USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume I > Part 23
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The courses of instruction lead to the degrees of A. B., Litt. B., and B. Sc. The Bachelor of Arts course includes Greek or Latin among its liberal studies, required and elective. The Bachelor of Letters course includes liberal studies with modern languages. The Bachelor of Sci- ence course allows greater privilege in the study of science and offers several distinct groups of study to the choice of the student, a general science group, or a well-developed technical group in agriculture or biology or chemistry or ceramics or civil, electric or mechanical engi- neering. There are now over seventy men on the teaching staff. The senior professors are Dr. Francis Cuyler Van Dyck, Physics, Emeritus ; Dr. Austin Scott, Political Science; Dr. Louis Bevier, Jr., Greek ; Dr. Alfred A. Titsworth, Civil Engineering; Dr. John C. Van Dyke, Fine Arts-all so well known, with others of later appointment, throughout all the College constituency.
The number of students now enrolled in degree courses is 700: Stu- dents in short courses, 150; in the Women's College, 180; in the summer session, 550 ; bringing the total registry to nearly 1,600, exclusive of many hundreds in extension work.
The College and the State-The Land Grant Act or Morrill Act of the Congress of the United States in 1862 provided for a grant of land to a College for the Benefit of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts in each State of the Union. The act describes each such college as one "where the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts." The State of New Jersey did not found a new college, but availed itself of the Federal Act by entering into relations with Rutgers. The land assigned to the State realized at its sale $116,000. This amount is held in trust and the interest is annually paid to the Trustees of Rutgers College in New Jersey. A later Act of Congress, known as the second Morrill Act, and a still later supplement, provide a certain annual amount, known as the Morrill Fund, from the Federal Treasury. Other acts, known as the Hatch Act and Adams Act, create and maintain an Experiment Station at the College, a department of research, not instruction, under the College's administration; and the Smith-Lever Act puts its extension work also in charge of the College.
It was the purpose of the Federal Acts to stimulate and secure in each State similar acts, that each State should cooperate with liberal support. The State of New Jersey entered upon such cooperation when, in 1890, it created certain scholarships for New Jersey students which it annually supports. Since that time it has established a department of
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clay-working and ceramics and short courses in agriculture which it definitely maintains. It has also in more recent years provided equip- ment for certain scientific departments. It is now beginning to provide buildings at the College Farm for the advancement of the work of instruction and experiment in agriculture which in New Jersey, as well as in all other States, is attaining such remarkable importance and such high academic recognition. The State is fortunate in having a college of old foundation and traditions to administer its higher educa- tion, and the College is honored in the charge thus committed to it. The State's Board of Visitors possesses a direct connection with the work. In 1917 by act of the Legislature the State College was also des- ignated the State University of New Jersey.
Property and Endowment-The College Campus, known in part as the Queen's Campus and in part as the Neilson Campus, has been acquired in largest part by gift. Mr. James Parker, of Perth Amboy, was donor of part of the Queen's Campus and the remainder was secured from his estate in 1808. The Neilson Campus has been given by Mr. James Neilson, of New Brunswick, during the last twenty years, in portions sufficient for the erection of buildings from time to time, and in greatest part in 1906, and in final part in 1920. The area of the Neilson Campus is now being extended by purchase. The College Farm, purchased in part nearly fifty years ago, and recently extended to area of about 350 acres by purchase and by gifts, lies at the other end of the town from the College Campus. The Athletic Field, for many years allowed to the College use by its owner, Mr. James Neilson, has now been deeded by him to the College.
Queen's College, the Faculty and Alumni House (formerly the Pres- ident's House) and Van Nest Hall (named in honor of Abraham Van Nest, Esq., a generous benefactor of the College) were erected by general subscription, the funds being secured chiefly among the people of the Reformed Church parishes in New York and New Jersey. The Observa- tory was the gift of Mr. Daniel S. Schanck, of New York City. Geological Hall was erected by funds received from general and various sources. Kirkpatrick Chapel carries the name of its donor, Mrs. Sophia Astley Kirkpatrick, of New Brunswick, who made the College a beneficiary of her will. Winants Hall, the Dormitory, was the gift of Mr. Garret E. Winants, of Bergen Point. Ballantine Gymnasium was the gift of Mr. Robert F. Ballantine, of Newark. New Jersey Hall, the Ceramics Build- ing, the Short Course Building, the Agricultural Building, a Horticul- tural Building now being erected, and a new Ceramics Building now planned, have been provided by the State of New Jersey for special work maintained by it. The Ralph Voorhees Library carries the name of its donor. The Engineering Building and the Chemistry Building have been erected by funds in part at the disposal of the College and
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in part borrowed, awaiting the needed donations. The Ford Dormitory is the gift of John Howard Ford.
The Class of 1882, the Class of 1883, and the Class of 1902 have erected College Gates, and many classes have placed windows in the Chapel. The Henry R Baldwin Memorial Gates were the gift of many friends and associates of Dr. Baldwin. In the Library is the Henry Janeway Weston Memorial room; and in the Fine Arts room, Queen's Building, is the Thomas L. Janeway Memorial collection. In the Museum of Geological Hall are many collections bearing the names of their donors, the Lewis C. Beck collection, the George H. Cook collec- tion, the John H. Frazee collection, and the Albert H. Chester collection. In the Library and New Jersey Hall are the George D. Hulst collection and the John B. Smith collection of Lepidoptera. In the Library also is the James B. Laing collection of coins. The value of buildings, equipment and collections now probably reaches nearly $2,000,000.
The funds of the College have been acquired in varied amounts at various times from many donors. The larger part of the endowment, received from general sources, is included in a general fund. There are many special funds, however, maintenance, beneficiary and prize funds which bear special names, some of them memorial. The Anna Atkins Heckscher Fund, $200,000, is the gift of August Heckscher, Esq. The Hill Professorship, a foundation of $75,000, is the gift of Rev. Dr. and Mrs. William Bancroft Hill. The Blair Trust Fund was the gift of Mr. John I. Blair, the Gould Memorial Fund was the gift of Miss Helen M. Gould, the Hobart Memorial Fund was the gift of the Hon. Garret A. Hobart, the Voorhees Professorship Fund was the gift of Mr. Abraham Voorhees, and the Bookstaver Fund was a bequest from the Hon. Henry W. Bookstaver. Beneficiary trust funds bear the names of Brownlee, Hedges, Knox, Mandeville, Smock, VanLiew, Voorhees and Van Ben- schoten. Prize funds bear the names of Appleton, Brodhead, Cooper, Bussing, Smith, Spader, Quick, Suydam, Upson, Vail, Van Doren and Van Vechten. There are two Fellowship Funds, the gifts respectively of James H. Blodgett and John Arent Vander Poel. Library funds bear the names of their donors, Robert H. Pruyn, P. Vanderbilt Spader and Benjamin Stephens. Mr. Robert F. Ballantine gave a fund to maintain the building which bears his name; and Mr. Garret E. Winants gave a fund to maintain the building which bears his name. A Lectureship Fund has been given by Luther Laflin Kellogg, Esq. Other special funds bear the names of Baldwin, Demarest, Duryee, Elmendorf, Suydam, Wes- ton, Beardslee, Lansing, Raven, Upson, Cook, Halsted, Hardenbergh, Horton, Sleght, Patterson, Taylor, Canfield, Nevius, Van Pelt. The Henry Rutgers Fund is held in trust for the College by the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America. . The entire endowment of
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the College is now about $1,500,000, about $500,000 having been received in 1919-1920, from a successful million-dollar campaign, $500,000 remain- ing yet to be paid in.
The Board of Trustees-The Charter of 1766 named as the original Trustees, in addition to the Governor, President of the Council, Chief Justice and Attorney-General, men whose names were familiar in the Provinces and the churches of the time. The Charter of 1770, with only slightest variation, names the same men. Sir William Johnson, Baronet, is first. Then follow the names of ministers, Johannes Henricus Goet- schius, Johannes Leydt, David Maurinus, Martinus Van Harlingen, Jacob R. Hardenbergh and William Jackson, of the Colony of New Jersey ; Samuel Verbryk, Barent Vrooman, Maurice Goetschius, Eilardus Westerlo, John Schuneman, of the Province of New York; Philip Wyberg and Jonathan Dubois, of the Province of Pennsylvania. The names of laymen conclude the list: Hendrick Fisher, Peter Zabriskie, Peter Hasenclever, Peter Schenck, Tunis Dey, Philip French, John Covenhoven, Henricus Kuyper, of the Colony of New Jersey, Esqrs., and Simon Johnson, Philip Livingston, Johannes Hardenbergh, Abraham Hasbrouck, Theodorus Van Wyck, Abraham Lott, Robert Livingston, Levi Pauling, John Brinckerhoff, Nicholas Stillwill, Martinus Hoffman, Jacob H. Ten Eyck, John Haring, Isaac Vrooman, Barnardus Ryder, of the Province of New York, Esqrs.
During the years since, nearly a century and a half, both State and Church have continued to be represented in the body of Trustees by men of distinction in all professions and in public affairs. Naturally, the States of New Jersey and New York have given most of the mem- bers; naturally, ministers and elders of the Reformed Church have always been a large and influential element; and, naturally, the gradu- ates of the College have been increasingly represented.
W. H. S. DEMAREST.
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF THE REFORMED CHURCH.
The Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church in America had its origin in the desire to educate young men for the ministry in this country instead of being dependent for supply upon Holland and particularly upon the Classis of Amsterdam. The church had become divided on the difference of opinion of this important question, into the Coetus and Conference parties, the controversy lasting for many years. The Coetus party struggled for independent American judica- tories and the establishment of a university with regular advantages for a theological training. With these objects in view, the Rev. Theo- dore Frelinghuysen was commissioned in May, 1756, to solicit for funds in Holland. His departure, however, was delayed four years, and this, with the unhappy schism in the church, defeated the movement. Eight years after this, J. H. Livingston, who was studying for the ministry
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in Holland, proposed to his American friends that both of the contending parties should fix upon a youth and send him to that country to be specially trained for a professor in the American churches, thus ulti- mately healing the schism and providing for the churches to be supplied with satisfactory ministry.
This plan seems not to have been entertained, and Mr. Livingston forming the acquaintance of Dr. Witherspoon, who had been called from Europe to take the presidency of the college at Princeton, sought to secure arrangements for the education of ministers for the Reformed Church at that institution. This, however, was opposed by the party leaders in America, also that of the Conferentie to establish a divinity professorship in King's College. The subsequent articles of union stipu- lated that the professors of theology were to be chosen from the Nether- lands by the advice of the Classis, and should not have any connection with any English academies, but should deliver lectures on theology in their own houses. They were not intended to be parsons ; a fund was to be raised for their support. No endowment, however, was immediately obtained, some of the most influential churches standing aloof from the union ; the disturbed political condition of the country was also another factor, and matters were deferred until after the close of the Revolution, the Synod in the meantime advising the students to study at their con- venience with Drs. Livingston, Westerlow, Rysdyck, Hardenbergh or Goetchius.
While the subject of a professorship was pending, the trustees of Queen's College sought to carry out the plans of the Coetus party by calling Rev. John Brown, of Haddington, Scotland, to become their professor of divinity ; he, however, declined. They subsequently wrote to the Classis of Amsterdam and to the Theological Faculty of Utrecht, to recommend to them a professor of theology to be also president of the college and a member of the ecclesiastical judicatories in America. The Synod endorsed the action of the trustees in 1774, and the following year Dr. Livingston was recommended by the Classis and Faculty, but no action was taken, owing to the outbreak of hostilities.
At the close of the Revolution, the subject of the professorship occu- pied the attention of the churches. Dr. Livingston was in favor of opening a divinity hall in New Brunswick, stating as his reason that it was the most central point for all portions of the Reformed Church- the Dutch in New York and New Jersey, and the Germans in Pennsyl- vania. This the Synod opposed, deciding to locate the chair in the city of New York; Dr. J. H. Livingston, in October, 1784, was chosen Pro- fessor of Theology, and Dr. H. Meyer, pastor of Totowa and Pompton Plain churches, Professor of Languages. Dr. Livingston entered upon his duties May 19, 1785, and for a number of years was very poorly supported by the Synod. Only the more wealthy of the students were
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able to meet the high cost of living in the city, the more indigent class was obliged to pursue their studies with their pastors at home. This induced the Synod to appoint authorized lectors in theology to accom- modate the country students. Dr. H. Meyer, of Pompton, was appointed in 1786, and, six years later, Dr. Soloman Froeligh, of Hackensack, and Dirck Romeyn, of Schenectady.
The Synod in 1791 took active measures towards raising a fund for the endowment of the theological professorship. The work was, how- ever, suspended for two years owing to a proposition from Queen's College, repeating their proposition of 1773. The Synod finally decided that they could not recommend to the college a Professor of Theology for its presidency until that institution was properly endowed. This decision caused an influence to be brought on the General Synod for an independent theological professorship, the Classis of Hackensack urging the establishment of such a school at once, claiming that a professorship connected with Queen's College could only be a subordinate office. A committee appointed by the General Synod in June, 1794, reported that no union could be effected with Queen's College as long as it was situ- ated at New Brunswick, and that it should be removed to Bergen or Hackensack. This committee also reported that the Divinity School could not flourish in New York on account of the expense of living, and its continuance there prevented the raising of a fund, recommending that it be removed to Flatbush, where a classical academy existed, or to some other point.
The Synod accepting the recommendations of its committee, Pro- fessor Livingston in the spring of 1796 removed to Flatbush. The number of students at once doubled ; everything appeared encouraging. The Synod, however, failed to meet the financial requirements of the school, and, Dr. Livingston's health failing, he deemed it advisable to return to New York. Thereupon the Synod distributed the school into three equal parts, thinking that different localities would become inter- ested by having a professor residing among them. Drs. Forleigh and Romeyn were raised to the rank of professors, and in 1800 two pro- fessors of Hebrew were appointed-Revs. John Bassett and Jeremiah Romeyn. Thus matters remained until the year 1806, with every day the prospects of the professoriate growing more dark and dubious. The uncertainty of location seemed to destroy every effort in its behalf.
At this time the trustees of Queen's College made another proposition, which prepared the way for the ultimate success of the institution. The trustees proposed to unite with the theological professoriate, and this was sanctioned by the General Synod with the proviso that all moneys raised in the State of New York should be applied to the endowment of the theological professorship.
In the covenant agreed to between the parties, the trustees of the
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college promised to combine the literary interests of the college with a support to evangelical truth, and the promotion of an able and faithful ministry in the Dutch Church ; that the funds raised in New York should be appropriated to the support of the theological professorship in the college, and to the assistance of poor and pious young men preparing for the ministry. The trustees were to hold the funds, and should call the Professor of Theology elected by the Synod as soon as the funds would allow. A board of superintendents was to be appointed by the Synod to superintend the theological professorship, to be known by the name of "The Superintendents of the Theological Institution in Queen's College." The Synod was to provide money for a library, and both parties were to unite in erecting the necessary buildings, and the pro- fessional fund was to be used for that purpose if needed. Funds were collected in New York ; in less than a year Dr. Livingston was called by the college trustees as their Professor of Theology. He did not imme- diately remove to New Brunswick, but he opened the seminary in October, 1810, with five students.
The Rev. Elias Van Bunschooten donated $17,000 to the institution, to be used in the support of youths educated for the ministry. Dr. Livingston made his first report to the Synod in 1812, and three years later that body, with contributions received from the church in Albany and New Brunswick, elected Rev. John Schureman as Professor of Pastoral Theology and Ecclesiastical History. After his death in 1818, the second professorship embraced the department of Oriental Litera- ture and Ecclesiastical History. His successor, Rev. John Ludlow, continued in this department five years, when he was succeeded by Rev. John De Witt. The further endowment of the institution now became necessary ; Dr. Livingston opened a subscription in 1822 to which nearly $27,000 was subscribed within a year by the Particular Synod of New York.
The Particular Synod of Albany in the fall of 1825 subscribed $27,000, for the endowment of third professorship. The death of Dr. Livingston occurred a short time previous to this event, but he lived long enough to see that success was certain, that the institution for which he had sacrificed so much during forty years of his life, was at last established on a firm foundation. It was not, however, until after his death that the theological institution was fully organized by a full complement of professors-De Witt, Millendoler and Woodhull.
The Synod now purchased the college buildings in payment of the obligation of the trustees to them. The trustees had saved the professor- iate in 1807 by taking it under their care; the Synod now saved the college from extinction by a similar kindness. The theological pro- fessors became professors also in the college, which was reopened under the name of Rutgers College. The theological professors were relieved from further duties in the college about 1861.
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The want of a theological hall separate from the college building became a needed want as early as 1851. The students, complaining of the high cost of board in New Brunswick, united in a memorial stating their difficulties and wants, which was presented to the faculty, who transmitted it to the board of superintendents. The board took immedi- ate action and their efforts were crowned with success. At the personal solicitation of Dr. Ludlow, Mrs. Anna Hertzog, of Philadelphia, donated $30,000 for the erection of a building that should be called "The Peter Hertzog Theological Hall." Colonel James Neilson donated land valued at $14,000, and other lots were given by David Bishop, Charles P. Day- ton, Francis and Wessel Wessels, of Paramus, New Jersey, their prop- erties forming a complete rectangle. The new building was speedily erected, containing dormitories, refectory, lecture rooms, chapel, and library.
The Synod in 1864 transferred the college property back to the trustees, and the next year the covenants of 1807 and 1825 were finally annulled. The money thus accruing was devoted to the erection of professorial residences then in course of erection. In the same year the fourth professorship, that of Sacred Rhetoric and Pastoral Theology, was created, and Dr. David D. Demarest was elected to this position. Sub- scriptions and moneys were received in 1867 amounting to $62,233.09; the balance remaining after the establishment of the fourth professorship was to be used in finishing the three professorial residences. A large amount of these subscriptions proved worthless, and the Synod in 1868 appointed an agent to raise $100,000 to complete the endowment of the seminary and for payment of the debt of the Synod. An endowment of $60,000 was received from James Suydam for the establishment of a chair of Didactic and Polemic Theology, and the Synod very appropri- ately attached his name to the professorship. Extensive improvements and repairs were made to the Peter Hertzog Hall, including water and heating by steam. The noble gift of James Suydam Hall, which was erected on one side of Hertzog Hall, was dedicated June 5, 1873. It contained a spacious gymnasium, chapel, museum, and four lecture rooms. In front of it a bronze statue of Mr. Suydam was placed by friends-a well deserved tribute to the memory of a liberal benefactor of the seminary, whose contributions exceeded $200,000.
On the other side of Peter Hertzog Hall stands the Gardner A. Sage Library, presented by a citizen of New York, Gardner A. Sage, to the General Synod, and dedicated June 6, 1875. In addition to this gift of the building, Colonel Sage paid the salary of the librarian, the services of the janitor, coal, and other incidental expenses. He contributed $2,500 for the purchase of books, which was augmented by the efforts of Dr. Cornell, who secured $50,000 for the library, chiefly in subscriptions of $2,500 each. These moneys were given not for the investment but
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to be spent in the purchase of books. The present librarian is John C. Van Dyke, and the collection now amounts to over 56,000 volumes and 10,000 pamphlets. In 1878, Nicholas T. Vedder, of Utica, New York, by the donation of $10,000, established a course of lectures to be delivered by Reformed (Dutch) Church members to the students of the seminary, and of Rutgers College on "The Present Aspect of Modern Infidelity, Including Its Cause and Cure." The General Synod accepted the gift and established the "Vedder Lectures on Modern Infidelity." This lec- tureship is not existent now, owing to the failure of the endowment fund -no fault of the donor. Colonel Sage, in connection with Mr. Suydam, presented to the General Synod a professorial residence at the cost of $18,000. These gentlemen left at their respective deaths, large sums for the endowment of the buildings erected by them, and of the grounds and other buildings. Mr. Sage endowed also the chair now named for him. These two men altogether more than doubled the previous endowment, as they have again been doubled since 1890 by gifts from many donors, such as Mrs. Ann F. Carver, niece of Mrs. Hertzog, John S. Bussing, and Miss Anna M. Sandham.
The faculty of the seminary has at different times consisted of a number of noted educators and scholars. Prominent among these not already mentioned were Revs. James S. Cannon, Alexander McClelland, Samuel A. Van Vranken, William H. Campbell, Samuel M. Woodbridge, Joseph F. Berg, Abraham B. Van Zandt, William V. V. Mabon, John De Witt, besides many others. The present president of the faculty is the Rev. J. Preston Searle, D. D. The Seminary now has five professorial chairs, three "lectorships," and employs three instructors, making a teaching force of eleven. It has also three endowed lectureships.
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