Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-09-08
Rev. John witlnerspoon, D.D. LID

distinguishing qualities of a great divine,
statesman and philosopher. We natu
rally think, and justly too, that if an in.
dividual excels in Ole department, be
that what it may, it is sufficient to en-.
stamp his memory with imperishable
~lustre, and to secure for him the lasting
gratitude of all future generations. But
John Witherspoon was capable of rising
to pre'eminency in every public station
Rof life.
He was not a Jerseyman, by birth, but
by adoption Scotland, the land of elias.
sic lore, of glorious romance, and immor-
tai song, may well claim the honor of his
nativity. He was born in the year 1922.
At an early age, be entered the famous
University of Edinburgh, in which he
applied himself to his studies, with the
utmost diligence and a~ssiduity, for a ne.
Rod of seven years. In iact, he was only
fourteen years ofage, when he CONNIE .ced
his collegiate course; so that, when he
graduated, he could not have been over
twenty-one years old. But, then. so OK.
tensive were his attachments. and so re.
markable were his talents, that he was
ordained to the ministry without a dis.
senting voice, and gave lull proof Of his
remarkable powers and el~oquence. Per
haps no young man ever acquired a more
extensive reputation; and certainly. we
have never read or heard of one, who
accomplished the same amount of good
in that early period of life, which most
young men devote to pleasure and recre
alton. Wherever he preached, he left a
powerful impression aud an unsulIied
name. Dundee is witness to the mighty
influence of his burning zeal and sacred
eloquencc. Dublin is witness to his spirit
stirring strains of high and holy preach
ing. Rotterdam is witness to that ardent.
glowing enthusiasm. which reused up the
dormant from their lethargy, and gave a
new and powerful impulse to the cause
Of vital piety.
The fame of his preaching had reached
America, and he was strongly urged. by
numerous and warm hearted admirers TO
come over to this country, and take the
Presidency of Princeton College. Al.
though he loved his native land and her
age honored institutions, with a feryency
that knew no abatement, vet lie loyed
the cause OF Christ, and Of civil and Re
Eglous Freedom more. He, therefore,
considered it a solemn duty, on his part.
to accept the invitation from Princeton.
and arrived with his family, in that vii.
lage, in 1868. Although some of the
most able and learned men in the Colo
MES, had been at the head Of tie COLLEGE
OF New Jersey, yet, when Dir. Wither-
spoon took charge Of it, the number Of
students began to increase to an unpar-
alielcd extent, in consequence Of his wide.
spread reputation; ard by his unrsmitted
exertions, its funds were greatly aug
mented. But this prosperous condition
was no destined long to continue. The
War OF the Revolution had broken out ::
and DR.. Witherspoon, by bis firm and
patriotic pEincip eS in favor of American
Liberty and independence, had rendered
himself extremely obnoxious to the ennis.
sarleS of the British Crown; and their
repeated threats and acts Of violence
against the College buildings, drove him
from his station, and dispersed the stu.
dens nts throughsvarious and remote por-
tlonssot the country. This was the most
gloomy and trying period Of the worthy
DIS lie. But he bore up under these
calamities with the courage and fortitude
of a hero. He did not fold his arms in
yam inactivity and inglorious supinenegs.
lie buckled on the political armour; and
now behold DR.. Witherspoon as great a
Statesman, as DIR. Witherspoon, the great
divine
Ito was chosen a member of the Con.
v%ention which framed the Constitution
OF the State of NewJersey, and displayed
great powers Of intellect, and far-seeing.
wisdom as a statesman.
In the memorable year 1866. he was
chosen delegate from New.Jersey. to that
august and immortal Congress, which
declared the Independence of these Uni.
ted States; and was one of the Signers
OF the Declaration. Such was the conf.
dence OF his fellow citizens in his stead.
last patriotism, and his great ability, and
answering integrity, that he was repeat
eddy re elected to Congress, until the
Declaration of Peace, in 1881 While a
Member of that distinguished body, he
also signed the Articles Of Confederation.
and exerted a powerful Influence in the
stirring debates, which shook, the Halls
Of the Capitol.
But the din and wa. fare of political
life, was not at all congcnial to his feel.
ings. He entered upon the arena, not
from choice, bnt from the stern demand
of duty. lie saw the absolute necessity
for taking the ground he did; and when
that necessity no longer existed, he re-
tired to the classic shades of Princeton,
where he spent the residue Of his useful
life. He resumed the Presidency. of the
College, and continued to discharge the
duties of his eminent station, with his
usual ability and success. About this
period, he also wrote a series of ESSAYS,
on Marriage, which we're published in
Matthew Carey's American. Museum
He was appointed one Of the Committee
to superintendent publication of the first
Quarto Bible in this country, which was
published at Trenton in New Jersey, by
Isaac Collins. In regard to his Essays,
it may with truth be said thatgthey would
have done honor to the pen-of an Add
son or a Goldsmith.
For>the two last years of his life, he
was afflicted with blindness, SO that his
friends were obliged to lead him into the
pulpit, whenever he had occasion to
preach. Yet, for all this, his sermons