him at the bedside tenderly nursing
the sick and ministering to their wants,
or at the end by his soothing presence
helping to dispel the fears of the gather
ing gloom True, tender and faithful in
all the relations of life he was pure in
heart and kept himself uspotted from the
world. He wore the white flower Of
blameless life and is loved and blessed
in death and Heaven is his reward He
left his impress upon us and we are bet
ter for his having lived. The grandeur
and beauty of his character should bring
light and inspiration to the hearts Of his
stricken loved ones in their gloom. and
the bereaved should be comforted in the
knowledge that he is happy in his eter-
nal home
A simple recital of some of his chart
ties and martyr-like self-sacrifice would
be the most eloquent tribute that could
be paid to this man, but in keeping with
his modesty and retiring nature, let it
be written, He loved his fellow-man