Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-09-19
TO HIS
LAST ABODE
Remains Of the Late W. G. Ritch
Laid to Rest in National
Cemetery.
IMPRESSIVE
CEREMONIES
Touching Tribute to the Worth Of the
Dead...Served His County
Faithfully.

| The last earthly remains of William
G. Ritch, soldier. pioneer, literary man
| and statesman, were laid in their final
resting place yesterday afternoon with
ceremonies suitable to such distin-
| guished dead
! Many officials, public officers. SOL
diers and members of orders with whom
the late Ex-Governor had been as
sociated, gathered to pay last touch
ing tribute to the departed friend, the
simplicity of the ceremonies being
symbolic Of the character of the de-
ceased.
| The remains of the late statesman
had lain in state in the main corridor
OF the Capitol Building by order of
Governor Otero. It was here gathered
around the bier that first ceremonies
were held. Rev. R. W. Dye, rector Of
the Episcopal church.. of which the de-
ceased had been an earnest member,
touchingly spoke few words concern
ing the past life of this man they had
gathered to honor. He called atten-
ton to his nobility Of character, his
| cleanness in public life and conduct as
head of a family. His past was spok-
en- of as an example which it behooved
all to follow
After services in the Capitol the re-
mains were taken in charge by Santa
Fe Lodge No. 2, I. o. o. F., by the last
request oil Mr.. Ritch. 1t was fitting
that the order in which he had occu-
pied so many prominent positions
should oficiate at the grave The de-
ceased had served as Grand Master Of
the Grand Lodge of New Mexico and
had also been chosen as Territorial
Grand Representative to the national
meeting.
When the funeral cortege reached
the National Cemetery, President G.
M. Light, of the Silver City Normal
School, delivered the following short
but impressive address concerning the
life and good work done by the deccas-
ed Mr.. Ritch had been for eight years
member of the Board of Regents of
the Normal School and President
Light. being a prominent Odd Fellow,
the address was very appropriate.
Brethren and friends: We gather
around this open grave to pay our last
formal tribute to one whom we all in
timately know, and one whom we all
had learned to greatly respect and
love. Indeed, his conceptions, his SEN
timents and his deeds have placed him
in that larger life, and all men, who
were acquainted at all with his sphere
of activity, delighted to honor him.
His Interpretation of universal broth
erhood was not circumscribed, was not
limited to class of individuals, but
was as broad as mankind itself. It
was to this end that he exercised his
functions as father and husband, as
your friend, and as citizen of the
community in which he lived. It Is
for this reason, this elimination of self,
this devotion to the good of others,
that he had interviewer his character
so favorably with the history of New
Mexico and her institutions. BY reas-
on Of the great distances in this coun-
try. I have never had the opportunity
to visit his late residence, but he had
been frequent visitor in my home.
During my eight years acquaint-
ance with him, these frequent visits
gave me an insight into his life and
character which could not otherwise
have had l not only learned to appre-
ciate his judgment and advice concern
ing. the institution, for the good of
which we have both so earnestly la
bored, but became through his in
fluence, almost as intimately acQuaint-
ed with his affairs, as If had been .
of his own household. With
this knowledge do not wonder at the
devotion of his own family and friends
to his interest and wellbeing. As q
friend, he was steadfast and reliable.
But no friendship, however strong,
could influence him to deviate from
his private and public obligations. To
him a friend who desired him to turn
from the path Of rectitude was not =
friend. On one occasion he used these
words: What you ask should very
much like to personally grant, but We
are not doing business for ourselves
but for the public, and therefore the
affairs of this institution must be ex-
ecuted according to correct business
principles
For more than fifty years he had
held public positions almost continu-
ously. the experience of which so en-
inently fitted him for official AFFAIRS. u
His knowledge of legal and clerical
forms. his indomintable courage. M
to duty, his more than q \
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