The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-31
PEER OF ANY COLLEGE.
WHAT PRINCETON PROPOSES TO BE.
CONE AT HER sesoulcENTENNIAL.
The Broad Programme Prepared For the
New jersey Colleges ceiebrstIon-Pro-
poses TO Raise q Large Endowment.
viii Become n University ON Oct. &c. =


poses TO Raise a Large Endowment.
Will become n University on Oct. a2. =
OR Thursday, Oct. 90, the College Of
New Jersey, popularity known as Princeton
college, will celebrate its one hundred and
flftieth anniversary. This scsquiccnten-
NAL will take four forms. There will be
held a digniaed and impressive academic
festival, lasting three days, beginning Oct.
30 and ending Oct. 90. In its second
form IL is proposed TO celebrate the com
pletion Of 100 years by raising a large en-
dowment for additional college and uni
vorsity work. Then IL Is proposed to de-
velop Princeton, both as a strong college
and a great university, and 1t is proposed
10 announce formally the assumption of
the official title Of Princeton university.
For the purpose Of carrying out these
ends the trustees Of tho institution have
appointed three working committees, one
TO Investigate the legal question connected
with the change OF title, another To raise
the necessary cndowments, and the third
TO organize the celebration proper. These
three committees have been quietly at
work for over a year and now have their
work we'll under way.
The arrangements for the celebration
arc already under way. Tho committee ex-
poets TO make this the most impressive
university celebration yet held In his
country. IL is expected that most Of the
living alumni Of the college will be- pres.
ent. Other universities and learned soci.
cities, both American and foreign, will 100
invited 10 send delegates, and tho college
hopes at that time 10 entertain many dis
tinguished guests, including iho president
of the United States, who has already been
asked to deliver an address ut Princeton
on tho occasion Of the celebration.
A programme for tho three days cele-
bration has been adopted i1its main out
lines. Itproyidcs for numerous events of
an academic character, In which the stu
dents and alumni of the college are OK
pectcd 10 taken active part. In general
the whole OF Princeton's life will be sym
bolized in the ceremonies. Especial prom
inence will be given TO Prinoeton's impor-
tant part In connection with the American
Revolution and the framing of the national
constitution.
The work OF tho endowment committee
looks forward TO tho increasing OF tho
funds of the college 10 such an extent rs
10 warrant n great increase In the teaching
staff, a great expansion OF the library and
the establishment Of "a large number Of
university fcllowsh.ps and scholarships.
The development OF facilities for original
work and investigation will DO n special
aim of the committee. In short. 1t is do
sired TO make Princeton the best equipped
American college for those who seek un-
dergraduate education and tho best equip
ped American university for graduate
study In all tho departments of pure
knowledge, rs distinguished from profcs-
sional schools.
Thu ralahrotfnn nronor xvfll - ,,.la
typical Of Princeton and all she stands for
in history. At that time will be brourJi
out the beginnings of Princeton and her
development through tho century and o
half Of her history. IL will be the work of
committee appoisted for the purpose, TO
prepare "A memorial volume, I'm which viii!
BIO SGT forth the history Of the institution.
While tho date set for the celebration
marks the compilation OF 100 years since
tho formal foundation Of the college 10 Is
"a well known fact that there were begin
nings OF Princeton previous to tho date OF
its first charter, Oct. 22, l7f6. These be-
ginnings can be traced 10 the so called
LOG college" erected In 1726. 20 years
earlier than tho date OF Princetop's first
charter. This college was built some 90
miles west OF the present site Of the col
lege, iii tAe wilderness on the banks of the
Neshaminy river, n small stream which
flows into the Delaware near Bristol.
This primitive school was built from the
trees which linod the bank Of the stream
by Rev. William Tenant and his two
sons, who had migrated thither from the
north of Ireland.
While Princeton cannot lay claim to
any organic connection with this little
log college" il is nevertheless true that
the Log college" was tho most important
single source that contributed TO the
founding OF tho College of New Jersey.
Just as the Log college expired, - says
DIR. Alexander In his historical sketch,
''tho College of New Jersey sprang into
existence. The friends and patrons OF tho
former became the principal supporters
and trustees Of the latter. Thus il may,
with truth, be said that the Log college,
was tho germ from which came the flour
ishing College Of New jersey
Tho first charter of Princeton was grant.
ed by John Hamilton, president of his maj
esty's council, and provided for the oroo-
tion "of n college in New Jersey for the
instruction of youth In tho learned Ian.
guages and In the liberal arts and sci
encos." A noteworthy provision Of this
charter was To tho effect that mo person
DC debarred OF any of tho privileges OF the
EbAh NNif'SN WI ANNNAAttA " hi1 cltbbltlliNt
principles of religion, but those of every
religious profession have equal privilege
and advantage of education in tho said
college,"
This is the earliest warrant for religious
freedom I'm any American college docu
inent. On Sept. IA, l74B, the second char
ter was granted by Governor Bcloher OF
the province of Now Jersey. This docu.
ment is still tho law Of Princeton, having
boon confirmed by tho legislature Of New
Jersey after the colonies were separated
from tho mother country. II is similar in
spirit TO the first charter, but prov idcs
more literally for thosnceds OF the institu-
ton.
In 1SGS James McCosh, the distin-
Fuishod philosopher and teacher, already
illustrious In his own country, following
the example of Witherspoon of. n hundred
years before, came over from Scotland In
response 20 an invitation OF the trustees
Of Princeton. With his administration