Evening star., 1909-05-20
Bronze Memorial Unveiled to
John Witherspoon.
PATRIOT AND THEOLOGIAN
Signer Of the Declaration and Fa-
nous Presbyterian Clergyman.
EXERCISES HELD IN CHURCH
Ambassador Bryce, Woodrow Wilson,
Vice President Sherman Were
Among the Speakers.

In memory Of his ilustrious services as
a patriot. philanthropist aAd theoogian,
the bronze statue Of Rev. DR.. John With
erspoon, the famous Scotch Presbyterian
clergyman, one-time president of Prince
ton University, signer Of the Declaration
of independence and member or the
Continental Congress. which has been
erected at the junction Of Connecticut
avenue, 18th and y streets, in front OF
the Church of the Covenant, was un-
yeiled and dedicated this afternoon.
The exercises were peculiarly appro-
pirate and fitting. Assembled to do honor
To the memory of Witherspoon, admit
tedly one Of the great men of his day,
were the diplomatic representatives OF
foreign governments, men high In the
official and Industrial life Of the nation,
probably two hundred descendants of the
noted Scotchman and others.
The feature of the program was the
pulling of the silken cord which unveiled
the statue by William Banks Withers.
seven years of age, son OF Prof. Wfthers
OF the Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege Of North Carolina. and lineal' de-
scendant of John WftherspoOn or the
sixth generation.
Ceremonies Held in Church.
The ceremonies. which began at $3.50
o'clock, were held. all save the actual
anveilng. In the Church OF the Covenant.
and former Secretary Of State John w.
Foster, chairman Of the board of trustees
of the Witherspoon Memorial Associa-
tion, presided. The .:ev. DR.. Jere With
erspoon. pastor Of the Second Presby-
terian Church of Richmond. Va, lineal
descendant of Witherspoon. delivered the
invocation, and the benediction was pro-
nounced by Rev. David A. Wood OF Get
tysburg. Pa, another descendant.
An address was made by James Bryce,
the British ambassador, on 1.-The Contri-
buttons Of Scotland to America" and it
is Of peculiar interest that this statue OF
the famous sgner Of tne Declaration OF
Independence Is placed in the National
Capital directly opposite the British en-
ers at its dedication should be Mr.. Bryce.
the repregentative here OF that nation
AGAINST whom, the declaration was di-.
rected.
Mr.. Bryce was followed by President
woodrow Wilson Of Princeton University.
whose subject was 1.-THE Review Of the
Life and Services Of Wither2poon." Vice
President Sherman spoke briefly, and
Commissioner Mcfarland. who has been
secretary Of the monument association.
made an address presenting the statue to
the citizens OF Washington.
This Is the first time that . statue has
been erected In this city by popular SUBJ
scription to signer Of the Declaration.
There Is one OF Benjamin Franklin. but
1t was purchased by private individual
and not by public subscription.
In Garb Of Clergyman.
The statue represents tall man of
erect pose and striking face. wearing
the garb of a clergyman of the revolu-
tionary period. and holding a book in his
hand. 1t was designed by William
Couper of New York. who also made the
Longfellow statue. and is paid for by
subscriptions of $1,000 each from the fol-
lowing ladies and gentlemen
Mrs. John Hay. Washington; Mrs.
Stanley Matthews. Washington; g. B. Ell
kins. washington-west Virginia. Will
ris, X. Jessup. New York city: John 8.
Kennedy. New York city: John e.
Parsons. New York city; Mrs; John E.
ne.e New ety cy N.Y.. Ana1ex
negie, New York city: John Wanamaker.
Philadelphia; John A. Converse. PhiIa-
delphia: John v. Farwell. Chicago: Thorn
as Morrison, Pittsburg: Alexander r.
Washington, D. c.; John w. Foster,
Washington. D. c.. and others.
The statue is mounted on a marble
pedestal upon the front OF which Is writ
ten in bronze letters: John Witherspoon,
1122. Scotland: 1894. Princeton On one
side Is inscribed Presbyterian minister"
and on the other ''Signer OF the Declara-
tion Of Independence"
Famous Words Quoted.
On the back OF the pedestal Is a bronze
plate bearing the following quotation
from the famous speech Of Witherspoon:
For my part. OF property have some.
of reputation more. That reputation is
staked that property is pledged on the is
sue 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 of the
executioner than desert at this crisis the
cause OF my country"
The The statue ssu Is .,.,Tnn Tithin - a stones
was unveiled few days ago.
The church edifice was crowded and ad-
mission was by card only. The Marine
Band played from o'clock until $3.50 in
front Of the church. and at intervals dur
Ing the progress of the ceremonies.
Decorations in the Church. !.
The decorative feature was carried out
under the direction Of Frederick D. Owen
The names Of the thirteen original states
in wreaths were placed around in a semi
circle and Joined by long loops of laurel
garlands. which also embraced the speak
er's stand. Princeton University colors.
together with many United States flags,
were placed around the auditorium, to-
gether with plants and shields inscribed
John Witherspoon.' President of
Princeton College, "Signer Of the Decla-
ration of Independence" and "Presby-
terian Minister
The procession from the church to the
outside platform, where the concluding
portion of the exercises took place was
led by reception committee composed of
members of the local branches OF the
Sons of the Revolution. Sons of the
American Revolution and Princeton
Alumni Association.
The idea of erecting by popular sub
scription a statue in Washington to John
Witherspoon was first suggested by the
late Rev. Teunis s. Hamlin. DID,. for
twenty years pastor of the Church of the
Covenant. who organized the movement,
and was in New York conferring with
sculptors about designs for the statue at
the time of his sudden death. The trust
ees Of the Witherspoon Memorial Also.
citation are: John w. Foster, chairman;
Andrew Carnegie. Morris X. Jesup. Rep
resentative William b. Mckinley, e.
Southard Parker, treasurer; Senator
Stepen =. E.kins OF West virg MA, Mrs
Stanley Matthews. John Wanamaker and
Commissioner Macfarland. secretary. 80