468
RIDLEYS OF BURY ST. EDMUND'S, ENGLAND.
Kogerah, Cook's River, and preached either there, or in one of the Sydney
churches, almost every Sabbath. He was an active participator in the
business of the Presbyterian Synod, and served on important committees.
His great attainments were highly appreciated when placed at the service
of the brotherhood of his church. For two years he assisted in editing
the Australian Witness. He was also appointed one of the theological
tutors of St. Andrew's College, and one of the examiners of candidates
for the ministry. He took his degree of M. A. at Sydney University in
1864. During the last year preceding his decease he was requested by
the Presbytery to enter upon a new work, one that might have daunted a
man of robust health. This was nothing less than the acquirement of the
Chinese language, in order to fit him to take charge of the Chinese mis-
sion in the city of Sydney. Mr. Ridley devoted one half of his time to
this great undertaking, persevering with his accustomed application until
he so far succeeded that he could write passages of Scripture in the lan-
guage, which he distributed amongst the Chinamen. He also acquired,
by private study and under the instruction of Ah Len, the Chinese mis-
sionary, an elementary knowledge of the spoken dialect. In fact, he had
translated and set to music some hymns which he sang with the Chinese
in their meetings for worship; but it was a source of great sorrow to him
when he learned from Dr. Vrooman, a missionary of twenty years' expe-
rience in Canton, China, who visited Sydney, that his studies of the
language had been prosecuted by him in mistaken lines, owing to the
want of proper instruction and assistance. He spent considerable time
with this missionary during his stay in the colony, in order to improve
his knowledge of the Chinese language, and on the Sabbath before his
death saw him off on the steamer. It was a proof of the well-balanced
mind of Mr. Ridley, that, notwithstanding his enthusiasm for missionary
work among the Chinese, yet on political grounds he favored moderate
restrictions on emigration. In theology he was most liberal-minded. He
was intensely sympathetic in his appreciation of good men of all denom-
inations, and his broad views and spontaneous charity are manifest in the
religious writings of Mr. Ridley, published in the University Magazine.
His political views were distinctly liberal in home and foreign affairs.
He had a firm grasp of the principles of popular representative govern-
ment, and did not hesitate to apply them. His character, without any
exaggeration, was almost perfect, and a record of his acts of self-denying
kindness would fill a volume. He never made any enemy, and yet he
never tampered with principles in order to conciliate opponents.
was a peace-maker in the highest sense of the word, in the church and
the world. His gentleness endeared him to all with whom he associated.
He was the soul of honor, and the embodiment of righteousness. Full
of religious earnestness and enthusiasm, he was thoroughly practical in
all his undertakings. He was never idle, and his death was undoubtedly
hastened by his over-devotion to what seemed to him duty. In his ser-
vice for his Master and his fellow-men, he was worn out, and in the midst
of great usefulness, having only three weeks before his death preached
from the text, "Put on the whole armor of God," he passed away
Sept. 26, 1878. On Saturday, the 21st, he appeared in full vigor of mind
and body; but on the following morning was stricken with paralysis, and
never rallied from the attack. His funeral was from his late residence,
"Lohort," and was attended by a large assembly of clergymen, members
of the press, and other well-known and distinguished citizens. Mr. Rid-
He
