Page 300 [view page image]

Danville, Kentucky June 16, 1874

Board of Trustees met pursuant to adjournment and was opened with prayer by Rev. John S. Hays who in the absence of the Chairman was requested to preside. Members present Rev. John S. Hays, Thomas H. Cleland, D.D., Dr. John W. Scott, Rev. Stephen Yerkes, D.D., Robert Rodes, Esqr., James Barbour.

The Financial Report was referred to a committee, viz Dr. John W. Scott, John Barbour, & Heman H. Allen.

The Board having received information that certain paintings had been made & were now presented to the College the following resolutions were adopted.

1. Resolved that the Board of Trustees of Centre College do hereby for themselves and for all the friends of Centre College tender their most grateful acknowledgements to Dr. John W. Scott

Page 301 [view page image]

of Lexington, Kentucky, for his most acceptable present, for the use and benefit of Centre College, of two magnificent portraits in oil - the one of the Rev. John C. Young, D. D., deceased, former President of this College, and the other of Ormond Beatty, L.L.D., existing President of Centre College.

2. Resolved that a like vote of thanks be tendered General S. W. Price, Lexington, Ky., who executed the above paintings, for his liberality towards Centre College, and for the skill he has exhibited in thus preserving the likenesses of two of its most excellent and beloved presidents.

3. Resolved that Dr. Scott & General Price be certified of the above action of this Board by its Secretary.

Board then adjourned to meet in the lecture room of the Theological Seminary tomorrow morning at 8 1/2 o'clock.

June 17, 1874 8:30 a.m.

Board reassembled. Rev. Edward P. Humphrey, D.D., Rev. John M. Worrall, D.D., William H. Kinnaird, Rev. Heman H. Allen, George W. Welsh, Thomas Barbee appeared and took their seats as members of the Board.

Messrs. Humphrey, Hays, Welsh, Barbour & Barbee, who had not been qualified since their last election, took the oath of office as prescribed by the Charter.

On motion Dr. Edward P. Humphrey was elected Chairman.

The report of the Faculty with accompanying reports on the Library & Museum were received and ordered to be spread on the

Page 302 [view page image]

minutes and are as follows:

The Faculty of Centre College begs leave to submit to the Board of Trustees & to the Synod of Kentucky the following report in regard to the internal condition of the College during the academical year which closes the 18th of June 1874.

Nothing unusual has occurred during the year. The work of the College has progressed steadily and without interruption. The professors have been at their posts & the students have generally been diligent in the prosecution of their studies. Few disorders and none of a serious nature have occurred to disturb the quiet performance of the duties devolving upon us.

The number of students during the present year, as our catalogue herewith presented will show, is in the College proper 64 and in the Preparatory Department 82 - making 146 in both departments or deducting those who attended both, 142 in all.

The Faculty to whom the subject was referred by the Board submits a provisional scheme of study for all the classes. Should their experience lead them to desire a modification of the plan, they will hereafter present their views to the Board.

The Faculty have given much consideration to the subject of a College Home. But as their views on this subject are embodied in a separate paper, we refer to it, herewith

Page 303 [view page image]

submitted, for their views in relation to it. Other matters are submitted in special reports on the museum & library.

Respectfully submitted [Signed] 0rmond Beatty on the behalf of the Faculty

Report on the Museum, June 16, 1874

To the Honorable Board of Trustees - Centre College

Gentlemen:

I have the pleasure of transmitting to your body this report of the condition of the Museum under my charge.

All the material in possession of the College has been worked up (with the exception of a few specimens in zoology, which want of proper books has prevented my determining); have been properly arranged, labelled, numbered, registered & placed in their respective cases.

Since taking charge in 1872, I have added a case for the reception of shells. For the present this is also used for the storage of skulls, snakes, fishes, etc. During the coming year the probable increase in these departments will make one or more additional cases necessary.

The whole number of entries in all the sections is 1342; the number of individuals in each species varying from 1 to 500, the majority, however, consisting of but one or two. Of this number the distribution is as follows:

Minerological Section

689 minerals

Page 304 [view page image]

Geological Section	430 fossils
Zoological	223 consisting
of 176 shells, 23 reptiles, the remainder being corals, [unclear word], fishes, snakes, etc.

The additions since my connection with the institution have been 446; all obtained without any expense to the College. Of this number 75 shells & 69 minerals were obtained by application to the Smithsonian Institution through the Honorable M. J. Durham.

The principal donors have been Dr. John W. Scott, 0rmond Beatty, the Smithsonian Institution, David Dale Owen & John C. Fales. Other friends and members of the various classes have contributed liberally.

We have hopes of increasing the specimens in the Department of Comparative Anatomy (which at present is sadly deficient) within a short time, to an extent which will assist greatly in the study of this interesting branch.

Members of the Board are requested to visit and see for themselves.

Respectfully (Signed) John C. Fales Prof. Natural Sciences

Report on the Library.

The following report of the condition of the Library is submitted.

An effort has been made in the moments of leisure from other duties to arrange

Page 305 [view page image]

and catalogue the books. This has been in the main accomplished (through the labors of Prof. Fales) and though the catalogue is not quite complete, enough has been done to show the following statistics: the whole number of books is a little over 4,000. Of this number 1,500 are publications of the government of the U. S. consisting of the proceedings of Congress, coast surveys, diplomatic correspondence, etc.

Many of the volumes are old and badly worn and will require a large amount of labor in repairing and protecting for the future. It is expected that another year will see this accomplished. Quite a number of donations have been received during the past two years, a statement of which is given below.

It may be added that very few of the books are of assistance to the professors in the study of their departments, or to the student on the subjects which require their attention.

Donations received - whole number	357
From U. S. Government	215
From Naval Observatory	6
From Smithsonian Institution Cont. Reports	3
From Book Trade Association Phil. works on Political Economy & Social Science	6
From 0rmond Beatty Natural History New York	19
From Presbyterian Board of Publications through A. A. Haye	69
From American Swedenborgian Society Works of Swedenborg	19

Page 306 [view page image]

From New York Book Trade Association	1
From Dr. John W. Scott, History of Presbyterian Church, Life of John J. Crittenden	3
From J. Smith Trethy	1
From By purchase	13

After the reading of these reports it was resolved that the thanks of the Board be extended to Prof. Fales, by whom the work was mainly done, for his labor and care in arranging labelling and numbering the specimens in the Museum & the books in the Library, and also to the donors of books, minerals, costs, etc.

A report on the subject of College Home was submitted by the committee to whom this subject had been committed, but on motion the subject was deferred in order to hear a report from Dr. John L. McKee. The report was received and referred to a committee, viz Messrs. Rodes & Kinnaird.

Report of Dr. John L. McKee, Collecting Agent for Centre College, made to the Board of Trustees, June 17, 1874.

Commenced his agency March 20, 1873; continued without intermission until August 28, 1873; from this last date, until the present engaged only occasionally.

Whole number of notes taken & herewith submitted - 610

The subscriptions for which notes have not been taken are as follows:

Mrs. C. Lucas	Reported before	$1,000
W. A. Downton	Reported before	$300
H. C. Tilford		$100

Page 307 [view page image]

M. T. Scott, Jr.	Reported before	$105
John M. Harlan	To be deducted for fee against Centre College	$500
S. P. Graham	Reported before	$100
J. P. Gheems	Reported before	$250
Col. A. Hogeland	Reported before	$250
J. F. Huber, Sr.	Reported before	$50
J. S. Crowell	Reported before	$250
J. T. Cooper	Reported before	$250
J. H. McCampbell	Reported before	$100
W. Armstrong	Reported before	$200
Bland Ballard		$30.70
John Ryan		$5
Mrs. S. C. Dohoney		$25
Mrs. J. P. Murphy		$25
J. L. Senour		$25
R. L. McMurtry		$10
Without notes		$3,575.70
Subscriptions paid in Bonds
Clifton Rodes		$1,000
Levi L. Warren		$10,000
Elizabeth 0. Boyle		$1,000
James Kinnaird		$500
A. R. McKee		$250
J. B. Kinkead		$500
Logan McKee		$300
L. C. Murray		$220
Bonds		$13,770
Subscriptions in money paid to John J. McKee
Mrs. C. C. Young		$50
Miss S. L. Young		$50
James A. Andrews		$25
John W. Means		$200

Page 308 [view page image]

over		$325
Hugh Means		$100
Robert Pebles		$100
W. C. Ireland		$10
James A. Hashell		$10
Matthew Young		$2
James M. Wakefield		$10
Lulee Allen		$0.05
George H. Hull		$100
Ths. B. Crutcher	Reported	$100
Bland Ballard	Reported	$69.30
0. G. Holt		$200
John D. Taggart	Reported	$50
G. J. Huber, Sr.	Reported	$50
Mrs. R. D. Hill	in exchange for subscription of $250 Reported	$225
Joseph Watson		$1
Elias Thomasson	Reported	$50
E. S. Portor	Reported	$5
R. Boyd		$25
James F. Huber Jr.	Reported	$25
Florence Y. Love	Reported	$10
Mrs. Em(?) P. Semple	Reported	$25
Mrs. Geo. Merriweather	Reported	$25
Thomas. Stevens	Reported	$50
R. M. Cunningham		$25
G. J. Lewis	Reported	$25
Mrs. H. L. Barret	Reported	$10
William. Griffith	Reported	$25
W. S. Wilson	Reported	$5
Mrs. S. T. Wilson	Reported	$20
H. V. Loring	Reported	$25
Mrs. H. W. Good	Reported	$25
Miss Alice Short	Reported	$25

Page 309 [view page image]

Mrs. Catherine Kelsey	Reported	$5
R. L. Butler	Reported	$5
Wm. Richardson	Reported	$25
Geo. T. Hodges		$2.50
Miss Mary Taylor		$10
Mrs. Elizabeth Smith		$10
Judge Haggard		$10
Geo. P. Newlin		$25
Jno. Walker		$50
Cash		$37
		$1,931.85

Credited by the following sums deposited in the First National Bank, Danville, Ky. to the credit of Centre College, Special Fund, viz.

July 2, 1873	$700
October 20, 1873	$840.30
Travelling expenses including purchase of buggy's harness	$600
Advertising in Kentucky Presbyterian	$38.60	$2,173.90
Balance due John L. McKee		$242.05

All of which is respectfully submitted (Signed) John L. McKee

(It will be seen by comparing the above list of subscriptions with those reported by Dr. McKee on last year & found on pp. 278 to 286 of this book that many of them are identical with those before reported.)

The committee to whom was referred the report of Rev. John L. McKee, D.D., beg leave to say that they have not had time to give more than a superficial examination to the papers introduced with the report, nor have they compared the notes filed with the schedule. For the purpose, however, of making

Page 310 [view page image]

the memorandum strictly reliable, they recommend that the notes & schedule be carefully revised and attested by someone whom the body may name. They therefore recommend the adoption of the following resolutions:

1. That the report of Dr. John L. McKee be accepted,

2. That the Financial Committee be requested and directed to revise and attest the schedule of notes filed by Dr. John L. McKee with his report & make return thereof to the next meeting of this body.

3. That Dr. John L. McKee be credited by the sum of $242.05 on his subscription to the Endowment Fund of Centre College, with interest thereon from the time the same was due.

The report was received and adopted.

A letter was received from Prof. Chenault tendering his resignation of the Chair which he now fills. After a free conversation on the subject Dr. Humphrey, Dr. Worrall & 0rmond Beatty were appointed a committee to confer with Prof. Chenault, and to see if he could not be induced to reconsider the matter & withdraw his resignation.

The committee to whom was referred the report of the Financial Committee made its report, which was received and adopted and is as follows.

The Committee have examined the Financial Report for the year ending June 1, 1874, and recommend that it be approved.

1. The Committee would call the attention of the Board to the explanation of the Treasurer in reference to

Page 311 [view page image]

the apparent excess of expenditures over the income of the past year. (See Financial Report p. [no page shown])

2. The Committee recommend that in consequence of the confusion in the statement of the present condition of the funds, arising from the loss by robbery of so many of our bonds, their partial recovery, and the expense attending the same, a new detailed statement of all the assets of the College be made out and presented in the next annual report.

3. That the Financial Committee be authorized to employ, whenever they deem it necessary, a financial agent to collect the funds due the College, paying him a reasonable commission.

4. That the Board urge the collection of the individual notes due the College - especially those of Fox, Lyle, P. S. Taylor, Yeiser, Lee & others, leaving to the committee, however, discretionary power.

5. That the committee be authorized to offer the note of A. M. Taylor, amount $1,414.74 due December 9, 1874 - for discount in Bank, and if discounted the proceeds be appropriated to the reduction of our debt in Bank.

6. The attention of the Board is called to the fact that over $20,000 of the funds of the College is invested in county bonds.

(Signed) Heman H. Allen, John W. Scott

The following three additional resolutions in relation to the finances were adopted:

1. Resolved that the Financial Committee be ordered to transfer so much of the income of the two bonds belonging to the Boyle Prize Fund as shall remain

Page 312 [view page image]

from time to time after purchasing annually the prize, to the general fund of the College until the sum of $273.00, originally taken from said fund to pay for the recovery of one of these bonds, shall be restored.

2. Resolved that the following items of expenditure embraced in the annual report for the year just closed, to wit $1,459.25 paid for the recovery of the stolen bonds; $1,300 paid Dr. McKee as Agent for the income of the Endowment Fund; $1,250 salary of Dr. McKee which the Board at a former meeting ordered to be paid out of any funds in the hands of the Treasurer, amounting in all to $4009.25, be charged to the account of the General Fund and the Treasurer is hereby ordered to make the entries on his books accordingly.

3. Resolved that the Committee on Investment at Louisville be requested to transmit to the Treasurer just before the close of the financial year an official statement in detail of all the bonds, etc., belonging to the College and held in Louisville for safe keeping, with a statement of their market value.

Upon the recommendation of the Faculty the degree of A.B. was conferred upon the following young gentlemen members of the Senior class viz. George Christie Cohen, George LaFayette Dunlap, James Frazer Read, William Henry Show, James Fletcher Combs, William Henry McGronaghan, Samuel Andrew Scott, Watson Andrew Suddeath and the degree

Page 313 [view page image]

of A.M. in course upon George R. Pryor of the class of 1866 and upon Lewis M. McMurtry of the class of 1870 and the honorary degree of A.M. upon Prof. J. M. Meyers of Stanford, and the degree of D.D. upon Rev. M. R. Miller of Clovesport.

The consideration of the report of the committee on the College Home was resumed and the report of the committee was received, adopted and is as follows.

The committee appointed at the meeting of the Board in Covington in October 1873 to consider the matter of providing a place for a College Home or means of securing cheaper boarding for the students while attending College would report

1. That in their judgment after a careful consideration of the whole matter in all the light that they can procure, it is of prime importance to the prosperity of the College that some arrangement should be made to secure cheaper boarding for the students.

2. In the opinion of the Committee, the best means within our reach to meet the necessity is to build a house that shall serve as a dormitory for the students at some suitable place on the College grounds and then as soon as the necessity shall require it, provide a boarding house at which the students can take their meals, where the price of day-boarding may be kept always within limits that shall be as cheap as it can be afforded.

3. Your Committee have examined with patience and care of the buildings now on the ground to ascertain if the accommodations we need can

Page 314 [view page image]

be made out of any of these. For reasons which we need not detail, we are satisfied that none of these can be made permanently to answer the purpose. But the house now occupied by the President of the College can be made to serve admirably for a refectory or boarding department in this new arrangement, if we have a dormitory built somewhere nearby it. But this of course will involve the necessity of providing another for the President.

4. Your Committee therefore recommend: 1st, That a committee be appointed to make arrangements for building a lodging house or dormitory at some suitable place on the grounds belonging to the College, and also to arrange for a boarding place for such students as may occupy the dormitory or as may wish to avail themselves of the arrangement for cheaper boarding; 2nd, That in case it shall be found best to take the house now occupied by the President for a boarding department, then the Committee shall also provide a house for the President of the College, by rent or purchase or building a new one. And it is the judgment of the Committee that it would be best, as soon as may be, to build a house suitable for the President on the grounds of the College. But in any case, it is recommended by your Committee that it be the order of this Board that the President shall not be allowed to give up his present house until another suitable one shall be provided for his occupancy; 3rd, Your Committee recommend that the expense of this new arrangement

Page 315 [view page image]

the building of the dormitory, and the furnishing of the same, with the building of the President's house shall not cost to exceed twenty thousand dollars, and that Dr. John L. KcKee be appointed and requested to raise this sum from the people as soon as it can be done, and that the building of the dormitory be put under contract when $10,000 shall have been subscribed which may be regarded as good and safe for collection, and that the purchase or building of a President's house be entered upon as soon as the Committee may judge that the funds subscribed or in any way under their control for this object may justify.

5. Committee further recommend that inasmuch as the demand is present and urgent for rooms for dormitory purposes, this committee shall fit up and furnish such rooms as can now be used for that purpose and as may be needed, in the old and new College buildings and wherever else about our buildings they may find any to suit; and make such temporary arrangements for boarding as may be needed.

(Signed) Edward P. Humphrey, John M. Worrall, George W. Welsh, 0rmond Beatty - Committee

The following committee was appointed to carry out the above recommendations and orders of the Board, viz 0rmond Beatty, George W. Welsh, Prof. Fales, & Edward P. Humphrey.

Board adjourned to meet at 2:30 o'clock p.m.

2:30 o'clock p.m. Board reassembled.

Page 316 [view page image]

A claim was presented by General John A. Harlan for services in the College suit. The amount of the claim was $3,500 for his services in the Circuit Court, the Court of Appeals, & the Fiscal Court. From this sum was to be deducted whatever had already been paid to him, together with the sum of $500 his subscription to the College. The Board authorizes the Financial Committee to pay the claim of General Harlan out of whatever funds, principal, or interest may come into their hands, or be at their command.

A letter was read from Dr. McKnight tendering his resignation as a member of the Board of Trustees. Ordered that Dr. Worrall, in connection with the Financial Committee, settle with the Rev. George Coons for his services to the Board in raising an endowment fund.

Ordered that the Preparatory Department be continued for another year on the same general basis as heretofore, but the Financial Committee is directed to see what can be done towards making it self-supporting; and the Faculty of the College are directed to confer with the Principal in reference to improved modes of study & instruction.

The Financial Committee is authorized and instructed to settle with the lawyers of Danville for their services in the College suit, allowing them their claim of $350 for carrying the

Page 317 [view page image]

suit through the Court of Appeals. They had been previously paid for their services in the Circuit Court.

The following resolution in regard to the work of the Faculty was adopted, viz.

Resolved that in the judgment of this Board the thorough instruction of the students requires the undivided attention of all the Faculty, and that none of the Faculty can engage in any stated employment outside of the College without impairing his usefulness to the Classes. This resolution shall be communicated to the Faculty. This resolution does not apply to the Vice President.

Standing Committees unchanged (see page 275).

Resolved that Dr. McKee be authorized to secure cash contributions for such objects connected with the College or his work as the donors may choose to designate.

Resolved that Dr. McKee be authorized to receive subscriptions for the special object of paying his salary for three years under a former resolution of the Board, engaging his services for that period as an evangelist and for special services.

Board adjourned to meet at the close of the exercises in the 2nd Prebyterian Church this evening.

10 o'clock p.m. Board reassembled, but having no business before it adjourned to meet at 8 1/2 o'clock tomorrow morning.

Thursday, June 18, 1874.

Board reassembled pursuant to adjournment. In the absence of

Page 318 [view page image]

the Chairman & Secretary, Mr. Barbour was called to the Chair & Mr. Allen appointed Secretary. Mr. Worrall made a statement to the effect that such arrangements had been made with Prof. Chenault that he consented to withdraw his resignation.

It was then ordered that Prof. Chenault be permitted to rent out the house he now occupies.

The Board then adjourned to meet at 8 o'clock p.m. in Danville on Tuesday before the 3rd Thursday in June 1875.

Closed with prayer by Rev. Dr. Worrall.

0rmond Beatty, Secretary Centre College

[pages 319-328 consist of a detailed financial report for 1874. These pages are available in a typed transcript form (PDF, 5.0 Mb)]

© 2008 Centre College Special Collections · Last modified: 2008-02-01
Grace Doherty Library · Centre College · Danville, Kentucky
http://library.centre.edu/sc/minutes/bt3_1874.html