The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-03-24
ne QUOTED, DIDN'T STEAL
Professor Green's Frank Answer to
Charge of Plagiarism.

RE QUOTED, DIDN'T STEAL.
Professor Green. Frank Answer to .
Charge Of Plagiarism.
In these days of accusations OF
plagiarisms against clergymen the
case 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. One day he was sum
moned hastily to oficiate in the
place of a minister who had been
suddenly taken i'll. He had barely
time to catch the train, much less
to prepare an especial discourse. He
caught up a half dozen manuscripts
from the drawer in his library table
and hurried away to preach in his
sick brothers. stead.
1t was a good sermon. Every one
was we'll pleased, every one indeed
but an old Scotch gardener, who SAT
far to the rear shaking his head
gravely from time to time.
AYE, it was true gospel" he con.
fded to a member Of the congrega'
ton afterward, land weel deliver
cd, but I've heerd it before this on
the ither side many years gone by
His contidant was ii lawyer and
set about Investigating. In a New
York library he found a book Of
Sermons by Scotch Divines,'
| which contained the substance u
the suspected sermon SO far as he
could recall it after having not PAID
especial heed to it when it was de
livered.
The lawyer took a serious view Of
the case, and waiting until the pres
bytery met he presented the fact:
and argued that they warranted al
investigation. The presbytery
agreed anil summoned Professor
Green. =.
"Really, I don't recollect." sait
the professor to the investigating
committee. "but if you'll seni t.
tho house for the sermon / may b
| able to clear tn matter up"
The document was brought art
read aloud while two committeeman
watched the"Sermons of Scotch Di
vines" The manuscript and TIN
printed page Tailed exactly. Thing
looked dark for the professor o
Latin.
When the reading was done, how
ever, he said the whole story hat
cone back to him clearly. He hat
left in a great hurry to meet tn
call and had not had time to selec
a sermon. Indeed he was not awar'
Of the circumstances of his cum
mons further than that he wa
wanted Immediately. He had NJ
time to inquire or to look over hi
manuscripts to select. He had lou
and rum"
when I arrived at DR.. Blanks,
he continued, land had time to flint
out what the sermon vas for and t
look over the manuscripts I ha'
taken with me, / found that only oa
of them was in the least appropriat
the one your honorable body ha
Just heard read. 1t ia a copy wor'
for word which I made when l wa
a student here in the seminary.
was earning my way through the:
and at that particular time had t
preach two sermons Il week. Tw
were sometimes more than I ha
time to prepare. for l had niue
studying to do. If you will motto
at the end of this manuscript, Their
are the date and the statemen
whence the words were taken an
their author.
II did not mention their sourc
when l read. them last spring b.
cause the authors name would NJ
have given added weight thereto
Nor did l wish. my hearers to infe
considered them hardly worthy a
original, and special effort. Had
been notified two days earlier
should have written especially fc
them to the best of my ability; as
was, it was by an accident due I
necessary haste that l took IL
copied manuscript with me and q
accident. again that among the ha,
dozen / teok the copy was the onl
one at all appropriate"
The investigating committee e:
onerated Professor Cosmus Greer
New York Press.
Feed grinding at the Wasl