Evening star., 1925-02-05
TRIBUTE RENDERED
JOHN W|THERSPOON
Sons of Revolution Hold Me-
mortal Services at M0nu-
ment of Patriot.

Sounding a call for a better Ameri-
canism, Rev. DR.. Wallace Radcliffe,
pastor emeritus Of the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church, de-
clared today at memorial services at
the John Witherspoon Statue, at Con-
necticut avenue and n street, that
there IL no room in America for any
but Americans" The services were
held under the auspices of the Sons
Of the Revolution in the District of
Columbia, and a wreath was placed
by Robert Lansing, former Secretary
of State.
John Witherspoon, an ordained min
lister in the Presbyterian Church, and
a Scotch immigrant to the United
States, stood for the principles of
republicanfsm and Americanism in
their essential characteristics, DR..
Radcliffe declared, combining the
qualities of tenacity. pugnacity and
perseverance in 4 character which
bespoke its ruggedness and independ-
ence when he rallied his doubtful coll
leagues together to sign the Decla-
ration of Independence by declaring
he would rather die than submit
longef to British rule.
DIR. Radcliffe called on all Americans
to rerkunce any ties of allegiance they
may I'VE to foreign nations ana 70
beconI Americans in spirit and in
nameo "A man who owes allegiance
to many nations cannot be a. good
citizen of one" he said. DR.. Rad
cliffe referred to the speech of With
erspoon in Independence Hall in Phil
adelphia at the signing of the Dec
laration of Independence as the most
significant moment in the history or
the world" John Witherspoon was
born February 5, 1922, just 202 years
ago. His statue stands just across
the street from tho British embassy.
representative of the nation against
which he rebellsd.
Princeton Graduates Present.
A delegation Of 25 ministers Of the
Presbyterian Church in Washington
attended the memorial services, as
did many graduates of Princeton
University. of which Witherspoon
was the first president. The invo-
cation and benediction were pro-
nounced by Rev DR.. Charles Wood, pas
tor Of the Church of the Covenant.
A detachment of sailors from the
and music was furnished by a sec
ton Of the Navy Band. Services were
announced by DR.. Thomas Edward
Green, chaplain OF the Sons of the
Revolution in the District of Column
bia and chaplain general of the So
ciety in the United States. Grouped
at the rear of the monument were
the flags of the society. with the
American flag, Continental standards,
the banners of the Sons OF the Revo-
luton and the Bourbon emblem of
France arranged about the statue.
The committee OF the society in
charge of the ceremonies included:
DR.. Green, chairman, and Rev. Walden
Myer and Rev. John Van Schaick, jr.
They were accompanied by the officers
and members of the board of man
ayers, including Brig. Gen. George
Richards, U. S. NJ. c.. president, and
Charles P. Light, secretary.
John Witherspoon came to the
United States to be president of the
then Princeton College in 1868, and in
1772 became a leader of the Presby-
terians espousing the cause of the
patriots in the difficulties with Great
Britain, and was accounted "as high
q son Of liberty as any man in Ameri-
ca" He was a member of the Con-
tinental Congress and also a member
Of the Congress of New Jersey.