Smyrna times., 1886-11-10
Signing the Declaration of Indepen
dence.

The following is an extract from the
paper on "The Pioneers of the Pres
byterian Church in America prepared
and read at the Centennial Anniver-
sary of the Presbytery of Baltimore.
Oct. 28th, 1886, by Rev. J. T. Umsted,
d. D.:
On the morning of our national birthday.
the 4th of July, l776, when the Declaration
of Independence was made--when the com
mlttee, consisting of Thos. Jefferson. Benz
Franklin, John Adams aid Roger Sher-
man, previously appointed to draft th0t in
strument, made their report through their
chairman, the sage of Monticello. who was
the principal, if not :he sole author of the
Declaration; and when it was read. those
brave men who sat in that sacred chamber
known afterwards by the name of Inde.
pendence Hall, in the city of Brotherly
Love, paused, hesitated, trembled with
iear. Ihey saw before them, how that in
strument severed their connection with
Great Britain, and if they did not succeed
nothing awaited them but sanguinarv
contest, carnage, desolation, ruin. shame
ana disgrace on the gallOws of rebels. Yes
the mouse seemed to wave silence. ms of
the. grave, reigned throughout the hall
which was to become the inner shrine of
the temple of Liberty. Every counten-
ance grew paid, and indicated that strug-
cling emotions and deep meditation were
at work IN their bosoms, and the solemn
resolutions were calling for greater sacri-
rlhce and redoubled energy
AT this fearful crisis, when the very des-
uny OF our country was trembling as in a
balance and seemed suspended upon the
action OF the moment, the silence, the pain
ful silence, was broken An aged pa-
triarch 9rose-a venerable and stately form,
his head white with the frosts of MANY
years. He cast on the assembly n look Of
inexpressible interest and unconouerable
determination while on his visage the
nue. OF age was lost in the burning patriot
ism that fired his cheek" There is"
said he, "a tide in the affairs of men,
nick Of time. We perceive it now before
us. That notable instrument upon your
table, which insures Immortality to its
author should be subscribed this morning
Dy every pen IN the house. He who will
not respond to its accents and strain every
nerve to carry into effect its provisions is
unworthy the name Of freeman. Although
these gray hairs must soon descend into
the sepulchre, | would infinitely rather
they should descend thither by the hands
of the public executiOner than desert at this
crisis the cause of my country" The pa
triarch sat down, and forthwith the Dec
caration was signed by every member
present Who was that venerable patri- |
arch you ask. | answer, it was John |
WitherspOon, who was member of the |
Continental Congress for six years, where |
he sat sin full clerical robes" and whose |
name is found among the signers of the |
Declaration, the Magma Charta of our Ma |
TONS liberty and independence. Yes, it |
was the Rev. DR.. John Witherspoon, from
Scotland, distinguished minister of the
Presbyterian Church, and President of the
College of New Jersey (Princeton), a
lineal descendent of John Knox, the great
Scotch Reformer who never feared the
face of man. and from whose principles he
had imbibed the love of liberty"