The Washington herald., 1909-05-19
STATUE TO DIVINE
DEDICATED TO-DAY
Memorial to WitherspOOn to
Be Unveiled.
WAS REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOT
Speeches in His Honor VIII BE Made
by Ambassador Bryce, President
Woodrow Wilson, of PrincetOng
Vice President Sherman, and Com
missioner BacfarIand.

Preparations are almost completed fo-
TIRE ceremonies Of the unveiling OF the
statue OF John Witnerspoon on the til
angie formed by Connecticut avenue and
Eighteenth and \ streets. which viii
take place tomorrow afternoon at $50
o'clock ----..--.. -.---.---
The ceremonies. viii be under the dirsc-
ton Of Hon John ". Foster. former Sec
retary OF State, chairman Of the trus-
tees Of the. witherspoon Memorial Asso-
eistion. Ambassador Bryce. OF England:
Woodrow Wilson. president OF Princeton
University; Vice President Sherman, Com
missioner Macfsrland. Senator's Briggs and
Kean- OF New Jersey: several Representa-
tives from New Jersey. and many de-
soeldants OF withsrspoon VIII attend the
ceremonies
Unveiled By Descendant.
The statue viii be unveiled by william
Banks Witherspoon. seven years old. the
sixth Hnsal descendant OF John wIther-
spoon Ambassador Bryce and President
Wilson viii deliver the principal ad-
dresses Vice President Sherman and
Commissioner Macfarland viii also speak.
The statue was purchased by voluntary
contributions. which were turned over
70 tie Witherspooa Memorial Association.
Congress granted the site. small TIL
angle opposite the Church Of the Cove
naat. This was thought suitable loca-
ton. as John Witherspoon was a Presby-
terian clergyman. and many Of the sub
scTiptions 10 the memorial fund were
received from members OF that faith
By a curious coincidence the statue of
this famous signer OF the Declaration OF
Independence Is placed in the CspItal
City directly opposite the British En-
baSsy, and the principal speaker at the
ceremonies OF the unvelling viii be the
Ambassador from the country against
whom this declaration was aimed.
The statue IS also within a stones
throw Of the Jongfsliow statue, which
was unveiled a few days ago. Both
statues are by the same sculptor, William
CouPer, Of New York This memorial
viii Be the only public statue IN Wash
ington erected 20 the memory Of a signer
Of the Declaration OF independence.
There Is one OF Benjamin Franklin. but
Z was purchased by q private individual
and not by public subscription.
statue of Bronze.
The statue is Of bronze and represents
WithersPoon in oratorical attitude. HeI
holds z book in one hand and faces the
south. The statue Is mounted on q mar
bic pedestal. upon the front Of which is
written in bronze letters: John Wither-
spoon. 17Z2. Scotland: I7ss. Princeton .''
On one side is inscribed Presbyterian
minister" and on the other ~Signer Of
the Declaration Of Independence. On
the back Of the pedestal is bronze plate
bearing the following quotation from the
famous speech OF Witherspoon:
For my own part. Of property have
some, of reputation more. That reputa-
ton is staked. that property is pledged
on the issue Of this contest: and although
these gray hairs must soon descend into
the sepulcheT. I would Infinitely rather
that they descend thither By the hand OF
the executiOneT than desert az this crisis
the cause OF my country
There viii be many descendants Of
Witherspoon at the ceremonies OF the
uaveiling and also many Scotchmen and
Prssbyteria1s. Gov. Fort, OF New Jersey. I
was expected 70 attend. but has been
preciuded by an engagement
John Witherspoon was born in Scotland
in IN and was Hneal descendant OF
John Knox At the age Of fourteen he
entered the University Of Edinburgh. was
graduated az its classical and divinity
school. and began to preach when twenty |
enc years old
A President of Princeton.
His reputation as q minister in Scotland
led 70 MS selection as president Of Prince /
ton College in I7sS. In T774 he was chosen
as a delegate to the New Jersey pro
vincisi convention. and the next year was
sent TO the Continental Congress. where
he served almost continuously untH the
close OF the Revolutionary war. He was
one Of the first members 20 favor inde- /
pen6ence. and gained a great reputation /
5y MS speech IN Congress on July fT7s 1
urging the immediate adoption and proc- /
lamation Of the Declaration OF Iade- (
pendence- He was the only clergyman I
member Of the body who signed the Dec
laration-
He filed many important committee as
signments IN the Congress, and was /
Staunch -t-isnd and supporter Of Wash 1
ingtnn- He predicted that the Revolu- 4
tionary war would be an important 4
event in the history OF mankind" and /
later he urged a permanent and we'll 4