New-York tribune., 1909-05-20

College OF North Carolina The invocation Will be
pronounced by the Rev. DR.. Jere Witherspoon of
Richmond, Va, also a descendant Of the noted
clergyman. The benedicton will be pronounced by
the Rev. William A. Woods. of Gettysburg. a de-
scendant and the biographer OF John Witherspoon-
Dr. woodrow Wilson, successor OF John Wither-
spoon a president OF Princeton College. will de-
liver the principal oratIon; the British Ambassador
will deliver address upon Scotland 9 Contribu-
ton TO America and Commissioner Mcfarland,
secretary of the Witherspoon Memorial Associa-
ton will present the statue 10 the citizens or
Washington.
William Couper who made the LongfeloW statue
recently unveiled in Washington. designed the
WItherspOon statue which shows tall man OF
erect pose and striking face, wearing the Garb of
a clergyman OF the Revolutionary period and hold
ing book in his hand. Seventeen well known men
and women subscribed 1900 each for the the statue
and Congress appropriated Aoc0 for r pedestal ana
gave the site. Among the New York subscribers 10
the monument Mr. and Mrs Andrew Carnegie
Mr.. and Mrs John Z. Parsons. Morris X Jesup and
John s. Kennedy. The late Rev. Teunis s Hamlin
for many years pastor OF the Church OF the Cove
nant. Of tho Leading Presbyte-an churches in
Washington. has the honor OF having originated
this movement OF commsndable patriotic purpose,
II IS fitting therefore that the site FOR the statue
should have been selected in triangle directly in
front OF the Church OF tho Covenant.
John ". Foster formerly Secretary OF State. Is
chairman or the memorial association and +.
Southard Parker IS treasurer. The trustees are An
Representative Mckinley and Mrs Stanley Mat
thews. widow OF Associate Justice Matthews. OF the
United States Supreme Court
For my part. OF property I have OF
reputation have more. that reputation is staked.
tEat property is pledged the issue Of this con-.
test And although these gray hairs must soon
descend into the sepulchre. would infinitely rather
that they descend thither by the hand OF the
cutoner than desert at this crisis the sacred
OF my country
hs of Tobu
erspoon closed his notable speech in the debate
the Declaration OF Independence attesting the
spirit OF American Presbyterianism during the
struggle Of the colonies for independence: for be
sides being. the only clergyman whose name is at
tached that famous document, he was the mod
orator Of the first General Assembly. which
held In Philadelphia In 17S9 few weeks after the
Constitution adopted Coming from a distin-
guished clergyman and forceful orator. John With
erspoon's speech had much influence in favor OF
the adoption of the great Declaration.
John Witherspoon born In Scotland in 1722.
and after a notable career in his native land came
America at the request OF the Rev Charles
Beattie. trustee OF Princeton College. pres-
dent OF that institution, August, 1868. The col
lege which had then been In existence twenty
years and had experienced many difficulties in its
struggle for place in the list OF ranking insttu
tions Of the country-of which there only
three at that time. Harvard William and Mary
and Yale-began life anew. The first year after
witherspoon elevated to the presidency the
number Of students reached 12o, a large increase
its former enrolment. Three years after With
erspoon assumed the presidency a future President
OF the United States enrolled student
James Madison. Madison later became private sec
retary TO Witherspoon, of whom he said that his
character was at strong and gentle, and al
though the most dignhed of men. with a
formal and stately manner, he was considerate and
kind and the personal attachment OF the stu
dents
one of the notable occurrences in Witherspoon's
Oft fha ol,,fIo Igyar
when, after failing in his endeavor bring about
the adoption of the articles OF confederation. he
advocated "a perfect union and impressed
his views upon James Madison, the chief framer of
the Constitution OF the United States. All Amert-
can citizens are familiar with this phrase.
THE tie that binds is closely associated with
the duty performed by this Scotch clergyman for
his adopted country. and tomorrow final tribute
will be paid the memory OF John Witherspoon
who On November IS. / 4, retired to his eternal
rest full of honor and full of days"