MAGLFEly
FREDERICK DAVID ELY 1838-1921
Deputy Grand Master, 1884-1885
MEMORIAL
From Proceedings, Page 1921-452:
R.W. FREDERICK DAVID ELY, son of Nathan and Amelia (Partridge) Ely, was born in Wrentham, Mass., September 24, 1838, and died at his home in Dedham, Mass., August 6, 1921. He was educated in the public schools and at Day's Academy of his native town, and at Brown University, from which he graduated in 1859.
He was married December 6, 1866, to Eliza Baldwin Whittier, of Boston, who died February 12, 1881. On August 10, 1885, he married. Anna Emerson, of Rochester, Vt., who died July 28, 1915. By his first marriage he had three children: Frederick David, Jr., who died February 13, 1890; Ida Baldwin, who died November 5, 1870; and Amelia M., wife of Dr. Walter C. Howe, who survives him.
Soon after graduation from college, he took up the study of law in the office of Waldo Colburn at Dedham. Ambitious to excel in his chosen profession and to enter into public service, he soon won a wide acquaintance of warm, friends and. their recognition of his ability. In 1862 he was admitted to the Massachusetts bar and soon afterward opened his office in Dedham. He at once entered into the public affairs of his adopted town and ever afterwards his voice was raised in support of every good cause for the welfare of the community, and he was never satisfied until right and justice prevailed.
Every worthy cause readily engaged his generous support, and his name is found among the members of many organizations, charitable, educational, historical, or those engaged in the relief of suffering humanity. His religious life was centered in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, as a communicant, and for many years as a vestryman. In 1882 he was elected a member of the Dedham School Committee and served many terms on that Board, a large part of the time being Chairman. He was a director of the Dedham Mutual Fire Insurance Company and a trustee and vice-president of the Dedham Institution for Savings.
In 1873 he was the Representative of the First Norfolk District to the General Court, and in l878 and 1879 he represented the same district in the Massachusetts Senate. In 1884 he was elected to the 49th Congress from the 9th Congressional District, and served one term.
Judge Ely was appointed Trial Justice of Norfolk County in 1867 and served until 1884. In 1888 he was appointed Associate Justice of the Municipal Court of Boston, and served until 1914, when he retired from all active duties.
His life was an industrious one, full of achievements and good deeds. He possessed an analytical, logical, and inductive mind, and correlated facts and evidence in their relative importance. His application of a legal principle was seldom, if ever, at fault, and his judgment was sound and always fair.
He was made a Mason in Orient Lodge of Norwood in 1866 and became a member of Hyde Park Lodge, of Hyde Park, February 27, 1867. He was elected Senior Warden of Hyde Park Lodge in 1867, but dimitted from Hyde Park Lodge February 15, 1872, to become a charter member of Constellation Lodge, of Dedham, which held its first Communication at Dedham, March 15; 1871. He was its first Master, serving in 1872, 18?3, and 1874. He was District Deputy Grand Master for the Thirteenth District in 1877, 1878, and 1879, and was Deputy Grand Master of this Grand Lodge in 1884 and 1885.
He was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in St. Paul's Chapter March 19, 1872. He was a charter member of Hebron Royal Arch Chapter, of Norwood, constituted in 1884, and was elected an honorary member of that Chapter June 26, 1885. He received the degrees in the Cryptic Rite in Hyde Park Council of Royal and Select Masters in 1885 and 1886, and the Orders of Knighthood in Cyprus Commandery No. 39, Knights Templars, of Hyde Park, in 1885. Ile was presented a Henry Price Medal on May 10, 1916, by M.W. Melvin M. Johnson, at which time a complimentary dinner was given by Constellation Lodge to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of his admission to Masonry.
As a man, a citizen, and a Mason, he was beloved by all with whom he came in contact. His noble purpose in life, so fully exemplified in all his Masonic affiliations, he carried into every detail of his civil, professional and political career.
"How brief this drama of our life appears.
The good die not. This heritage they leave -
The record of a life in virtue spent;
For our own loss at parting we may grieve -
Lives such as his build their own monuments.
Respectfully submitted,
Dana J. Flanders,
Arthur W. Chase,
Charles A. Day,
Committee.
