Which Patriot, Forefather most influienced your life?
Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 8:36 am
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When asked which historical preacher most influenced my life & preaching, my answer gets a blank look from most & especially preachers. John Witherspoon was a Presbyterian Preacher & not a Baptist. He was highly educated in Scotland before coming to America as President of the College of New Jersey. This is now Princeton University.
He signed the Declaration of Independence & was later a delegate to the Continental Congress. During the debate over the Declaration of Independence an unremembered delegate argued that the country was not ripe for independence. Witherspoon response was, “These colonies are not only ripe for the measure but in danger of rotting for the want of it.�
Shortly after receiving the Declaration of Independence in England, the prime minister told King George, “Your American Cousin has run off with a Presbyterian Preacher.�
As president of the College of New Jersey he was the lecturer in most of the classes. Until the last few yrs of Dr. Witherspoon’s service there was only one other professor who aided in the teaching. That one taught Mathematics and astronomy.
Dr. Witherspoon shaped the mind of the men who founded this country & therefore was the one man I believe most responsible for the limited government theory of our Forefathers. One of his stated goals of the school was, “to produce ornaments of the state as well as the church.� This he did with great success.
His graduates include:
12 Delegates to the Continental Congress
President James Madison
Vice President Aaron Burr
9 Cabinet Officers
21 Senators
39 Congressmen
37 Judges, 3 of whom were appointed to the Supreme Court
12 State Governors
John Adams described Dr. Witherspoon, “He is as high a Son of Liberty as any man in America.�
May we all strive daily for that Character Reference.
LT
When asked which historical preacher most influenced my life & preaching, my answer gets a blank look from most & especially preachers. John Witherspoon was a Presbyterian Preacher & not a Baptist. He was highly educated in Scotland before coming to America as President of the College of New Jersey. This is now Princeton University.
He signed the Declaration of Independence & was later a delegate to the Continental Congress. During the debate over the Declaration of Independence an unremembered delegate argued that the country was not ripe for independence. Witherspoon response was, “These colonies are not only ripe for the measure but in danger of rotting for the want of it.�
Shortly after receiving the Declaration of Independence in England, the prime minister told King George, “Your American Cousin has run off with a Presbyterian Preacher.�
As president of the College of New Jersey he was the lecturer in most of the classes. Until the last few yrs of Dr. Witherspoon’s service there was only one other professor who aided in the teaching. That one taught Mathematics and astronomy.
Dr. Witherspoon shaped the mind of the men who founded this country & therefore was the one man I believe most responsible for the limited government theory of our Forefathers. One of his stated goals of the school was, “to produce ornaments of the state as well as the church.� This he did with great success.
His graduates include:
12 Delegates to the Continental Congress
President James Madison
Vice President Aaron Burr
9 Cabinet Officers
21 Senators
39 Congressmen
37 Judges, 3 of whom were appointed to the Supreme Court
12 State Governors
John Adams described Dr. Witherspoon, “He is as high a Son of Liberty as any man in America.�
May we all strive daily for that Character Reference.
LT
Author of "Common Sense", "Rights of Man" and "The Age of Reason". Great reading for everyone.