The Log College
Association gives interest to places — Log College — Name — Site-Size — Utter Desolation — Country around — Dr. James P. Wilson-Relic — Suggestion of a monument — Importance of the Institution:
Br association, objects which have nothing interesting in themselves, acquire an importance, by reason of the persons or things which they constantly suggest to our minds. The rock of Plymouth has nothing in it which renders it intrinsically superior to thousands of other rocks in the country; and the site of Jamestown, has nothing but its interesting associations, to engage the attention of any one. But these spots, as being the first habitations of the European settlers, in this part of the new world, are invested with an interest which is felt by all; and this interest, instead of growing weaker by the lapse of time, gathers new strength, every year. Indeed, it is only a recent thing, that the public attention has been particularly called to these objects. And though there may be an excess in the emotions cherished by some, and an affectation of lively interest in others; yet, it cannot be doubted, that there is a founda-B tion in human nature for the interest which is excited by particular objects, places, and scenes. And the more intimately these associations are related to religion, the deeper and more permanent the feeling becomes. By the abuse of this principle much superstition has been generated; but the moderate and judicious use of it may, undoubtedly, be conducive to piety. Sacred, or holy places, figure largely in all false systems of religion; and under the old dispensation, the people of God were encouraged to reverence those places where the worship of God was appointed to be celebrated. Under the gospel dispensation, it is true, we have no holy places or houses, to which the worship of God is confined; but in every place, whether by sea or land; whether in the grove, on the mountain top, or in the open field, or the lonely vale, God may be worshipped. Yet, who does not entertain peculiar feelings of interest in relation to those places, where Christ was born — where he was brought up — where he preached and wrought miracles — but, especially, where he suffered and died, and where he was buried and arose again — and where he ascended to heaven, in the presence of his disciples? This feeling is natural, and associated with love to Christ, but it readily becomes excessive, and degenerates into superstition. There never was a book in which there is so little to foster superstition, as the Bible. We never there read of the apostles, when they came up to Jeru-
1 salem, resorting to any of these places, or expressing the smallest degree of veneration for them. The natural tendency of the human mind seems to have been counteracted, for the very purpose of preventing superstition; just as the natural passions of the evangelists seem to have been restrained, in writing the gospels.
Of late, considerable curiosity has ben manifested to ascertain the place where the first Presbyterian church, in this country, was formed; and the history of the first Presbyterian preacher who came to America, which had sunk into oblivion, has, of late., been brought prominently into view. Such researches, when unaccompanied with boasting and vainglory, are laudable. And to gratify a similar curiosity, in regard to the first literary institution, above common schools, in the bounds of the Presbyterian church, this small book has been compiled. That institution, we believe, was, what has received the name of, THE LOG COLLEGE. The reason of the epithet prefixed to the word college,’* might be obscure to an European; but in this country, where log-cabins are so numerous, will be intel-Hgibie to all classes of readers. This edifice, which was made of logs, cut out of the woods, probably, from the very spot where the house was erected, was situated in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, about twenty-eight miles north of Philadelphia. The Log College has long since disappeared; so that although the site on which it stood is well known to many in the vicinity there is not a vestige of it remaining on the ground; and no appearance which would indicate that a house ever stood there. The fact is, that some owner of the property, never dreaming that there was any thing sacred in the logs of this humble edifice, had them carried away and applied to some ignoble purpose on the farm, where they have rotted away like common timber, from which, if any of them remain, they can no longer be distinguished. But that some small relic of this venerable building might be preserved, the late Presbyterian minister of the place. Rev. Robert B. Belville, some years ago, rescued from the common ruin so much of one of these logs, as enabled him, by paring off the decayed parts, to reduce it to something of the form of a walking staff; which as a token of respect, and for safe keeping, he presented to one of the oldest Professors* of the Theological Seminary, at Princeton, N. J., in whose possession it now remains, and who will, it is hoped, before he leaves the world, deposit it in the cabinet of curiosities, which has been formed, in connexion with the Theological Seminary.
The site of the Log College is about a mile from that part of Neshaminy creek, where the Presbyterian church has long stood. The ground near and around it, lies handsomdy to the eye; and the more
* Rev. Pr. Miller,
THK LOG COLLEGE. l
distant prospect is very beautiful; for while there is a considerable extent of fertile, well cultivated land, nearly level, the view is bounded, to the north and west, by a range of hills, which have a very pleasing appearance.
It may not be improper to observe, that the late Rev. James P. Wilson, D. D., long, the learned and admired pastor of the First Presbyterian church, in Philadelphia, was so pleased with the scenery and circumstances of this neighbourhood, that he purchased a small farm, which is, I believe, as near to the site of the Log College as any other dwelling, except the one on the farm on which it was built. To this farm he retired when no longer able, through bodily weakness, to fulfil the arduous duties of the pastoral office. And here, in calm serenity, he spent the last years of his life. And, as we are informed, one of his sons still occupies the house, and is the pastor of one part of the now divided congregation of Neshaminy.
If I were fond of projects, I would propose, that
a monument be erected to the Founder of the Log
College on the very site where the building stood,
if the land could be purchased; but at any rate, a
stone with an inscription might be permanently fixed
on, or near the ground. The tradition respecting
this humble institution of learning, exists, not only
in the neighbourhood, but has been extended far to
the south and west.
Bl
14 THE LOG COLLEGfir.
The first Presbyterian ministers, in this coiintrf were nearly all men of liberal education. Some bad received their education in the universities of Scotland; some in Ireland; and others at one of the New England colleges. And though there existed such a destitution of ministers in this new country, they never thought of introducing any man into the ministry, who had not received a college or university education; except in very extraordinary cases; of which, I believe, we have but one instance in the early history of the Presbyterian church. This was the case of a Welshman by the name of Evans, who, living in a place called the Welsh Tract, where the people had no public means of grace, began to speak to them of the things of God, on the Sabbath, and at other times; and his labours were so acceptable and useful, that the presbytery, after a full trial of his abilities, hcensed him to preach, and afterwards ordained him to the whole work of the ministry. There is, indeed, another case that may possibly fall into this class.” The people of Cape May were without a pastor; Mr. Bradner, a candidate for the ministry, was willing to serve them, but had no authority to preach. In this emergency, three of the nearest ministers, Messrs. Davis, Hampton, and Henry, on their own responsibility, examined and licensed hirn.’^* But as he was before a candidate,
* See Records of the Synod of Philadelphia. and a Scotchman, there is a strong probabiUty that he was a hberally educated man.
There seems to be no written record of the existence of such an edifice as that which we are describing by any contemporary writer, except in the journal of Rev. George Whitefield, the celebrated evangelist, who traversed -this country, several times; preaching, every where, with a popularity and success, which have never been equalled by any other. It will be proper, therefore, to extract the paragraph which relates to this subject; as he gives the dimensions of the building, and expressly says that it had obtained the name of” the college.’^ “The place,’^ says he,” wherein the young men study now, is in contempt called, the college. It is a log house, about twenty foot long, and near as many broad; and to me it seemxcd to resemble the school of the old prophets; for their habitations were mean; and that they sought not great things for themselves is plain, from those passages of scripture, wherein we are told, that each of them took them a beam to build them a house: and that at the feast of the sons of the prophets, one of them put on the pot, whilst the others went to fetch some herbs out of the field. All that we can say of most of our universities is, they are glorious without. From this despised place, seven or eight worthy ministers of Jesus have lately been sent forth; more are almost ready to be sent, and the foundation is now
B2 laying for the instruction of many others.’’ The Journal from which the preceding extract is taken, was printed in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin, the same year in which Mr. Whitefield visited the Log College. From this testimony it appears, that the name college was given to the building out of contempt, by its enemies: but in this, as in many other things, that which is lightly esteemed among men, is precious in the sight of the Lord. Though as poor a house as perhaps was ever erected for the purpose of giving a liberal education, it was in a noble sense, a college; a fountain, from which, as we shall see hereafter, proceeded streams of blessings to the church. We shall again have occasion to advert to Mr. Whitefield’s Journal, when we come to speak of the founder of this college; but we shall now proceed to finish what we have to say respecting the site and the building.
When the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, in the United States, determined, in the year 1811, to establish a Theological Seminary, for the more thorough training of her candidates for the sacred office, there was much diversity of opinion respecting the most ehgible site for the institution. Between Princeton, N. J., and Chambersburg, Pa., the chief competition existed; but there were a few persons, who were strongly in favour of placing it on the very site of the Log College. The Rev. Nathaniel Irwin, then pastor of the church at Neshaminy, and a man of profound understanding, was earnestly desirous that it should be planted on the ground, where a building had once stood, to which the Presbyterian church owes so much. And to manifest his sincerity and zeal, Mr. Irwin left, in his will, a considerable bequest* to the seminary, on condition that it should be ultimately located on this site.
* $1000.
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