The New York herald., 1866-06-27
COLLEGE or NEW JERSEY.
The One Hundred and Nineteenth Coa-
mencs sme mt-History and Description OF
the Institation-Opening Exercises,
Ac

mence me mt-IIistory and Description OF
the Institation-Opentng EAercises,
Procession, Orstions, So.
One hundred and nineteen years ago this venerable
seat of learning founded, at Elizabethtown, j.,
by the Synod OF New York Rev. Jonathan Dick
inson and Aaron Burr being the nrst Presidents After
the death of the former the institute removed TO
Newark and thence, in 1857 Princeton, where the
present building, Nassau Hail. erected In the last
mentioned town the college permanently located
and for upwards of century IL sent forth its yearly
band Of graduates OF whose historic aud
identified with American progress and liberty. twas
first named Nassau Hall, in memory of King william the
Third of the house OF Nassau The building originally
could accommodate hundred and forty seven stu
dents. allowing three 20 each room. Princeton was
then small village, nearly surrounded by dense for
ess in the midst Of wild region, sparsely settled by
few Quakera and Dutch II tho half way station
the high road between New York and Philadelphia and
regular stopping place night for the stages which
were then the only means OF communication between
both cities. Prior 10 the Revolution, there were two
rival literary societies founded in the college OF
which called the Cosophic the other the American
Whg Society. They flourish 10 the present day, aud
occupy spacious halls which built in the Ionic
style each hall being sixtytwo feet long forty feet
wide and two stories high There is valuable library
in each numbering together some ten thousand volumes
These societies strictly secret confer diplomas and
keep constant rivalry with each other The battle
of Princeton during the Revolutionary war. was fought
principally the college grounds and most desperate
struggle took pnce in Nassau Hail. where the British
found refuge. portrait of Washington, presented 10
the college after the battle bv the victorious chief s
hangs In the library Two pieces OF also used in
the battle are YET 10 be seen in the campus or grounds
OF the college.
1TI7, second time by some OF th. students IN 1902,
ard again In 1855 IL n thoroughly ireprooi. In
1914 serious riot took place among the Students which
nearly resulted IN the total destruction Of the college
great revival OF religion among the students IN the fol
lowing aayed al fears OF other disturbances The
average number of students now n the college u two
hundred ana tety. Tue Faculty consists of Rev. John
Macean. ID. LID, President; :. Alexander Rev J..
H. Atwatcr A. Guyot, Rev, J. 7. Dufeld, j. : Shanck,
Bevs. J. II. Mcllvainc, II &. Cameron, g. W shields,
&. a. AIKEN. aud Messrs Peabody, Nudge, sheldon Led
yard Boombergh Bn,icr Iangioz DulHeld Cameron
and Brown. The college has \ very valuable mn-eum
cf Natural History, well selected mineral
cscal crbnci, and set Of astronomical philosophical
and chemical apparatus. The buildings are very con-
nlodious and tho campus spacious and shady.
Yesterday the commencement exercises consisted ~ .
procession the college chapel to the church. two
oraions by the Revs Noah II schcuck and Joseph 7
puryea, the annual meetings OF the two literary societies
and orsdons by eight representatives from the same
Dr Schenck smoke IN the forenoon al half past ten
o. clock. lie said there innumcrabe assalans OF
truth at the present day, against whom he earnestly
warned his hearers on their guard. Tie most
dangerous OF these we're insidous attractive writers
who concealed under the flowers rhetoric the deadly
poison Of rauonalsm and n6dcllty America Il s,l
n state Of transition, and thorc grave aues
tons affecting national interests which arc still 10 be
settled. Therefore II bchooycd the students whom he
addressed 70 grd on the adanantinc mail Of knowledge
aud truth and prepare themselves IN ther Respective
professions for the strife against nndey and He
referred TO TIC glorious future America
he expressed tho most unbounded coniicnce
The subject of the Rev. Joseph r. Duryea's Grafton
the aamni who died for their country during the
past He said that the proved benefit 70 both
sections in respect II swept away from midst
tho foul stain Of slavery and convinced the people OF
the South that the Union Is md soluble. He
concluded with few touching ana eloquent
remarks each Of those gallant students who
nobly upheld the honor of their country, nag
and Alma Aoter ~ both orstons the little church was
crowded with ladies and students and both speakers
were vebemenily srlaudcd Eight representatives. OF
the two literary societies. from tho JUNIOR class also
delivered short orations in the evening The
prizes VIII be awarded to-day. There n
large attendance Of the alumni. many OF whom were
obliged travel considerable distance 10 attend tho
commencement Tho exercises for to day consist Of a
procession, music services In the church and the a-
Of the o the astronomical observatory
Tits last buIdur tn Judge from the plans and rrec
GcatioIa promises to he very nne structure II vii DO
foy,wo tcet in diameter and sixty hyc hgh and cost