EDWIN FEREBEE AYDLETT

Edwin Ferebee Aydlett, who was elected President of the North Carolina Bar Association at its last annual meeting at Wrightsville, N. C., was born in Camden County, North Carolina. His parents were Abner and Clotilda Aydlett. His father was long prominent in the official affairs of Camden County. He was a merchant and a farmer, and was successful in both pursuits. His parents were both members of the Baptist Church, and they trained him from boyhood in the paths of holiness. Since his active and successful life he has never forgotten his sacred duties, but has always given to all church organizations, activities, and charities a liberal support. To the church in his town he has been a central pillar both in godly counsel and in material advancement. In the general association of the church he has been an active and influential member, and for several years has been the efficient and judicious moderator of the Chowan Baptist Association. His early education was acquired in the country school His preparatory education having been finished, he entered Wake Forest College at an early age and graduated with distinguished honor in his class.

He chose the legal profession. In January, 1881, he was admitted to the bar by the license of the Supreme Court, and returned to Camden County to begin his practice. While there he was made county superintendent of education. He moved to Elizabeth City in November, 1881, and there formed a partnership with Mr. C. W. Grandy, and continued until the death of Mr. Grandy in 1894. In 1903 he formed a partnership with Mr. J. C. B. Ehringhaus, which continued for seven years, until Mr. Ehringhaus was elected Solicitor of the First Judicial District. Five years ago he formed a partnership with Mr. M. B. Simpson, which continued until the 18th day of August, 1918, when Mr. Simpson was called to the colors, and now has a partnership with Mr. P. G. Sawyer.

Some of the qualities that have distinguished him as a lawyer are reflected in the following quotation: "Richly endowed by nature with genius and talent, highly educated, fully equipped, confident of his own strength and abilities, with the tread of a giant he entered upon the battles of life, determined by honest methods to win fame, fortune, and success. Recognizing that the law is a jealous mistress, he devoted himself to its practice with diligence and assiduity, not lured from its path by the false and flickering light of political strife."

Mr. Aydlett enjoys a large and extensive practice in the State and United States courts in Eastern North Carolina, appearing in many large and important cases in United States courts as well as in the State courts. He was leading counsel in the celebrated Wilcox murder case, which was tried a few years ago, and has appeared in almost every important case in Northeastern North Carolina for the last twenty years.

Those associated most closely with him during the last thirty years have been constantly impressed by his profound legal wisdom, purity of public and private life, and that quiet dignity which makes him an ideal follower of his calling. It has been given to few men to endear themselves to so great an extent to their professional associates and those with whom they come in contact in the discharge of public duties.

He is affable, genial, and companionable, kind and helpful to the younger members of the profession. To his seniors he is courteous and respectful; to the court, always deferential; but to his equals, while always observing the canons of professional courtesy, is tenacious of the rights of his clients, strikes out from the shoulder, asks no quarter, and gives none.

Mr. Aydlett has been trustee of Wake Forest College for the past twenty years, and served two years as president of the board of trustees, declining reëlection. He has been a trustee of Thomasville Orphanage for fifteen years, has served for a number of years as trustee of Chowan College, and is chairman of the board of trustees of the Graded School of Elizabeth City.

He is a Democrat of strong convictions. While never seeking office for himself, Mr. Aydlett has given gratuitous service in its campaign contests, and has been tendered a candidacy to many of his party's choicest places, judicial and political.

He served as chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee for the First Judicial District for ten years, was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions at Baltimore. in 1912, and at St. Louis in 1916. A number of his friends in Eastern North Carolina urged him to become a candidate for Governor in 1916.

He is a charter member of the North Carolina Bar Association, and has attended most of its meetings, has served as Vice-President and on many committees of the Association.

As an upbuilder of the town Mr. Aydlett's public service is invaluable. He has accumulated wealth by his own wonderful business capacity, and by his professional skill, and has expended it with a liberal hand in the improvement of the town. His love for his old home has always been a marked feature of his character. He has refused liberal offers to cast

his lot in other places.

In 1883, at Raleigh, he married Miss Ettie Hunter Briggs, and has four children:

Ettie Briggs, who married W. T. Minor,

Evelyn Lamb, who married P. G. Sawyer,

Edwin Ferebee Aydlett, Jr., who married Miss Essie Poag, and

Helen Byrd, who married Dr. R. L. Kendrick.

The Wake Forest Howler of 1913 was dedicated to Mr. Aydlett. The words of the dedication are as follows:

"Devoted son of Wake Forest College, salutatorian of the class of 1879, superintendent of education of Camden County 1881, brilliant attorney, true friend to the poor, benefactor to orphans, unselfish servant of his fellow-men; counting political advancement as naught beside his chosen profession; earnest worker in the cause of truth, justice, and patriotism, and a faithful steward of the Kingdom of God, this eleventh issue of the Howler is respectfully dedicated."

APPENDIX

(In accordance with authority of the Publication Committee, recommended by the Executive Committee, the Secretary has left out of the proceedings of 1918, the list of members, the canons of ethics, and the by-laws, and has inserted a list of New Members and the Members in the Service of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and a list of Members dying during the Year.)

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I

NAME

This Association shall be called THE NORTH CAROLINA BAR ASSOCIATION.

ARTICLE II

OBJECT

This Association is formed to cultivate the science of jurisprudence, to promote reform in the law, to facilitate the administration of justice, to elevate the standard of integrity, honor, and courtesy in the legal profession, to encourage a thorough and liberal education, and to cherish a spirit of brotherhood among the members thereof.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERS

Active Members.-Those members of the Bar who attend the meetings at which the Association is formed and who shall subscribe to this Constitution and pay the admission fee, are hereby declared to be members of this Association. Any white person shall be eligible to membership in this Association who shall be a member of the Bar of this State in good standing, and who shall be nominated as hereinafter provided.

Honorary Members.-The Judges of the Supreme, Superior and Criminal Courts in this State, and the Judges of the Federal Courts in this State shall, as long as they remain in office, be honorary members of this Association, with all the right and privileges of regular members, except eligibility to office, and without liability for the payment of admission fees or dues.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

The officers of this Association shall be a President, three VicePresidents, and a Secretary and Treasurer, whose duties shall be such as may be prescribed in the By-Laws.

They shall be elected at the annual meetings hereinafter provided for, except those first elected under this Constitution. They shall hold office from the adjournment of the meeting at which they are elected, until the adjournment of the next succeeding meeting, except those first elected under this Constitution, whose terms shall commence upon their election and expire at the adjournment of the first annual meeting. The President and Vice-Presidents shall be ineligible for reëlection until one year after the expiration of their terms of office.

The office of Secretary and Treasurer shall be filled by one person, who shall receive as compensation for his services the sum of (four)* hundred dollars per annum. Payable quarterly.

All elections shall be by ballot.

ARTICLE V

STANDING COMMITTEES

There shall be the following standing committees of this Association, to be chosen as hereinafter provided, whose duties shall be such as may be prescribed in the By-Laws:

1. Executive Committee.-To consist of six members (and in addition thereto the President and Secretary of the Association shall be ex officio members.) †

2. Committee on Admission to Membership.-To consist of one member from each of the Judicial Districts of the State.

3. Committee on Legislation and Law Reform. To consist of five members.

(3a. Committee on Uniform State Laws. To consist of five members.)

4. Committee on Judiciary.-To consist of five members.

5. Committee on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar.To consist of five members.

6. Committee on Memorials.-To consist of five members.

7. Committee on Grievances.-To consist of five members.

8. Committee on Legal Ethics.-To consist of five members. The members of the Executive Committee shall hold office as may be prescribed in the By-Laws.

The members of all other standing committees shall hold office from the time of their appointment until the adjournment of the next succeeding annual meeting and until their successors shall be appointed.

*That portion of the .Article included in () is an amendment passed at annual meeting of 1915.

†That portion of the Article included in () was an amendment passed at annual meeting in 1905.

The paragraph in () is an amendment passed at annual meeting of 1918.