The Princeton Seminary Bulletin

y Theo' . The Princeton Seminary Bulletin Published Quarterly by the Trustees of the Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church Entered as second class matter. May 1, 1907 at the post office at Princeton, N. J ., under the Act of Congress of July 16, 1894. Vol. XVn PRINCETON, N. J., November 1923 No. 3 The Seminary opened happily for its One Hundred and Twelfth Session with the registration of students on September 25th. On the following day the students, Faculty and friends assembled in Miller Chapel for the opening exercises of the Seminary. The Faculty were all present, except Professor Robert Dick Wilson, D.D., who was delayed for several days because he was on the steamer just leaving dock at Yokohoma at the moment of the earthquake, and Professor Caspar Wistar Hodge, Ph.D., who has been given a leave of absence for a year because not yet fully recovered from his illness. The student body filled the chapel, its total number being two hundred and sixteen against two hundred and fifteen the year before. The Junior Class numbers seventy-two. This is the largest enrollment and the largest Junior Class the Seminary has had since 1898. The opening address was given by the Rev. James M. Black, M.A., Minister of St. George’s United Free Church, Edinburgh, Scotland. His subject was “The Present-Day Task of Preaching.” Some changes have been made in the Seminary course. On account of the illness of Dr. Hodge, in addition to their other work, Professor John D. Davis, D.D., is instructing the Seniors, and Professor Frederick W. Loetscher, D.D., the Middlers, in Systematic Theology, Rev. Finley D. Jenkins, B.D., having the Juniors and the elective classes in Theology. Professor George Johnson, D.D., ’96, Professor of Systematic Theology in Lincoln University, has been engaged for a part of his time to relieve Dr. Greene of the instruction in the courses of Apologetics, Theism and Evidences, and he is also giving a course in Religious Pedagogy. The Rev. J. C. R. Ewing, D.D., is again assisting Dr. Stevenson in the Depart- ment of Missions, and several of the missionaries in residence will also take part in the instruction of this department. For the purpose of enlarging the Department of Homiletics and of giving frequent practice in sermonizing under competent criticism, President Stevenson and Dr. Erdman are giving instruction in this Department in addition to their own courses. The class-room schedule has been revised so that most of the courses which formerly ran one hour a week through the year are now given two hours weekly through one semester. 14 THE PRINCETON SEMINARY BULLETIN On Accommodations for Seminary he was made Professor Emeritus. He there- Commencement upon withdrew from all active participa- tion in the work of the Seminary, but al- It was most gratifying that so many of ways—even within the two weeks of his the alumni were able to return for the Sem- fatal illness—manifested his keen interest inary Commencement last May and could in the affairs of the institution. To his many prolong their stay for a night. The Semi- friends in this place it was most gratifying nary is very glad to provide rooms, fur- to see, and it will be a source of pleasure to nished with necessary bedding, for the his former students as well as to others alumni who wish to remain over night. The who may be unacquainted with the facts to number of rooms available is limited by the learn, that his old age was serene and hap- fact that many students retain their rooms py, and that while in recent years his phys- over Commencement. It will greatly facili- ical health was somewhat impaired, his men- tate the arrangements for the 1924 Com- tal faculties were remarkably well pre- mencement if those who purpose staying served to within a few days of his death. over night and wish rooms will address a Dr. DeWitt was the son of the Rev. Dr. letter to the Seminary ten days before the William R. and Mary Elizabeth (Wallace) date of Commencement, May 6th, asking DeWitt. The father, born in 1792, and edu- that rooms be reserved. Those who on ac- cated at Salem Academy, Washington Co., count of physical limitation wish first floor N. Y., and at Princeton and Union Col- rooms will kindly indicate it in their ap- leges and the Associate Seminary of plications. New York, became in 1818 the pastor of the Presbyterian Church (Market Square) of Harrisburg, and remained in position JOHN DEWITT, D.D., LL.D. that until his death in 1867, thus all but com- P Dr. DeWitt died at his residence in pleting fifty years of service in that pas- Princeton on Monday, November 19, 1923. torate. The son attended the Harrisburg He was in the eighty-second year of his age, Academy, but his preparation for college having been born on October 10, 1842. was so richly supplemented, especially in r Funeral services were held at his home on the classics, by private instruction from Wednesday, November 21, and on the fol- both his mother and his father, that he was lowing day his body was laid to rest in readly admitted at the unusually early age Harrisburg, Pa., the city in which he was of sixteen years to the Sophomore class of born and in which he received his academic Princeton College. ^ education preparatory to his entrance at After his graduation with the class of i Princeton College in the fall of 1858. 1861, he studied law for some months, and : i In 1912, being then seventy years old, them became a candidate for the Gospel and having completed twenty years of dis- ministry, pursuing his studies at Princeton tinguished service as the Archibald Alex- Seminary from 1861 to 1864, and at Union ander Professor of Church History, he Theological Seminary, New York, in 1864- asked the Board of Directors to accept his 1 865. In 1 865 he was ordained by the Third resignation. With deep regret and with Presbytery of New York. The sermon much grateful appreciation of his able, which he prepared for this service dealt faithful and successful labors as a member with the subject of eternal retribution, a of the Faculty, his request was granted and problem that had perplexed him a great THE PRINCETON SEMINARY BULLETIN i5 deal. Bringing this fact to the attention of It was in this church that Dr. DeWitt the Committee on the Parts of Trial, he developed a homiletic specialty that gave a asked and obtained their consent to make unique distinction to his Sunday afternoon the question the theme of his sermon before service. Having cultivated for years his the Presbytery. The impression made by natural fondness for historical reading, he the young preacher—he was not yet twen- now composed brief series of sermons on ty-one years of age—was such that, con- some of the outstanding personalities and trary to the usual custom on such occasions, movements in the history of the Church. he was permitted to present his discussion As many of his published discourses show, in, its entirety and through the influence of he had a rare gift of being able clearly to some who heard him, was soon thereafter grasp, fairly to estimate, and graphically invited to supply the pulpit of the Fifth to portray the salient features of such bio- Avenue Presbyterian Church during the graphical themes. These discourses—speci- following summer, an appointment which mens of which he often gave to the students he gladly, though with some trepidation, at the close of the Senior year, by way of accepted, and which he fulfilled with an illustrating the sermonic use to which they ability and success that gave unmistakable could put their historical studies—were promise of a notable career in the ministry. marked by breadth and largeness of treat- His first charge was at Irvington, N.Y., ment, with the avoidance of unnecessary where he labored from 1865 to 1869 . From detail; emphasis on the distinctive quali- 1869 to 1876 he was the honored and be- ties of the leader under consideration; loved pastor of the large and influential deep religious fervor; and an ease and Central Congregational Church of Boston. charm of style which made the lessons of Though he often referred to his Boston the life reviewed stand out with impressive ministry and to his fellowship with his Con- clearness and force. gregational brethren as an exceptionally In 1885 Dr. DeWitt published a volume delightful period of his life, he welcomed a entitled Sermons on the Christian Life. return to the Church of his fathers, and in They are a representative group of his par- 1876 he accepted a call to become the co- ish sermons. It may be regretted that they pastor, with the venerable and highly es- do not furnish a sample of those historical teemed Dr. Henry Augustus Boardman, discourses which had been so heartily com- of the Tenth Presbyterian Church, then sit- mended not only by the more thoughtful uated at Twelfth and Walnut Streets, members of his own congregation but also Philadelphia. The happy cooperation of the by professional men and women—many of two ministers was destined to be of brief whom were not regular attendants at any duration, for that same year Dr. Board- religious services—who thronged to hear man was compelled by ill health to bring these series. But the published selection is to a close his thirty-three years of service in one of high merit.

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