20 October 1876
A.D. Tribute to Rev. Dr. John
Witherspoon—Monument Unveiled in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia
Archivist.
“October 20: A Monument in Praise to What God Has Done.” This Day in Presbyterian History.
20 Oct 2014. Accessed 20 Oct
2014.
October 20: A Monument in Praise to What God Has Done
A Colossal Monument for
a Spiritual Giant
Standing twenty feet tall and
weighing thousands of pounds, and located in the nation’s second-largest city
park (Fairmount Park, in Philadelphia, comprises 4,618 acres), the colossal
monument to the Rev. Jonathan Witherspoon is a monument to Presbyterianism.
Erected on the centennial of our nation onOctober 20, 1876, it is
a beautiful work of art, as the New York Times article described it.
On the North side of the
monument is a quotation from John Witherspoon. It states, “For my own
part, of prospectus I have some, of reputation more; that reputation is
staked, that property is pledged on the issue of this contest. And
although these gray hairs must soon descend into the sepulchre, I would
infinitely rather that should descend thither by the hand of the
executioner than desert at this crisis the sacred cause of my country.”
The south side of the monument
is the quotation from Leviticus 20:10
which
is found on the Liberty Bell at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. It says
“proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants
thereof.”
which
is found on the Liberty Bell at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. It says
“proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants
thereof.”
The east side reads: “John
Witherspoon, D.D., LL.D; a lineal descendant of John Knox; born in Scotland;
February 5, 1722; ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church 1745; President
of the College of New Jersey, 1768–94; the only clergyman in the Continental
Congress; a signer of the Declaration of Independence; died at Princeton, NJ
November 15, 1794″
The west side states that
“this statue erected under the authority of a committee appointed by the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America,
July 4, 1876.”
On the bottom is the brief
statement that “this pedestal is the gift of the Presbyterians in
Philadelphia and vicinity.”
Its unveiling was done
by D.W. Woods, Esq., a grandson of John Witherspoon, plus various
ministers, the governor of New Jersey, and a representative of Princeton
Theological Seminary.
Words to live
by: We remember the first act of Joshua upon crossing
the Jordan River was to take twelve rocks from that water barrier and set them
up on the bank. He wanted a glorious report to the second generation
about the Lord’s person and power in accomplishing the entrance into the
promised land. This was similar to the monument to John
Witherspoon. It placed the focus upon the God of providence in bringing
this spiritual giant to America for such a time as then, to train ministers for
the nation and a nation for the people. God continues to work His wonders
today in church and state. Recognize them, and praise God for them.
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