Focus on the Family Citizen March 2009 : Page 11
Christian Statesman Series: John Witherspoon were published internationally and found their way to Britain’s colonies in North America. (The latter was still in print 66 years later. The expand- ed and re-titled essay Justification and Regeneration included an introduction by the famed evangelical British parliamentarian and abolitionist William Wilberforce.) Witherspoon was inclined to accept the college trustees’ call, but his wife was not. Elizabeth With- erspoon had already borne 10 children, five of whom were buried in the church- yards of her husband’s par- ishes in Beith and Paisley. Transported to the wilds of the King’s colonies on the far side of Atlantic, her husband might die a prema- ture death like the previous college presidents, and she would be left alone to raise five children in a strange land. Among those who helped change her mind was Ben- jamin Rush (1745-1813), a 22-year old American medi- cal student attending the University of Edinburgh and a future signer of the Declaration of Indepen- egant four-story structure was the largest build- ing in North America and housed the entire col- lege—chapel, library, classrooms, dormitories and refractory. Shortly after his arrival, Witherspoon imple- mented several reforms: the hiring of new faculty, revision of the curriculum, the addition of graduate studies and preparation of graduates for more than just ministry. Witherspoon envisaged the college’s alumni in government, law, education and commerce. Not only did Wither- John Witherspoon is “The man who shaped the men dence. As a product of the college, he impressed Mrs. Witherspoon with his ear- nestness and sincerity. An- other persuasive voice was Anglican missionary-evan- gelist George Whitefield (1714-1770), who viewed every Christian academic as equivalent to “a legion in the cause of religion.” What greater opportunity could be presented than the presidency of an evangelical institution that was already attracting the sons of America’s first fami- lies? From this Christian platform of cultural and political influence Witherspoon could shape the fu- ture leaders of America for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Witherspoon and his family made their way to who shaped America.” spoon lead the college, but he also signed the Declara- tion of Independence as a representative for New Jer- sey (the only active clergy- man to do so), and served in the Second Continental Congress. Witherspoon has been described by the historian Garry Wills as “probably the most influential teacher in the history of American education.” Consider his legacy. From among his 478 students over 26 years at the college emerged 37 judges, three of whom were nominated to the U.S. Su- preme Court, 56 state leg- islators, 77 members of the Congress, one vice presi- dent (Aaron Burr) and one president (James Madison). Under Witherspoon’s lead- ership the college was as much a school of politics as it was a school of prophets. Philadelphia’s port aboard the Peggy on Aug. 7, 1768. A coach ride brought the Witherspoons to Princeton where they were greeted by faculty and students who had illuminated Nassau Hall with lamps in every window. It was an impressive and endearing sight; at the time the handsome and el- March 2009 It produced men of affairs as well as men of the cloth. As a consequence, no college was more influ- ential in shaping the character and direction of the early American republic than the College of New Jersey. Likewise, strategically no single man was placed in a better position to positively influence the formation of a generation of American leaders than John Witherspoon. He well deserves the acco- lade as: “The man who shaped the men who shaped America.” ● The Rev. Alan R. Crippen II is the founder and presi- dent of the John Jay Institute for Faith, Society and Law, which prepares men and women for principled public leadership. 11
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