The New York herald., 1869-05-01
PRINCETON ALUMNI.
Annual Dinner Of the New York Association
OF Princeton College.

Last evening the New York Alumni Association Of
Princeton College gave their first annual banquet at
DemOnicO's. About year since the graduates OF
the time-honOred college held meeting and sue
cessfuly organized an association which has since
most satisfactorily progressed. At that meeting or
rather at very agreeable reunion, it arranged
that the graduates should assemble semi-annually-
in June and December-the spring meeting to be ac
companied with grand banquet. The most
sanguine hopes Of the collegates were happily
last evening happily realized. The attendance,
which was exceedingly large, included several dis
tinguished clergymen and a number Of the old
graduates OF the college. The evening was spent
harmoniously, and the pleasure incident to the oc
casion was considerably enhanced by the music Of
an excellent band. Mr.. W. c. Alexander presided.
Grace having been said by the Rev. DR.. Rogers and
thanks subsequently returned by the Rev. DR.. In
bree
The chairman proposed ''The President Of the
United States" which was enthusiastically re-
sponded to. In delivering his address to the gradu
ates and friends Of the college. he OBJ
served that they had all assembled round
family table, as it were, as members Of
the same academic house. He was present in his
position as president OF this association not on ac-
count Of any ability he possessed, but simply be-
cause OF the mistaken partlaity Of his friends.
(Appause.l Yet he would not shrink from any
his Office. The speaker then proceeded at some
length to dwell upon the circumstances surrounding
the foundation OF Princeton College. The past
twenty years Of her existence were years of patient
fortitude and forbearance, and the eminent position
which the institution now enjoyed fully demon
strated the complete and satisfactory triumph Of the
body OF men who had established 1t. Seemingly
the most insurmOuntable obstacles were overcome,
and the labor OF years was at length rewarded with
the most gratifying results The years which sue
ceeded the foundation Of the college were years Of
no % ordinary interest," But new literary institutions
ing throughout the colonies was excited and foster
ing ana the spirit OF revolution N, was seven even
stancessthe college progressed with gigantic strides
At the close Of the first twenty years OF her existence
she gave evidence OF her usefulness. No less than
four hundred students sent forth to adorn So
ciety. Jonathan Dickinson was its first president
and succeeding him were Others VINO likewise con-
Names more brilliant than presidents OF that college
did not adorn the page OF the worlds
various high positions which several Of those
connected with the college during the first
twenty years of her existence had obtained. In
fact the college teemed with the thunderbolts of
war, having furnished men who under summer suns
and winter SHOWS chung fast to the ensigns OF the
peoples sovereignty and never relaxed till ndepen-
dence was secured. lApplause) He alluded in
most feeling terms to old college associations and
urged upon the graduates the necessity of OCCASION
ally visiting the scene Of their boyhood. lie
marked also that 1t was the incumbent duty OF
graduates to o,a ada all . In their power to
might be drused throughout the land. The speaker
traced the various important features and incidents
which characterized, alluding to many eminent
men who from time to time had adorned its presi-
dental chair and concluded his address amid loud
The Rev br McCosh, President of the College,
In returning thanks, said that Princeton College was
to those now assembled their Alma Mater; she was
his alma coJyuI. tLaughter.l They were joined
together TIL one or other was separated by death,
and as 1t was certain that she would long Outlive
him that must be till he was called away from
this world. His friends IN the Old country
when he connected himself with tee college imagined
that he was going TO position OF dignity and ease.
AS to dignity, he believed that Office would dig
Nifty man who did not dignity it, and as he had not
had time yet either to succeed fail In that he
believed the least he spoke OF the dignity OF his po-
sition the better But as to ease he was obliged to
say that as yet he had none OF II, and he saw no
prospect Of obtain any till the relation was dissolved
But why asked his friends should he not make
it place Of ease and OF comfortf One
cause OF that might perhaps be found in his own
anxious temper, which when there was work to
be done was ever prompting him to do It.. But there
were other circumstances which forced him to be
active whether he would or no. The party TO blame
for 1t primarily and above all were the Board OF
Trustees. gLaughterl They had come to settled
determination to make Princeton College inferior
to no other college IN the United States or In the
world, and they had intimated to him very plainly
and decidedly that he must assist them In max
even II he were inclined to fall asleep those very
people would not allow him. Uaughter.) The rev.
erend gentleman gave picturesque aud historic
sketch OF the college, which, he observed, was ra-
pdly increasing In Importance. lie alluded to the
various new buildings at present being added to the
college, and to the earnestness OF its patrons sub
stantially manifested, to enlarge It's dimensions
IN every respect Besides, he found its faculty
anxious to promote the interests OF the col
lege, the very thought OF which instgated
him In his desire TO further It's progress, so that
whether they had dignity or not they had certainly
no ott,nn cum dtgnitdte. daughter and applause
Among other important matters he observed that
the absence OF O professor OF modern continental
languages and literature was link wanting TO com.
plete the chain the hindrance to the execution OF
the scheme which he had 80 anxiously devised. He
would entertain the hope that there would be gene
rous friends VINO within the next two months would
deliver them from that restraint and put them In
tue position desired 70 be attained. In order to
have that end Accomplishment was necessary that
there should be some endowmcnts In the
shape OF fellowships TO encourage higher branch
OF learning In the more important departments.
Under all the circumstances he would never be salts
he'd TIL Princeton, far the faculty OF arts was
concerned was equal In the number or students,
ny ac eSesncy nSn ana the hgn erudtlon produced 6y
wished to be understood that he had desire TO
inJure or depreciate any other university. lie would
we & sne % most ungrateiul OF men II he allowed any
such leeling to dwell In his bosom for instant;
| IoI tne governing bodies OF the most distin-
| guished universities had offered TO him the
| highest academic honors. The reverend gentleman
| adverted 70 his experiences when professor
o. o. logic anu metaphysics IN the Queens College,
belast showing that, In certain respects students
should be allowed their selection In regard to enteH
| ing particular classes, and demonstrating the s1C-
by observing that, with The ancient reputation OF
the college In their favor, with their many fends TO
aiu bheih anu, phrtlcularly with the help OF THIS
alumni association Of New York OF another IN phil.
adephla and one soon TO be organized IN Baltimore.
| he was confident they would take their place he
| would not say above, but alongside OF the most
| famous colleges IN the New World or In tho Old.
| tApplause.)
Mr. John slosson next responded 10 the toast OF
| The American a Whigh and ChosophIc societies, "
ano ouring ms ADDRESS humorousy and effectively
anpded TO the scenes OF his college assocatons al
PrtE cetOn.
Among the other toasts were:-"Former PresI-
dents" Mr.. Asnbe, Greene; "Ihe Trustees Of the Col
lege," Rev Dr. Hall; ..The Faculty. Rev. II. L.