Evening star., 1896-10-21
OPENING THE. CELEBRATION
sesqui Centennial Exercises at Prince
. top.'iI ~
President Patton's sermon-Reception
to bistinguished Educators Re-
t..i
sponses by Pronsanent Visitors.

the sesqui-centennial Of Princeton Uni
versity opened yesterday at Princeton with
an academic procession, including many
learned men, which moved to Alexander
Hall. where President Francis L. Patton
delivered an impressive sermon.
During an organ prelude the procession
entered the large hall, where two thousand
persons had assembled to hear the relig-
ious services that would open Princeton's
celebration. Princeton professors. foreign
delegates and prominent university and
college presidents occupied the beautiful
marble platform of the hall
A choir, composed of alumni, admirably
sang the anthem, "Veni Creator Spiritus,"
after which Prof. Fisher of Yale invoked
the Divine blessing and aid for the sesqui-
centennial
Prof. Warheld of the Princeton Theologi-
cal Seminary read a portion of Scripture.
from which DR.. Patton took the text Of
his sermon on Religion and the Univer-
sity." The text was the First Epistle of st.
eleventh verse-"For other foundation can
no man lay than that which is laid in
Jesus Christ"
President PattOn's Sermon.
DR.. Patton said in part: 1.-The first char
ter of the College Of New Jersey was
signed by John Hamilton, president of his
majesty's council, on the 22d day Of Octo-
ber, 1746. A second charter still more lib
eral In Its provisions, was obtained from
Gov. Belcher in 1748.
1T was surely the day of small things
when a little company of Presbyterians in
the city of New York and its vicinity in
terested themselves in establishing a seat
OF learning in the province of New Jersey
as means of providing liberal educa-
tlon Tor young men intending to enter the
ministry. The Intellectual efforts which
hoir IIlf
mate success, bear striking testimony to
the religious intolerance of the times, the
more enlightened policy of President Ham
ilton and Gov. Belcher and the liberal spirit
Of the founders of the new institution,
who, though Presbyterians by conviction,
and actuated In the main by zeal for the re-
hgious necessities of their own church,
accepted without scruple a charter which
gave no advantage to any denomination.
ana. beyond a scheme for liberal culture,
made no specific provision for the needs of
any profession.
The spirit of the founders has been kept
ahVe IN their successors. The interest Of
the coliege has always been in the hands
OF religious men, and of men, 1 NAV s.,y.
celonslng as rule to a particular branch
Oh Protestant Christendom, but It has
never been under ecclesiastical control II
mas served the church and it has served
lne state without in any sense being un-
der the authority of either
me founders of the College of New Jer-
sey did not establish a theological school
win preparatory department in arts;
they established a faculty of arts with an
embryonic department of theology. There
Is great difference between the two meth
DDS, and this difference has determined the
course of Princeton's- subsequent develop
ment."
Prayer by Dean Murray follow ed the SER
mon, and then there was hymn and q
benediction by Rev. DR.. w. r. Bodine of
fhiadelphia. An organ recital closed the
morning services
Reception to Delexates.
Following the religious exercises a re-
ceptlon was held in the afternoon TO the
visiting delegates in Alexander Hail. These
included Prof. Friedrich Karl Brugmann
OF Leipsic, Prof. Johannes Conrad of Halle,
Rev. DR.. William Cayen of Toronto, Sir
): ,,', William Dawson Of Montreal, Prof. VIII
Dowden Of Dublir. Prof, A. A., W. HUI
brecht of Utrecht, Prof Felix Klein of
Gottingen. Prof. Henri Moissan of paris,
Principal William Peterson of Montreal,
Prof. Andrew Seth Of Edinburgh, Prof.
Goldwin Smith of Toronto, Prof. Joseph
John Thomson Of Cambridge. .,.,..
The following representatives. from this
city were present:
The Catholic University of America.
Prof. F. Hyvernat.
Columbian University. President B. l..
Whitman.
Georgetown University, President Joseph
Havens Richards, S. j.
The Smithsonian Institution. Prof Samuel
Pierpont Langley, secretary Smithsonian
Institution.
Charles E. Green. chairman of the board
of trustees, made few remarks by way of
introduction and acknowledgment of con-
gratulatory addresses received. He then
introduced Rev. DR.. Howard Duffield of
New York city, who made the address of
welcome.
Responses by Visitors.
The response in behalf of American uni
versities and learned societies was made
by President Eliot Of Harvard. His speech
was a happy effort, in which he congratu-
lated Princeton for Its great achievements
Prof. John Thomson of the University
Of Cambridge followed President Eliot with
a response in behalf of European universi-
ties and learned societies His address
was brief but enthusiastic and his praise
of Princeton charmed ALL This closed the
afternoon exercises.
MAEITnRA SCHOOL. OUESTIng