Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-11-19
pR1NcEroNs TROUBLES.

mony of science and revealed reli
gion of Princeton University re-
signed from the Presbyterian church
at a special session of the New Bruns-
wick Presbytery held last week. 1t
appears that the students of that
old and respectable college, could
not go on comfortably, in their
opinion without better hotel ac-
commodations Accordingly the
Inn was built and as a necessary
adjunct it must have a grill room"
or in other words a place where
liquor could be sold. To obtain a
license it was requisite that GER
tain number of those residing near
the Inn should sign the petition.
Last May Professor Shields, ex- Pre-
sident Cleveland and others signed a
petition asking the Mayor to grant
a liquor license to the tgrill room" of
Princeton Inn. Several Synods and
Presbyteries have censured the
Professor for this act, and he be-
came so angry at these attacks that
he determined to resign from the
church. An attempt was made at
the meeting of Presbytery to shut off
all discussion of the matter, but this
failed in part though eleven of the
minority, Princeton men, favored it.
Finally the matter was submitted to
committee of five which reported
a set of resolutions. The first was
to allow DIR. Shields request to have
his name erased from the roll. This
passed without opposition. The Sc
cond was that to prevent misappre-
hension of our action the Presbytery
deems it advisable to call the atten-
ton of ministers, elders and men,
bers to the deliverences of the As
sembly of 1871 and 1877 in regard to
the signing of petitions for the sale
of intoxicating liquors as a beverage
This was carried with 8 votes in
the negative, four of which were
cLst by President Patton and Dean
Murphy of the University, and Pro-
fessors Warfield and Vos of the
Seminary. DIR. Du Vries of Prince
ton, Rev. Murphy of New Bruins
wick and two elders were the other
four.
Fifty ministers and elders of the
Synod were present. 1t is to be re-
grated that this controversy has
arisen but far more regretable that
man occupying such prominent
position in the church and University
should under any pretext afix his
name toa petition for liquor Ii
cense. If the success of Princeton
as seat of learning or religion in
any wise depends on the facility
with which students can obtain Ii
quor near the University or Semi
nary doors, she would better rebuild
ON some other foundation, or pass
into "innocuous desuetude.
We have no sympathy with DR..
Shields. His action in signing the
license petition is wholly indefensi-
BILE. Whether liquor licenses should
be granted at all is not the question
presented, but aside from other con-
siderations whether a professor OF
the science of revealed religion an
a prominent divine should aid, abet
and assist liquor selling to young
men who are attending a seat OF
education, and who are placed there
by parents with an idea that their
mental and moral characters may
be developed and strengthened. DR..
Shields certainly could not base his
action on any higher ground than
that the material prosperity of the
institution required a stimulus that
such a necessity existed to attra Ct
students, and entertain their friends
If his action was based on such mo-
tives his teachings of the science Of
revealed religion must take on an
aspect wholly at variance with the
orthodox idea. Religion as it re-
veals itself to fallen humanity
should avoid the guise of promoting
intemperance and the kindred evils
which are likely to follow.
/
Ministers might as we'll urge that
in order to promote growth in Their