Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-04-27
From PrIneeron College.
THE HoDaE sENn-cESrENSIAL.

THE HODGE sEMI-CENTENNIAL.
t.uecial CORE. pondence Of the Comm ciai.l
PnINcEros, N. j., April Is.
Tne past week has been one of ever memora-
An interest in Princeton. For a half century
IN School of the PROPHETS" under the able
s1neryizion OF DIR. Hodge, has been indeed a
Niniain of pure learning sending forth streams
I'M have nourished the Presbyterian church,
I'M purified theological speculation
Z In the person OF its President 1t hae given to
I'M. church ali acknowledged leader. and by its
lnterpretation of Scripture and OF Calvlnism, 1t
IN been established as the centre OF true
lle" orthodoxy. Moreover, the recently pub
lkhed .'systematlc theology" which Is at once
IA autumn frutage of DIR. Hodges long and
8ndious life, and an enduring monument OF
4merican echolarship has been welcomed and
Sldied by Intelligent minds In all the Christian
denominations, both at home aud abroad Little
*pnder then, that the venerable Doctors golden
Aedling with his beloved Alma Mater mas been
.Aade tile occasion Of great homecoming.
8The first ceremonies of the celebration were
Il connection with
THE GRADUATING CLASS.
\ FThe senior class Of this year has been termed
Sonng men, small in number but of snch gem
K#a ability that both the Seminary and the
#hurch have reason to be proud OF them.
The address given them by DIR. VIM. Adams
non the much neglected relation of Christianity
HS Political Economy. the sacrament of the
Iprds Supper administered by DIR. Hodge and
ske comforting OF degrees with ils appropriate
ceremonies, we're occasions Of deepest interest.
by Wednesday morning Princeton was alive
fsom end to end With specialized ID. ID 8, aspir-
lDg Reverends, modest MessiepIs-in short, with
zhns of every describabie metal and calibre, all
isaded and primed, ready to fire of perfect
zsorm Of congratulations.
Ia Ilt,t uIl thia thrnpO of thR laaruad. tla
Moquent, aud the dry as-dnst, where issthe man
selected to represent the Presbyterian Church as
'sorator of the day?' nTL1-l
a Not a few gray barred dignitaries Of the
&hurch were piqued-but no matter, ability, and
AOt formulated rank, must rule to-day, i, ------
JOSEPH t. DgRTEA,- n, > .--.
ef Brooklyn delivered the address and rarely
i ever has Princeton heard its equal, Mr. Dur
sea is comparatively youpg, being graduated from
ihe Seminary but fourteen Years In person he
i rather slight but ID the clear, sharp outlines
si his face, in the piercing eye. the firmly com
breAEed lips and the slightly elevated head, keen
Nntellect and impetuous force are very apparent
~ addition to this, graceful dignity of bearing
betokens refinement as well as power.
For more than an hour he poured forth, with
but note, one continuous stream Of fiery Logic
His theme was g the value and use of theology
d. 4 science" h3GlN 7 ''a e-h
After laying down his premises he drew the
Conclusion, in narrowing circles and with crush
#hg power to FOCUS going over that mystic
border land which liss between science and re
Afgion, and clearing away by one master Atrok
#tlie fogs of many controversies. Never were tn
&Fo facts better demonstrated that Theolog
II the science Of sciences, and metaphysics car
EAe utilized.
Th.n followed a eongratulatory address by DR.
BOardman, ON behalf Of the directors. This wa
Excellent, excepting that tone Of awful sol
enncholy "ipervaded il.
DIR. HODGE
Hsde brief response, in which he showed thai
hough in the chair of Princeton for fifty years
he can still wear the harness and strike stou
blows against error.
Not few were surprised to see his form yt
skaet. his atepSstl Arm and elastic, and his ey
aahce more fnsh sad ahdimmsd as hie soul wa
4 Bred by nobl9 thoughts. w.
\ The assembly rose, and standing, listened
#tle deepest silence. His few words mingled
little pleAaantry with much solid thought and
@suppressed emotion. nR- -s--ss s..
IN the evening the old aelpiparyi building wa
illuminated, and for one glad hour lost its wonte
slOom while DR.. Hodges study, SO long III
bread sanctum Of the theologian, was converte
pio the reception room of'al Joyful host.