Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-12-18
PAY TRIBUTE TO
JOHN F. DRYDEN
Prudential Directors Adopt Res
0lutions Upon Death OF
Founder of Company.

Resolutions passed by the board OF
directors of the Prudential Insurance
Company, on the death of the presi-
dent. John F. Dryden, were given to
the press today by Secretary Edward
Grey. The meeting of the board was
held last Monday.
The committee on memorial consisted
of Richard V. Lindabury, William I.
Carter and Wilbur S. johnson. The re-
port submitted by this committee is as
follows:
Text of Resolutions.
I'm the death of John f. Dryden,
the founder of this company, and for
thirty years its president, the company
has sustained a loss which no man
can measure and no words express. He
not only founded the company but
guided it's policies and led it's actiVi-
ties from the hour of its birth until the
day of his death. There were other
calls upon his time, but the Prudential
was alweys his first consideration anu
to 1t he gave the best there was IN nm
Whatever of success 1t has achieved or
of good 1t has accomplished is due
primarily to his clear vision,
judgment and untiring zeal.
IN founding the Prudential Mr. Dry
den's idea was to bring the benent OF
life insurance to the homes OF the
working people. He had been greatiy
moved by observing the distressing
condition which frequently OBTAINED IN
those homes when the working MEM
-. 1T -. essdhanlH taken
away by death. The plan had often
been tried before, and in many olr1er-
ent ways, but had never succeeded in
this country. 1t was left for him to
work out a practical scheme and to
find the men and the money to carry it
out. This he did, and upon the ounda
ton he laid the whole fabric of indus
trial insurance in America rests to-
day. His earlier efforts were attended
with many difficulties and much dis
To a man less sure OF
himself and less resolute of purpose
they would probably have been fatal.
Capital was timid and friends luke
warm, but serving without salary and
operating In humble quarters his ex-
penses were small and in a few years
the project became self-supporting.
With its growth grew also Mr.. Dry
denis conception of the possibilities
which his scheme involved. He start
cd the as the widows and
Orphans Friendly Society,"" Then 1t
became "The Prudential Friendly So
ciety,'' and finally 1.-The Prudential In
surance Company of America Thus
was evolved from small beginnings in
the basement of a Broad street bank
the magnificent institution which to-
day challenges the respect and adj
miration of the world. That so much
could be accomplished in a single life
time n by a single individual is truly
marvellous and of itself stamps the au-
thor as one of the great men of his
time.
Record In Senate.
I'm 1902 Mr.. Dryden was chosen to
represent the State of New Jersey in
the Senate of the United States. In
the discharge of his duties in that
high office he displayed the same
breadth of view and the same keen
ness of intellect which marked his
ADMINISTRATION of his company's affairs.
In securing the enactment of legisla-
ton requisite for the speedy construc-
ton of the Panama canal he left a
permanent imprint upon the countrys
history. In his death the State and
nation have lost a citizen n public
servant of the first order.
I'm his personal intercourse Mr..
Dryden was the personification of gem
tlemanly courtesy. This he constantly
exhibited toward the members of the
board, and, in even a more marked
degree, toward the employees of the
company. How the latter responded
to 1t is shown by the record of de-
voted service rarely equaled and prob
ably never excelled.
I'm his private life and family re-
lations Mr.. Dryden's character shone
with peculiar lustre. Kindness, gem
tleness and consideration for others
were observable in everything he said
and everything he did His conversa-
ton was pure. his deals high n his
judgments just. No one could assoc
ciate with him without being the better
for 1t, no one having that privi-
lege but feels a deep sense of per-
sonal loss.
Resolved. That the foregoing be
spread upon the minutes of this board
as a permanent testimonial to the mem
DRY of Mr.. Dryden; that a copy of the
same be given to the press and another
copy, suitably engrossed. be sent to
his family"