The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1899-04-29
ne QUOTED, DIDN'T STEAL

49,
Professor Green's F-anx Answer 70 .
Charge Vt I .agiarism.
In these days of accusations of
p%lagiarisms against c]orgymen the
a 9 of Cosmus Green, professor of
the Latin tongue in Princeton col
lege, is worthy Of note. Professor
Green preached only occasionally
in term time, as he had much other
work to do. Ono day he was sum-
monel hastily to o(iciate in the
place of u minister who had been
suddenly taken i'll. He had barely
time to catch the train, much less
10 prepare an especial discourse. He
caught up a half dozen manuscripts
from the drawer in his library table
AMI hurried away to preach il his
Cick brothers. stead.
1t was a good sermon. Every ono
was we'll pleased, every n indeed
but an old Scotch gardener, who sat
far to the real shaking his head
gravely from time to time.
AYE, it was true gospel he con
Gded to Il member of the congrega-
tion afterwarl, land w.el deliver
cd, but I've heerd it before this on
the ither side many years gone by"
His coutilant was a lawyer and
got about investigating. In New
York libr..ry he found a book of
"Sermons by Scotch Dizziness"
which contained tho substance of
the suspected sermon SO far as he
could recall it after having not paid
especial heed to it when it was de-
livcred.
The lawyer took a serious view of
Inc caSe, aul waiting until the pres
bytery mat he presented the facts
and argued that they warranted an
Investigation. The presbytery
agreed and summoned Professor
Green.
Really, I don't re%collect," said
the professor to tna investigating
committee, but if you'll sen to
tho house for the sermon may be
ahla to clear the matter up"
The document was brought aEd
read aloud while two committeeman
watched tina "serlnonsof Scotch Di-
vines The manuscript and the
/ printed page ta!lled exactly. Things
looked dark for the professor OF
latin.
When the reading was dcne, how.
over, he :a.l The whole story had
cone back to hin clearly. E6 had
let in great hurry ~ i.oal the
call and had not had tine to select
!: German. ln:lne+l le was not aware
! nf the circumstances OF his sum
MONS further t.lsn that lie was
wanted iM.a..iate!.:y. lie had no
time to iu17iro or TO loo'z over his
manuscripts 20 select. E. huu cut
and run"
When arrived at d. Blank"
lie continued, land had time to find
ont what tao sc,Lncn was for and to
look o~~r tie manuscripts | hal
taken with in2, lf>is"d that only one
CT ihc:n was in the least appropriate
the one yoar honorable body L:s
inst heard read. 1t il a copy word
fer word which made when l Va;
& student here ia the seminary. /
was earaia9 NV way through then
aal at that particular time had to
nrelch two sermons q week. Two
were sometimes more than l had
tue to prepare, for l had much
studying to do. II you will notice
, st the end ct this manuscript. there
, are tae date and the statement
whence the words wore taken and
lha:r author.
Il did hot mention their source
when | read them last spring be-
cause the authors am would not
have 'g;van added weight thereto.
.lor did wish my hearers to infer
i considered them hardly worthy al
original and special effort. Had l
heen notified two days earlier !
should have written especially for
them to the best OF my ability; as it
was. it was by an accident due to
necessary hasye that l took the
copied manuscript with, me and an
accident again that among the half
dozen | took the copy was the only
one at all appropriate"
The Investigating committee ex-
oneratel Professor Cosmus Green.
New Yorx Press.