Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 September 1889 — PRINCETON JUBILATES. [ARTICLE]

PRINCETON JUBILATES.

COMMBMOBATIXG THE FOUNDING OF “ THE OLD LOG COLLEGE.” A Throng of 25,000 People Present at the Exercises—President Harrison Makes a Short Address to the Assembled Multitude —Other Speakers. The old log college celebration, under the auspices of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, was begun Thursday on the old Tennent farm, near Hartsville, Bucks county, Pa., where the college was originally located. The farm is about twenty miles from Philadelphia. .Thursday’s exercises were really commemorative of the founding of the Presbyterian church in the United States. Tne log college was established in 1726 b 7 William Tennent, and flourished until 1742, when Princeton college was founded. It may be said that the Princeton institution sprang from the primitive college established by Tennent. When the celebration was first talked of President Harrison promised to attend, and he has keDt that promise by coming here together with Postmaster-General Wanamaker,*tors. Harrison, the Kev. J. W. Scott, and Private Secretary Halford. The President and his friends arrived fi-om Washington Wednesday evening and spent the night at Mr. Wanamaker’s country home at Jenkintown. Early Thursday morning the party started for the place where the exercises were held, driving in carriages over the old York road for a distance of eight miles. Tents had been erected on the Tennent farm and an immense crowd from the surrounding country was present. There were also many prominent Presbyterian divines. A long program of exercises had been arranged, and at 11:20 the services of the day wei-e opened by the reading of a verse of Scripture by the Rev. Joseph Beggs, D. D., of Philadelphia. Then followed a prayer by the Rev. L. W. Eckard °f Abbington, Pa., to whose energetic work the success of the day’s celebration is due. At 11:50 the President, leaning on the ai-m of Mr. Wanamaker, entered the large tent and was given a most enthusiastic reception. They were followed by the rest of the party, and all took front seats on the raised platform. The ladies cai’ried beautiful bouquets. Gov. Beaver, who was also of the party, received a generous ovation when he ascended the platform. As soon as the distinguished visitors were seated..the first Daper of the day was read by fee Rev. D. K. Turner of Hartsville. The address was descriptive of the founding of the log college. The speaker was followed by the Rev, R. M. Patterson, D. D., LL. D., of Philadelphia, editor of the Presbyterian, who delivered an address on “Log College Evangelists.” The Rev. Dr. Murray, dean of Princeton college, delivered a spirited address, and Rev. Richard Mcllwaine, D. D., LL. D., read a paper on “The Influence of the Log College in the South.” President Harrison was then introduced and was cheered by the 25,000 pi-esent. Mr. Harrison spoke substantially as follows:

‘‘l have had illustrated to me here today one of the consistent tenets of the Presbyterian church. Nothing, I assure you, short of a robust embodiment of the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints in the person of our distinguished brother, the chairman, who has just introduced me, could have overcome the difficulties which seem to be in the way of those who attend celebrations. I thank you for your hospitable treatment of me and mine to-day, but I must say that I have much pleasure in being here, for every impulse of honest pride which stirs your hearts moves mine. I am glad to stand here at the source of a great movement. lam glad to be here to help celebrate one of those great impulses springing from a small beginning. I don’t want to exalt unduly the Presbyterian church, and yet I think historians who have been untouched by partisanship testify that it has been magnificently pushed onward. Let us take no backward steps. Let us continue to merit the favor of God and do His work until the. world shall cease to move. Steadfastness is our characteristic. Our enemies have called it obstinacy, and there are occasions when even that trait and characteristic has its service. LetJ us, my friends, continue to be steadfast to the faith nurtured and strengthened on this sacred spot. Let me kindly thank you for this most cordial and brotherly greeting. Let me wish that this day will close as auspiciou sly as it has opened. Let me hope that these scholarly addresses which will convey new thoughts to your minds and that you will carry away from here pleasant recollections of the day’s celebration. ” After me singing of the hymn, “Nearer, My God, to Thee,” a lunch was served of which the Presidential party, and the prominent members of the presbytery partook. After lunch President and Mrs. Harrison and the Rev. Mr. Scott drove back to Mr. Wanamaker’s at Jenkintown. In the afternoon the Rev. Ebenezer Erskine of Neuville, Pa., delivered an address on “Presbyterians of the Cumberland Valley.” Gov. Beaver read a speech eulogistic of the log college and its founders, and Postmaster-General Wanamaker also spoke. President Knox and others closed the speech-making. Letters from ex-President McCosh of Princeton and Gov. Green of New Jersey were read, and also a letter written in 1757 by Gilbert Tennent, son of the founder of the log college. The exercises closed with a benediction spoken by the Rev. Mr. Scott, the father of Mrs. Harrison.