New-York tribune., 1911-01-15
DR.. VAN DYKE LEAVES
PRINCETON IN A HUFF
Says He Has Been "Sitting on
Back Porch with His Boys
Long Enough"
TELLS WHY HE IS TO GO
Never Had Voice" in Univer-
sity's Affairs and Is Surprised
That Resignation Was
Laid on the Table"
[By Telegraph 10 The Tribune.

GBy Telegraph The Tribunel
Princeton, n. j.. Jan. 14.-Dr. Henry
van Dyke showed considerable pique to-
day at the way in which the trustees of
Princeton University treated the matter
Of his resignation at their recent meet
ing. and he issued a sarcastic statement
concerning his reasons for leaving the
university.
He mentions the fact that he was sur
prised that his resignation was laid on
the table,
II have been sitting on the back porch
with my boys long enough and will do it
no longer" he says. He is leaving
Princeton. he said. because he never had
voice in the executive councils Of the
English department, the committee on
appointments or in any Of the more i'm
portant committees of the faculty. He
feels that as far as the faculty and trus-
tees are concerned, his leaving is of little
importance. and he remarks that
Princeton can easily spare mere
writer of books and teacher of reading
from her notable faculty"
In the same vein he also declares that
IF l pack up my knapsack and get
out it will not make any difference"
Had Differences with Faculty.
Or. van Dyke has never attempted to
conceal the fact that he has had differ
ences with certain members Of the
faculty, but no one outside Of the faculty
understood before the reason for his dis
satisfaction. He has always expressed
| deep regret that controversies such as
that over the graduate school should ex-
| ist in Princeton. and to-day he referred
TO these with some heat.
| There are some who maintained when
Dr. van Dyke first resigned that he de-
sired the presidency. but he denied this,
and until to-day the public has been in
ignorance of the reason for his resigna-
ton. He left here tonight for Wilkes
Barre. Penn. where he will conduct the
installation of the Rev. DR.. Farr as
pastor Of the First Presbyterian Church,
In that city
The text of DR.. van Dykes resigna-
ticn. given out by DR.. van Dyke him
self. and his statement accompanying It
are as follows:
After eleven years Of service as a
| teacher of reading in Princeton Univer-
sity. have the honor to resign my chair,
for the same reasons which led to my
resignation three years ago. VIII you
be so kind as to present this resignation
! Ill %
when 1t will be convenient for them TO
receive it?'
This letter which was sent to the
trustees on November "a, was delivered
at their meeting on January II, and
laid on the table AS this is the first
time that a letter OF mine has had this
particular experience, it is a little con-
fusing and puzzling. When a man does
not understand a thing his remarks
about it may be AT to print but they
! are not likely TO be worth it, So I shall
wait for clear knowledge before saying
anything on this point.
To Go on "Preaching for Love-
But there is nothing about the rea
| SOilS IOI ItSiSIIlIlS, dlluutu u INl-
ter, which is not perfectly clear and
simple. Here they are. as they were
given in my letter of 1907:
"'While this section will not take from
| Princeton anything that she needs or
wants, it will add to the available re-
sources Of the university the endowment
which was contributed by the generosity
of my friends when / came. and will
| leave me free TO pursue my work In other
| directions
THAT letter Of 1907 was withdrawn
in Difference to certain requests and opin-
ions; but nothing has happened TO change
the reasons. which seem TO be sufficient
for the purpose. I am deeply attached
to Princeton as my Alma Mater. But.
| you see, she can easily spare a mere
writer of books and teacher Of reading
from her notable faculty
Future plans l have none except to
go on writing for my living and preach
| ing for love. in an atmosphere friendly
| and favorable to that kind OF work"
1