New-York tribune., 1888-04-14
PRINCETON UNDER DIR. WOOSH.
THE COLLEGE BECOMES A UNIVERSITY.
MILLIONS GIVEN TO THE INsTTTUTIoN-THE
NUMBER OF STUDENTS TREBLED-A SKETCH
ID pIlEsInENT

NCtSi<A-dG DlsNONiIAD n ONA'%
MILLIONS GIVEN TO THE INsTITUTIoN-THE
NUMBER OF STUDENTS TREBLED-A sKErOH
OF THE RETIRING PRESIDENT
PRIScET ". j., April 7-Wthn a few weeks the
administration Of the College of New-Jersey Will be
changed, and The venerable president who has been
at the head Of the Institution for nearly score of
years Will be known Professor McCosh, and the able
professor Of ethics IN the college, who also discusses
the relation Of philosophy and science to religion at
tho seminary, will be addressed President Patton
Al the request OF the present senior class the change
OF presidents will not take place until the commence
nent week In June although when Dr. McCosh ten
dered his resignation the board Of trustees last
November 1t was to take effect In February.
1t is interesting at this time to note the changes that
have taken place In this conservative Presbyterian
college, university rather, since 1s6s when Dr. Nc
Gosh was called to the presidency from bis chair OF
logic In the Queens College, Belfast. to assume the
cares and share IN the successes OF college which
had become somewhat down during the Rebellion
and the years Immediately succeeding It.
DR.. McCosh hfrt esne to this country In 1866,
travelling some 1000 miles and visiting some Of the
principal colleges AID theological senlnaries. He
returned TO Ireland Will. no idea Of ever being Ia
America again. Two years later, however, he was
elected president OF Princeton and accepted the once
being inaugursted IN the fall In his inaugural ad-
dress he unfoldcd fully, almost prophetcany, whao
he meant to do, and he has fulfilled all that he prom
ised he found the college In a state OF lethargy.
"A half score of perfervid North Britons, and
another half SCORE of old fashioned Presbytorians
both strangers in Wall street"-says ex-Prosidont
Porter OF Yale University, q acted as his nnancia
bodyguard from the rst and responded fervloiy ana
literally to his wishes and wants. Robert Bonner,
Henry G. MarQuand, John c. Green, and his friends
in Trenton, Alexander Stuart, Mr.. and Mrs. Robert
l. Stuart and others gathered around the new presl
dent and supplied him with money, in all about three
millions.
MANY SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT
Progress In every department apparent from the
first and while the wealth Of generous patrons flowed
into the treasury, tho curriculum enlarged and
developed the faculties increased and the number
of students has trcbled. The buildings, which had
been allowed get OF repair, either rebuilt
or remOdelled. until they are among the finest
college buildings In tho country, and the grounds
laid under tho careful suporintendence OF
President McCosh, who has strong taste for land
scape gardening.
To promote learning fellowships were instituted,
and now there are about Dozen The rule has beon
to adopt every new branch OF learning, and at the
time keep all the valuable departments of the
old AS every student cannot take every branch,
system Of elective studies was started, and that
carried out by DR.. McCosh seems wise one. Accord
Ing to It, certain branches, such as Latin Creek Eng
lsh French, German, psychology, logic, physics,
chemistry, geology, required of all. while numer
Gus others may be elected by those who wish them.
More rigid examinations have been Instituted and tho
scholarship raised. Local examinations are now held
to tho great convenience Of students from distance
A scheme has also been devised whereby higher de-
grees such Ph. D.. Lit. D. and d. s.. may be OBJ
tanned without residence by private study and e1am
nation.
An Improvement has also been noticed In the moral
standing OF the institution The old and corrupting
customs hazng, smoking out and lying to the faculty,
have very much disappeared II is admitted that
vice is still to bc found among few, but II IS not
found among the great body Of tho students The great
est attention paid all along to the subject Of
religion with nothing sectarian in It. For eight years
Dr. McCosh gave religious instruction to all tho stu
dents carrying them through the Scriptures In gen.
era way Now tho Bible instruction IS divided among
seven eight Of tho professors and every student
attends weekly lesson The students are present
at prayers every morning in the chapel attend pub
lie worship on Sunday forenoon and a meeting for
prayer In the afternoon. OF the 600 students now In
the college moro than $50 members Of the Phila
delpha Society. the leading religious society OF the
college, and there Is much religious activity among
them. Many OF the students, In all about one fifth,
become ministers and missionaries. The number OF
professors with tutors has risen from sixteen or seven
teen in 1868 TO forty forty-one In 1888; the num-
Der Of students has increased from 264 TO 6o3
In accepting Dr. McCosh's resignation few weeks
ago. the Board OF Trustees adopted series Of reson
tons in which they placed on record their sense OF
the distinguished service which no has rendered to tho
college and the signal success which has, in every
spect marked his administration. He has lived for
the college, and It's advancement has been the ono
object upon which all his thoughts and efforts were
centred Attention then called to the growth OF
the college IN the last twenty years, and especial
reference was made TO the genial and kindly offices
OF the esmabe and accomplished lady who graces the
presidential mansion which will be held In undying
remembrance
FROM THE PULPIT TO THE LECTURE ROOM
Last Sunday DR. McCosh celebrated his seventy
seventh birthday. He was born at CarsKeoch on lI9
banks OF the bonnie Doom, Ayrshire. Scotland lie
was the son of large Scotch farmer quiet. rejecting
man. and an energetic mother HIS father wished him
70 he educated that he might become minister fe
studied Latin, Greek and mathematics at parochiH
school and at thirteen entered Glasgow university
where he remained five years and stood well In all MS
casses but was specially noted for this that no was
addicted to pursue studies Of his own and read e no"
literary works, such as those OF Scott "oruS"or' ~
Byron as they were published
The young student then went to Edinburgh Uh-
versity 70 be under DIR. Chalmers and was there also
five years. studying all branches OF theology OUT
giving much attention to the physical sciences anu u
mental philosophy, for the latter OF which no nad
strong prediction. Hero his talents began 70 oe-
velop; he was great favorite with Chalmers anu WIN
Welsh and his fellow students elected him presidents
Of their then famous theological society Whie ~
Edinburgh no wrote an essay the Stole Philosophy
for which tho University gave him the honorary degree
Of AM on the recommendation Of such men as HAM,
ilton, pllsns and Welsh. When in the Divinity Han
he took an active part sganst patronage In the Cnuh
Of Scotland and In favor of Non-Intruson ana spr'u
Independence
On leaving college, DR.. McCosh was ncensea ~
preach, and within year got call 10 'no a~s n.o
Church at Arbroath, on the east coast OF sco'iant
where he had a congregation Of from 600 70 'oo
members, many Of them sailors, among whom no no
laborcd with great zeal. and the young man WIN ns
ruddy countenancep liked for his pefsCnai'S 80
we'll as his preaching which they all ackno"icusou
be faithful He remained there for three years ~
salary Of $500 year, when he was caiieo :"
an inland country town. where ne nau ~ ~ ths
.,d ons ~ the most euviable positions In inc
ChuuoL -. ooo,,.ra The voung pastor and his col