The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1912-02-07
PRINCETON HAS HAD
NOTABLE PRESIDENTS
Institution Treb;ed In Num-
bers During %Incumbency
of James McC0Sh.

"HE choice of DR.. John Grie1 aib-
ben as president of Princeton
recalls the fact that the uni
versity has had many great
presidents. Some of the most earnest
and successful presidents in the list,
such as John Witherspoon in the
eighteenth century and James McCosh,
who came almost precisely a century
after him, were Scots.
While the list contains the names of
famous native Americans as well, it
would be hard to say whether Prince
tons old world presidents Of those
taken from among the New England
divines did more to advance the condi-
ton Of the college. In general the ia
nous Princeton college presidents have
been those who stayed by the institu-
ton for long terms of years. They
usually have ended their careers work.
ing until the time was ripe for their
retirement.
The Rev. Aaron Burr, the famous
Aaron's father, was an instance of
this. He was made president at the
time when the removal of the young
institution from Elizabeth to the pres
ent site was still a project. Nor was
it known by the title so familiarized
of late by the college cheer Of now
adays. It began its usefulness under
the humble if picturesque title of the
Log college. And until quite recent
years the name of College of the State
of New Jersey for formal uses stuck
to it.
President Burr had more to do with
the upbuilding of the college than can
well be realized without bearing in
mind the great distance that the Jer-
sey institution has travelled from its
small beginnings.
OF most of the Princeton presidents
it is true that each has contributed
something during his term of Office to
the permanent advancement of the
university. President Burr's contribu-
ton was in the outline of university
working plans with schedule of
courses, rules Of government, and so
on. 1t was the misfortune of Jonathan
Edwards. the otherwise famous Con-
necticut Calvinist, that he died too
soon to leave any deep mark on the
college in formation.
The Princeton Library.
The Princeton library had its origin
in the patient efforts of President
Samuel Davies, who succeeded Ed
wards. The present library building,
needless to say, dates from the univer-
sity's comparatively recent architec-
tural period.
Samuel Finley was the chief adj
ministrator, chief magistrate, chief col
lege patriot and chief scholar and
teacher at the institution, after the
fashion of the college presidents Of
old. He ruled and taught from 1861
to 1865.
John WitherspOon, the next succeed
ing president, signed the Declaration
of Independence in his quality not of
university head, but Of American Wing
and revolutionary. And yet he was a
native of Scotland and dwelt there for
the whole first part of his life. He
was a descendant of John Knox on his
mothers side. AS a young man he
witnessed some of the fighting in the
rebellion of 1745 and was even made
prisoner by mistake in the course of
one of the battles. They brought him
over from Scotland to take the presi.
dency of Princeton, which he accepted
after a first refusal.
Witherspoon as a tax gatherer from
the philanthropic must have, despite
his grand old time scholastic airs, look
ed as%tonishingly like a modern college
p~resident-his methods were so similar
His tour to raise funds Melted the in
stitution many a pound sterling.
Witherspoon a Signer.
A heroic statue Of Witherspoon may
be recalled by those who know Fair
mount park, Philadelphia. The statue
was put there in the Centennial year
1876. Witherspoon did several things
to deserve it. He served in the Cont
mental congress-, signed the Declare
ton of Independence and acted on sun
dry important committees. On May
II, ITO, the day of appointed fasting
and prayer in the colonies, he preached
a sermon at the college OF 1.-THE Do
minion Of Providence Over the Pas
sions Of Men," which is pronounced by
those who have read it to be a remark
able and vigorous Wing argument
against the British.
Witherspoon labored at the head o.