The sun., 1897-10-25
TIE PRINCETON INV LICENSE.
Rev. Dr. Murphy or Vow Brunswick Dorenda
the siEnerr OF tho Petition.

NEW BRUNSWICK. n. j.. Oct. 24.-The Rev.
Archibald A. Murphy. pastor of the Second
Presbyterian Church, and who was graduated
from Princeton University In 1872. has come to
the defence of his alma mater from the criticism
that has been heaped upon her in connection
with tho Princeton Inn license. The Rev. Mr..
Murphy preached this evening from the text
Eccl. ill.,, Z: "A time to keep silence and time TO
speak" In the course OF his sermon he said:
"One might think from the terms and express
sions used by certain ultra-zealous people that
Princeton University was engaged In the
liquor traffic at the present time. Thus one cX.
preston used is Princeton 8 official saloon. An
other statement is that Princeton University has
tolerated stronghold OF tho rum power, that
bore the name of the university and existed for
she university with the universty's official
sanction We are also confronted with q
declaration that Our venerated HISTORIAN %
institution OF learning, Princeton University.
has become me complicated up with III and compromised
The charges brought against Princeton L l.
versty are that W inc was used at the banquet
with the sesqui.centennial, and that certain
members of the faculty signed request to grant
the AZ h9 i 1
for whom vino was provided were used to II
home. and 1t was thought that its absence here
might detract from their comfort and enjoyment
Now. as to the Princeton Inn. let US reflect
that 1t 10 an experiment In behalf of temperance.
In the old days gay students patroniZed what
saloons the town afforded. which. by the way.
were not always OF the best character. drank
surreptitiously In their rooms or stole off to
Trenton or to one Of the big cities. Various
means were tried to break up these customs. but
were found to be of no avail. AT length the
Princeton Inn. without any connection whatever
with the university, was advised by friends. 1t
has no bar but in the Grill beer is sold with
meals. 1t Is not sold to freshmen or sopho-
morcs. This inn is opened and closed at proper
hours, and IL any young man behaves in an
ungentlemanly manner he loses his privilege OF
coming there. Now, however. ono may criticise
that the aim Is good.
Much has been said OF the fact that the
name Of one Of the signers to the petition is
byterian Church and a member OF the faculty
OF Princeton University. As an American citi-
zen that gentleman had the right to do as he
law in our discipline that forbids him doing
the same as Presby terian clergyman.
1t is true that the General Assembly OF
1871 affirmed its conviction that those
traffic in intoxicating liquors or assist licenses
that lcgaliZe 1t are guilty Of reprehensible com.
piicity in It. The Assembly OF 1850. however.
ndmonished our members to avoid all COM
for the repression OF the same in such meas
ures and to such degrees as shall seem to be
wise ana expedient.'
Neither Of these deliverances arc laws OF the
Church.: They aye simply convictions Of those
assemblies. General Assembly cannot legislate
for the whole Church, only the majority of the
Pres byteries can do that. The General As.
sembly can send down overtures to the Presby-
teries, where the power OF legislation lies. On
the subject under consideration this has not
been done. so hat il, according to the laws OF
pedient' to atfix his name TO q petition for q
license, he has the legal right to do So"