Evening star., 1909-05-08
a relative of the Earl Of Esiinton, hi
p0tron.
Leader in His Church.


Witherspoon's activities were not con-
fined to his profession. He took an active
part in political affairs, was overseer
of highways, and performed other pub
lie duties as a citizen. He took an ac-
tive interest in the political. as well az
the theological. controversies of the day.
and was suspected OF writing certain
anonymous pamphlets which attacked
the loose and vicious practices OF public
men.
In 1s5a he was called 10 the Laigh
Church of Paisley. and began his minis
try there in the fullness of his reputation
as preacher and theologian. and the
foremost man Of his party in the Church
of Scotland. In 1Id2 he was defendant
in suit for libel because of a sermon
which reflected upon some disgraceful
practices In the town. and was senterced
TO pay heavy damages. which would
have ruined him financially but for the
generosity of some of his parishioners.
who paid the full amount.
He wrote many pamphlets and several
DOCKS upon political and theological ques-
tions. both serious and satirical. and in
imitation OF Dean Swift was even guilty
of wretched doggerel satirizing the tend
encies of the times and especially the
the established church. Here Is one OF his
sarcastic verses;
The way for clcrgymen to win
A sweet. delicious dinner
Is still 10 wink and spare the sin
And justify the sinner.
He received calls to several Of the larg-
est and most influential churches In Scot
land and Ireland. and his fame crossed
the water. In 1868 Richard Stockton, a
trustee of Princeton College was sent to
Scotland TO offer him the presidency OF
that institution, but Mrs. Witherspoon
was so averse to the idea that she was
rude TO the distinguished American gen.
tleman, who cut short the interview and
hoof hos Cl,> ornl.
gized for her discourtesy. saving she was
Ill al the time and the very thought OF
going so far away from her home and
friends made her frantic
Accepts Call to Princeton.
The next year Rev. Charles Beattie. an
other trustee. visited Paisley with greater
success. and the Goth of May. 1I6S John
Witherspoon preached his farewell sermon
and sailed with his family for Phladel-
phia. where he arrived the 9Th of August.
At that time there were only three col
leges in North America-Haryard. which
had been established in 1G36: William and
Mary at Williamsburg. Va. chartered Ivy
the crown In 1893. and Yale. located at
New Haven in IT'S. The middle colonies
were destitute of the means Of higher edu-
cation and the Presbyterians of New Jer-
sey had obtained charter in i146. with
John Dickinson. who had been conducting
an academy at Elizabeth. as president
The first commencement was to have been
held In May, 114S. but was postponed be-
cause of the death of the President. and
the Rev. Aaron Burr. who had been con-
Quoting a classical school at Newark. was
appointed to a position. He presided al
the first commencement November =. 1I4s.
when there were six graduates. one OF
whom was Richard Stockton. who became
a trustee of the college and was coll
league of Witherspoon in the Continental
Congress. President Burr died in 1853:
Jonathan Edwards. his famous son-in-iaw
and successor, died of smallpox rev
weeks after he assumed the presidency.
Samuel Davis held ONCE less than two
years: Samuel Finley three years. and
finally Witherspoon. The college hao
been in existence twenty years. but be-
cause of these fatalities had not assumed
the Importance tnat was expected and de-
served.
The year after John Witherspoon took
the presidency the number of students IN
creased to 120 He did most of the teach
ing and. preaching as we'll as conducting
the business affairs of the institution
The faculty seldom exceeded four In
structors during the twenty-six years thai
Witherspoon was president. He taught
Greek Latin, Hebrew. moral philosophy,
elocution. divinity and other subjects.
James Madison. who was one 81 has stu
dents in the class of I'LL and acted as his
acter was at once strong and gentle
and although he was the most dignineo
of men. with formal and stately man
ner. he was considerate and KIND and Won
the personal attachment of the students
Besides doing his college work ne
preached two long sermons every Sunday
in the chapel. John Adams. who spent
Sunday In August. 1Ii4. at Princeton
writes I'm his diary that he heard DIR.
Witherspoon all day." which was not in.
tended as satire.
During the revolution Witherspoon kept
the college going, although most OF the
vaded by the British. so that the president
and the faculty were obliged to nee ioi
their lives George Washington ATTENDED
the commencement exercises in lIS3, gave
the college fifty suineas and consen.sn Mi,sar &c
Peale, which now hangs In the museum
of natural history.
Scholar and Eminent Patriot.
| Witherspoon was probably the most
scholarly man of his day in America
He had no superior in the pulpit, was the
master Of nve languages and converseo
In French, Latin, Greek and Hebrew
Shortly after his arrival In America, ano
indeed before he left Scotland. he pub
lisned advanced views on the liberty OF
thought and political action, and became
the champion Oh tH6 VI eifS W.
nies. He denounced the policy Of the
British government in vehement speeches
and In 1174, when the first Continental
Congress assembled, prepared memorial
to that body declaring that the tyranny
of the British parliament was iliegai
and unconstitutional, and that we are
firmly determined never to submit.
AS member of the Continental Con-
gress he took an active part In the oe-
bate over the Declaration OF lndepeno.
ence. and closed his speech by saying:
For my own part. of property nave
some of reputation more. That reputa.
ton is staked, that property is pledseo
on the issue of this contest; and although
these gray hairs must soon descend into
the sepulcher l would infinitely rather
that they descend thither by the hand oi
an executioner than desert at TINS crisH
the sacred cause of my country.
Throughout the war he was consist
ent supporter of Washington. and con
tinued TO urge upon Congress Its duty 10
let Washington alone in the manage.
ment Of the military campaign, and to
give him all the support possible without
interfering with details. His executive
ability Is indicated by his being CHOSEN
a member of the COMMITTEES Of ways ano
means to carry on the war. He support
ed Robert Morris in his plan TO place the
finances of the country upon souno
basis He labored earnestly TO secure
the adoption of the Articles of Confedera.
ton, for a close and abiding union o.