The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-20
COLLEGE GRADUATE, 1o1,
OLDEST ONE IN AMERICA
hnr" Veteran or the PuIpit IIos VII.
messed birth of All Great world
tnNcntlous

fork. Pa July ID don't see
what they find in my age as n matter
Tor consratulation. Why don't they
wait uhti l reach par. Ut least" This
~ ~. Mh',,sicai statement Of Rev
iohh Fryer Mesick. ID. D.. the oldest
living college graduate i'm tho I;nitrI
states after receiving Il number nf
callers on his ninety-ninth birthd;,v
anniversary. two years ago
On June ~ Of this year DR. No,;,.,,
retaining the NigUr anu JOY oil. Iif. OF
II man a score OF years his Junior
turned his one hundred and tirSt mile
post. Now tlslt lie has gone thus
above par he admits that he him.
self feels as though his rare old age
is becoming something Of Il inattcr FOR
congratulaton.
Dr. Mcsicks life has not only been
Il long one. but a useful one, and the
honors showcred ON him in his latter
years have been wholly deserved. lie
Was intny years ago Instrumental in
the founding Of Franklin and Marshall
college, in lancaster Al the time OF
tn" merger there were two colleges
maintained by the reformed Church
one known as Franklin and the other
as Marshall Each was in danger OF
c"iiarsin" through dir" need OF Imam
ci"l Hid. when In McsiclS conceived
ana accomplished thor union into
what Is to-day nu Important and pros
porous educational institutions This
service was remembered three Years
ago 10y tho board OF trustees which
conferred on him the degree of III. d.
WINS Nalcdi"torihn In ~.
Rutgers collcg,. New Briinswicl y
j.. - the alma mater of the yoncrubl"
minister, ANA at it's one hundred and
forty seventh annual commencement
''St year II hVnorod him with Il degree
81 doctor or laws ia abscuti. br
MrSick "3s Naledictoridm OF The grad
udtinG class of lS3i
When this old grad was born, June
IS, 1873. In Albany. y. y. James M;tdi-
son. The fourth President OF the Unit al
states, Was The ,uun;ry's chief cxccu-
tive, and the Var OF 1912 was wagi7E
There were nineteen states in the Union
oi'der the ga1c of this old man many
ct me worlds greatest inventions have
"nt'Ided.~ Thc sewing machine, the
reaper ana binder. tho steamboat me
steam locomotive. tho telegram and
telephone. tho trolley cars. electric ligi.t
and even gas light. with countless other
boona 10 mankind. nave been staged
icfo"c his eyes
Dr.. Mrsick cast his nrst vote fo-
'icnry Gay as President, in 1896, to
see lis candidate defeated by Martin
Van Buren,. he has cast "a vote at
eVciy presidential election since that
tlrie. !'riur o ara during the civil
'Nnr II preached abolition and ,vaa a
warm persona friend Of William LiO,i
''S' SUI it'4'! - ictSTict i'ct.S Ia s.
c"Amol"us % D." colcred race Many
otu"r Notable mel, Eavc az ono ,iris o.
another counted pr. Mesick as Il close
friend
Long SER, lee ns Pastor.
lic served the Dutch Reformed con-
greGat!on OF Rochester, y Y, as pas
tor three years aud the salem Re
formed congregation. oi iarrlaonburg.
hitccn Years. During the civil War he
vas pastor OF the Dutch Reform. q
Church ia Somerv.llc, y j Ills actiyc
passionate covered a period % forty-iivo
years, when the sickness of his wife
influenced his retirement.
Or Mics icis has Tor some years been
making his home with his aon-ln-law.
johu Is. Gross. agent for the Pcnusyl-
vania Railroad system IA this city.
Though thirty ono years past the al
lottcG thrcrscOre and ten, he IS quite
active. lIc walks aOou, the house and
yard, ana frequently strolls about ;hr
city III company with some vu. OF his
friends. lie reads without thr aid OF
glasses Except that his hearing; ia be-
coming defective. %" retains his facui-
ties TO e. greater degree than many per
sons thirty years younger