Centre College Special Collections - Board of Trustees Minutes (1869)

Centre College Board of Trustees Minutes (Vol. 3 - 1869)

May 3rd 5 o'clock p.m. 1869

Pursuant to public call, by the Chairman, the Board of Trustees of the Centre College, met in the office of the Financial Agent in Danville, and was opened with prayer by the Chairman, the Rev. Edward P. Humphrey.

Members present Revds. Edward P. Humphrey, D.D., Thomas H. Cleland, D.D., Sidney S. McRoberts, Aaron A. Hogue, Messrs. William Ernst, Levi L. Warren, John W. Scott, George W. Welsh, Thomas Barbee, Ormond Beatty.

Messrs. Warren, Scott, & Cleland, having been elected since the last meeting of the Board, were duly qualified and the certificate of their oath of office was placed in the hands of the Secretary, and directed to be filed.

The object of the meeting was explained by the Chairman to be to take into consideration the reorganization of the Faculty of the College.

The following resolution was then introduced and unanimously adopted, viz.

Resolved, that it is the sense of this Board that the interests of the College demand that it be reorganized efficiently & as speedily as possible.

After some further consideration of the subject it was resolved that the salary of the President shall after the reorganization be fixed at the rate of $2,000 & house and each of the Professors at the rate of $1,500 per annum payable quarterly. The resolution was unanimously adopted. The Board then took recess until 8 o'clock p.m.

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8 o'clock p.m. Board reassembled.

A letter was read in the hearing of the Board by Edward P. Humphrey, Chairman, from Prof. Ormond Beatty tendering his resignation as Professor in Centre College; whereupon the following minute was unanimously adopted & ordered to be spread on the minutes of the Board:

A letter from Prof. Beatty tendering the resignation of his office as Vice President and Professor was read whereupon it was unanimously resolved

1. That Prof. Beatty be most earnestly requested to withdraw his resignation and to continue his connection with the College.

2. This Board expresses its deep sense of the faithfulness and self-denying services of Prof. Beatty in the College, and assures him that they have the best reasons for believing that it is the cordial and earnest desire of all the friends of the College that he should be included in the proposed reorganization.

3. That his letter be spread on the minutes of the Board.

The letter referred to is the following:

Danville, Kentucky. May 3rd 1869

To the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Centre College

Dear Sir

Two years ago, supposing I could no longer be of service to the Board, I tendered my resignation of the place I now hold under its appointment. The Board requested me to withdraw that resignation, which, yielding to its wishes in the matter, I did with great cheerfulness. I find myself now surrounded by circumstances, as they appear to me, very different from what then existed. I am now the only Professor connected with the College

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holding a permanent appointment. My colleagues hold their offices only at the pleasure of the Board. They have been reappointed from year to year, and their connection with the College will cease by the simple failure of the Board to reappoint them. As the Board has been called together to consider at this time the subject of the entire reorganization of the College, it seems to me even if under different circumstances I might have been able to render further service to the Board that, in the actual state of the case, my resignation is not only proper in itself, but will relieve the Board from all embarrassment in an effort to supply to the College such a Faculty as its judgment may approve. I beg therefore to tender my resignation to take effect (unless the Board itself should prefer to designate a different time) the 1st of August next, which will be with the close of the present quarter. In retiring from the post which I have held so long, I desire to express to the Board itself, and to all the members of it, my deep sense of the uniform kindness - official and personal - which I have received at their hands, as at the hands of all others with whom my connection with the College has brought me into such intimate relations.

With earnest prayer for yourselves, and for the success of the College, over whose interests you have been appointed to watch, I am,

[Signed] Yours truly, Ormond Beatty

Prof. Beatty signified to the Board his willingness in accordance with its wish as expressed in the above

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resolution to withdraw his resignation.

The Board having conferred freely and at great length relative to persons suitable to fill the office of President of Centre College, also as to persons suitable for Professors in same, appointed a committee of correspondence and inquiry as to such persons, with instructions to report to the Board at the annual meeting in June next. Edward P. Humphrey, Aaron A. Hogue & George W. Welsh were appointed this Committee.

The question of selling certain classes of the permanent funds of Centre College and reinvesting proceeds in some other forms of security was raised & considered, and on motion Messrs. Ernst, Warren, & Scott, were appointed a committee to investigate the various forms of public securities & report to the next meeting of the Board what in their judgment will be the best form of re-investment of funds of the College.

On motion it was directed that the full amount of the rent of the President's house be paid to Prof. Ormond Beatty for his services as acting President of the College.

Adjourned to meet at the office of the Financial Agent in Danville on the 22nd of June next.

Ormond Beatty, Secretary

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Office of the Financial Agent, Danville, Kentucky. June 22, 1869

Board of Trustees of Centre College met pursuant to adjournment and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Aaron A. Hogue.

Members present Rev. Edward P. Humphrey, D.D. (Chairman), Rev. John L. McKee, D.D., Rev. Thomas H. Cleland, D.D., Rev. Sidney S. McRoberts, Messrs. Levi L. Warren, George W. Welsh, Ormond Beatty.

Minutes of the annual meeting of the Board in June last and also the minutes of the subsequent meetings in October and May last were read and approved.

Letters were received from Messrs. Boyle, Ernst & Scott giving reasons for absence.

The following communication was received from Messrs. Randolph, Nelson and Tevis, viz

To the Board of Trustees of Centre College

We, the undersigned, desire to state to the Board of Trustees that we do not wish the relations we have sustained to the College the past few sessions to give them the least embarrassment in the work that is before them.

Very respectfully

[Signed] James C. Randolph, Alfred B. Nelson, Charles C. Tevis

The report of the Financial Agent was read and referred to Messrs. Warren & Welsh.

Messrs. Cleland and McRoberts were appointed a committee to examine bonds, certificates of stock, etc.

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The report of the Faculty was read and approved and is as follows:

The Faculty of Centre College beg leave to submit to the Board of Trustees, and through them to the Synod of Kentucky, the following report for the academical year ending June 24, 1869.

The catalogue herewith presented will show that there have been during the year 43 students in the College Proper and sixty-seven in the Preparatory Department, in all 110.

Four have completed their course, and are recommended for the degree of Bachelor of Arts, viz Charles Lehman Hogue, Robert Boggs Lyle, Richard William McFerron, Andrew Planck.

Nothing has occurred during the year specially to mark the habits of study or general conduct of the students. Some three or four of the students connected themselves for the first time with the church during the present year; two or three others were aroused to renew the vows which they had previously taken, but which had apparently been forgotten by them. About 18 members of the College Proper are professors of religion; three of the Senior Class have the ministry in view, in connection with another branch of the church.

The resignation of the President of the College, the Rev. William L. Breckinridge, D.D., is well known to the Board and to the Synod. He ceased to give instruction in the College classes about the first of November last.

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The usual course of instruction in his department was given in part by the remaining members of the Faculty, and in part by Dr. Yerkes who taught for four months.

The general depressed condition of the College is so well known to the Board and to the Synod that we deem it unnecessary to make further allusion to it, or to the causes that have led to it. The whole subject of the election of a President and Professors and the reorganization of the College is, we are aware, already before the Board and will receive from it the consideration which the case deserves.

The annual report of the Treasurer will show the financial condition of the College.

Respectfully submitted, [Signed] Alfred B. Nelson, Secretary

The following degrees were conferred, viz the degree of A.B. upon Charles Lehman Hogue, Robert Boggs Lyle, Richard William McFerron, and Andrew Planck of the Senior Class, the degree of a.m. on Champe Carter of the Class of 1861, James B. McFerron of the Class of 1862, and upon Alexander P. Humphrey, James Russel and William Yerkes of the Class of 1866. The degree of D.D. on the Rev. R. J. Branch of St. Louis and the Rev. John S. Hays of Louisville.

The report of the Principal of the Preparatory Department was submitted to the Board and is as follows:

To the Board of Trustees of Centre College;

In obedience to a resolution of the Board

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I herewith give a statement of the receipts and expenditures of the Preparatory Department of Centre College for the ten months ending June 18, 1869.

Receipts from tuitions		$1,478.65
Expenditures
Cash paid and due to A. M. Burbank	$354.75
Cash paid and due to James C. Randolph	$100.00
Cash paid and due to Charles C. Tevis	$200.00
Rent due	$150.00
Cash for fuel	$45.20
Janitor	$32.00
Printing and advertising	$21.00
Brooms, coal boxes, chalk, etc.	$5.15
Cash to Principal	$70.55	$1,478.65

There are uncollected tuition fees amounting to $430, of which about 60 percent will be collected.

Several students have been taught gratis, and a few were received at lower rates than those published.

Respectfully submitted, Lucien H. Ralston, Principal

The Board held a free conversation on the subject of the reorganization of the Faculty, but before reaching any conclusion adjourned to meet at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning.

June 23, [1869], 8 o'clock a.m. Board reassembled.

Rev. Richard Valentine appeared and took his seat as a member of the Board.

A letter was received from the Rev. William L. Breckinridge, D.D., resigning his office of Trustee. The Secretary was directed to bring the matter to the notice of the Synod.

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Mr. McRoberts was continued as the Agent of the College to sell the Williams land, with instructions to sell the whole in a body or to divide it and sell in parcels as his judgment might dictate.

The Building Committee was authorized and ordered to press to completion at the earliest practicable period the main College edifice. The Committee is directed to secure the services of a competent architect or superintendent who shall carefully draw all contracts, superintend and receive the work, etc., etc. The Committee is further directed to carry out the plan of building, the designs of which were furnished by Vogdes and Stancliffe, but with such modifications in details as they may deem necessary in its construction. The attention of the Committee is particularly called to the plan and material for the roof and to consider the question whether a better material than tin can be provided.

The tuition in the Preparatory Department was fixed at $30 per annum with $5.00 contingent fee extra, payable semi-annually in advance.

The consideration of the subject of the reorganization of the Faculty was resumed; whereupon the Rev. David C. Marquis was unanimously elected President.

Mr. Salvador DeSoto was unanimously elected Professor of the Greek Language and Literature & Teacher of the Modern Languages.

The Rev. James C. Randolph was unanimously elected Professor of Mathematics.

The Board then adjourned to meet at 2 1/2 o'clock p.m.

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2 1/2 o'clock p.m. Board reassembled.

The Committee on the report of the Financial Agent made their report, which was received, adopted and is as follows:

The Committee to whom the report of the Financial Agent was referred ask leave to report that said report was audited by Prof. Ormond Beatty and found correct. The increase in the Permanent Fund of $2,692 during the past year is from the investment of $5,000, collection of Kentucky bonds, and two Missouri bonds received for interest past due in Missouri bonds.

The turnpike stock amounting to $8,650 has paid $80 dividend the past year, of which amount $6,650 has paid no dividend. Your Committee recommend the sale of the Danville & Lancaster, Mercer County and Lexington, Paris, and Maysville Turnpike stock belonging to the College, and investment of the proceeds in productive stock.

Your Committee recommend the sale of the stock in the Bank of Kentucky and Bank of Louisville after collecting the July dividends.

We also recommend the collection as soon as practicable of the individual loan and the investment of said collection in good 7 per cent bonds and that the notes due the Building Fund be promptly collected. The expense of the College for the ensuing year, your Committee estimates at $9,250, viz salaries of the President and four Professors $8,000, incidental expenses $1,250, and that the cash on hand $1,915 and income for the ensuing year will be sufficient to pay

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the estimated expenses.

[Signed] Levi L. Warren, Chairman

The Financial Committee were directed and authorized to effect a sale of the part of the Preparatory lot which will be included in and lie south of Green Street extended through it, and George W. Welsh was appointed the Agent of the Board to make and convey title to same.

Upon motion Mr. Jason Chenault was unanimously elected Professor of the Latin Language and Literature, Belles Lettres, etc.

The Faculty of the College and the local members of the Board of Trustees were appointed a committee to fill temporarily all vacancies, whether occurring through death, resignation, or the declination of the Professors elect.

The minutes were read and approved to this point.

Messrs. John H. McKee and Ormond Beatty were appointed a committee on the subject of the Titles of the Professors just elected by the Board. The Committee reported as follows:

Danville, Kentucky June 23, 1869

The President shall be styled President and Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy, Evidences of Christianity, etc.

Prof. Ormond Beatty shall be styled Vice President and Professor of Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Geology, etc.

Prof. Salvador DeSoto shall be styled Professor of Greek Languages and Literature and Teacher of Modern Languages.

Prof. James C. Randolph shall be styled Professor of Mathematics.

Prof. Jason Chenault, Professor of the Latin Languages and Literature, Belles Lettres, etc.

The report was adopted.

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The following paper was also adopted:

Resolved,

1. That while it shall be the duty of each Professor to have general supervision, as heretofore, of his own department according to the provisions of the Charter of the College and the laws adopted by this Board under it, and the duty of the President, besides his own department, to have general supervision of the whole College, it is hereby expressly declared that it shall be the duty of each member of the Faculty, under the direction of the whole body, to render any instruction that may be necessary in any department. The hours of instruction shall be equally distributed among the Faculty as follows. The President of the College, will be expected to render, if necessary, two hours instruction per day, in addition to the ordinary duties heretofore discharged by him, such as the religious instruction of the students, correspondence, etc. The Professor of Chemistry and Natural Science will be expected to teach three hours per day. The outside work in the way of preparation for experiments in his department, being considered equivalent to one hour's instruction per day. Each of the other Professors will be expected to teach four hours per day. This resolution is not intended to require at all times so many hours of actual instruction on the part of the teachers, but they shall be required to render this instruction if necessary. In case of doubt as to the member of the Faculty upon whom any duty shall devolve, the question shall be settled in the same manner as any other Faculty business, subject to the revision of this Board. In case of the death, resignation, or absence of any

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member of the Faculty, the duties of his department shall be distributed as equally as possible among the remaining members of the Faculty.

2nd. It shall be the duty of the Faculty at their earliest convenience to prepare and arrange a detailed scheme of study, and to distribute the different branches among the Professors, in correspondence with the chairs they fill.

3rd. The Board earnestly recommends to the Faculty to examine the present curriculum of study in the College Classes, and to endeavor, as far as practicable, to enlarge the course so as to meet the advanced requirements of the present day.

The Secretary was directed to inform the appointees of their election, and to assure them that it is the opinion of the Board that the absent members would approve its action in their cases, and make their appointment permanent, whenever a sufficient number of the members of the Board should convene.

The subject of fixing the salary of the Principal of the Preparatory Department and of arranging all matters touching the instruction, the conduct, and general management of this school during the year was referred to the Faculty and local members of the Board with authority to act in the case.

The Committee on bonds, etc., made the following report which was accepted by the Board:

Your Committee appointed to examine the notes, coupons, certificates of stock, etc., report that they have examined the same carefully and find them to exactly correspond with the report of Financial Agent.

[Signed] Thomas H. Cleland, Sidney S. McRoberts

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It was moved and adopted, that when the Board adjourns it shall be to meet at 5 o'clock p.m. on the 2nd day of the meeting of the Synod (October 14, 1869) at Louisville, Kentucky.

The Faculty and local members of the Board were directed to see what could be done to secure cheaper boarding for the students.

The Financial Committee was directed to procure the services of a landscape gardener to lay out and adorn the College grounds.

The same committee is also authorized to buy at their discretion the Bailey lot.

Closed with prayer.

Ormond Beatty, Secretary

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Report of the Financial Agent of Centre College for the year ending June 1st 1869

This report is contained in papers herewith presented and marked A, B, C, D, & E and closes the accounts on June 1st 1869.

Since the last report, the over-due Missouri coupons have been collected, except a fractional interest in one coupon of $30, amounting to the sum of $2,279.00. Of this sum $2,000 were collected in the form of two new Missouri State bonds and the balance $279.00 in cash.

In June 1868 the note of James Barbour for $134.28, with $115.22 interest thereon was collected and with the proceeds the scholarship of James Barbour was extinguished, and a relinquishment of the same obtained to the Trustees of the College on specified conditions.

In December 1868, the five Kentucky State bonds belonging to the permanent fund amounting to $5,000 were cashed and the proceeds re-invested in six Louisville City seven per cent bonds each for $1,000. These bonds were purchased at the rate of 85 cents. Also there has been collected a note of J. M. Meyer $659, principal belonging to the Permanent Fund.

The note of George Lee for $5,500 and due to the Building Fund, has been renewed and divided into two notes of equal sums each for $2,750.00 and made negotiable and payable to Central National Bank, Danville, Kentucky, one due October 1, 1869 & the other due January 1, 1870.

In February 1869, 8 U.S. 5-20 bonds each for

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$1,000 and of the Class of 1862, and belonging to the Building Fund were exchanged for 8 U.S. 5-20 bonds each for $1,000 at a profit of $300 - less express charges.

The papers herewith presented contain the necessary information as to the income and expenditures of the College & the present condition of the Funds.

Respectfully submitted, Robert A. Johnstone, Financial Agent

[pages 166-174 consist of a detailed financial report for 1869. These pages are available in a typed transcript form (PDF, 7.0 Mb)]

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Louisville October 14, 1869

Board of Trustees of the Centre College met pursuant to adjournment and was opened with prayer by the Chairman.

Present Rev. Edward P. Humphrey (Chairman), Revs. John L. McKee, D.D., Sidney S. McRoberts, William C. Matthews, D.D., John F. Coons, Thomas H. Cleland, D.D., Aaron A. Hogue, Richard Valentine, Messrs. Thomas Barbee, Tyler T. Alexander, Levi L. Warren, James H. McCampbell, Ormond Beatty.

A letter from the Rev. D. C. Marquis declining the Presidency of the College was read & ordered to be put on record and is as follows:

Chicago, Illinois. August 9, 1869

Prof. Ormond Beatty, Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Centre College, Danville, Kentucky

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Dear Sir

After careful and prayerful deliberation I feel constrained, from motives of duty, to decline the high and honorable position of President of Centre College tendered me by its Trustees through you its Secretary.

The importance, attractiveness, and prospective usefulness of the position (considered apart from present circumstances) appeal so strongly as to render it necessary for me to state the reasons which impel me to this decision. This I will do as briefly and explicitly as I can.

1. The ecclesiastical relation of the College is such as to alienate from it the sympathy and support of the dominant Presbyterian influence of the South. Its geographical location destroys the hope of any extended patronage from the North. These facts (in my view) leave no prospect of enlarged success in the work except such as may arise from the promise of reconciliation between the present and former supporters of the institution.

2. My visit to Kentucky was for the purpose of ascertaining the prospect of such reconciliation. I am sorry to say that I saw nothing to encourage hope in this direction. To accept the position under such circumstances would only be to make myself a party to the controversy, as between the assembly and the Declaration & Testimony brethren. For this I have no heart, as at this late day I see nothing in it that need separate the church in Kentucky.

3. My right to the office, as elected, must depend upon the constitutionality of the Assembly's exscinding acts of 1866. My tenure of office must depend upon whether the

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validity of those acts can be established before the civil courts. In order to hold the position consistently, therefore, I must become, virtually, a justifier and defender of a law of the church which I did then, and do now, most heartily disapprove. For these reasons I feel constrained to decline.

If any plan of operation could be devised by which I could be assured of the cordial support of Kentucky Presbyterians, Northern and Southern, my decision might be different. If, by a change in the Charter, a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees could be appointed, irrespective of ecclesiastical connection or political opinion, or if the Board of Trustees could be nominated by the two Synods of Kentucky, each in proportion to its numerical strength, it might obviate the difficulty. I merely offer the suggestion.

Will you please carry to the Board of Trustees my high appreciation of the honor conferred upon me and express to them my gratitude for this expression of their confidence and esteem.

With sincere regard, I remain, very truly
Your Brother D. C. Marquis

As there was not enough members of the Board present at the regular meeting in June to make a permanent appointment of a Professor, it was moved that the Board now proceed to vote an approval & confirmation of the Professors elected at that time. Whereupon Profs. Salvador DeSoto, James C. Randolph & Jason W. Chenault having each received the unanimous vote of all the members present (thirteen) it was declared that their appointment was confirmed, and that they are permanently elected to their respective Chairs to which they had been temporarily assigned at the meeting in June last; and the Secretary is directed to call their attention to the oath of office which they are required to take.

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Board adjourned to meet at the office of the Rev. John L. McKee at 7 1/2 o'clock.

7 1/2 o'clock p.m., Board reassembled.

After a free conversation upon the subject of a President for the College, Prof. Ormond Beatty and Dr. Edward P. Humphrey were appointed a committee of correspondence who were directed to make such inquiries by correspondence and otherwise, as they might be able in reference to a suitable person for the Presidency, and at the earliest period at which they could obtain any satisfactory information to call a meeting of the Board to consider it. The Board directed the Treasurer of the College to pay any necessary expenses that might be incurred in conducting the inquiry.

The Faculty of the College & local Board were directed, in the meantime, to employ Dr. Yerkes, or in case he could not be secured, some other suitable person to assist in instructing the classes. The following resolution was then adopted. It is ordered that William Ernst, John G. Barret, & Tyler T. Alexander be appointed a committee to take into consideration and report at the next meeting of the Board the propriety and necessity of supplementing temporarily the salaries of the President and Professors of the College & if deemed necessary to report some plan for that purpose & also the propriety of raising an additional permanent fund for the College, and the means of doing the same.

The following order in relation to the Building Committee was adopted: It is ordered that the Building Committee, or any three of them, be authorized and fully empowered to sign and execute the contract or articles of agreement made with the contractors for the new College Building & to do and prepare all things lawful & proper in regard to the aforesaid contracts, which the Board itself might do, and to be as binding & obligatory on the Board as if executed by itself.

The Standing Committees were appointed and are the same as those of 1868 on page 138 of these minutes, except the name of J. A. Jacobs was substituted for that of William L. Breckinridge on Committee of Finances & the name of William L. Breckinridge omitted from Building Committee.

Adjourned to meet at the office of the Financial Agent in Danville at 5 p.m. on Tuesday before the last Thursday of June (28th) 1870.

Ormond Beatty, Secretary

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At a meeting of the Synod of Kentucky, held in the city of Louisville on Friday October 14, 1869, the following persons were elected Trustees of Centre College, viz Stephen Yerkes, James T. Lapsley, John B. Temple, James P. Hendrick, William J. McKnight, Lorenzo H. Noble, & Heman H. Allen to serve three years or until October 1872.

John S. Hays was also elected a Trustee to serve for one year in the place of Rev. Dr. William L. Breckinridge.

Attest, Sidney S. McRoberts, Stated Clerk of the Synod of Kentucky

The above is a true copy of the certificate of Rev. Sidney S. McRoberts, Stated Clerk of the Synod of Kentucky, in reference to the election of Trustees by the Synod at its meeting in October 1869, in the city of Louisville.

Ormond Beatty, Secretary