Centre College Special Collections - Board of Trustees Minutes (1875)

Centre College Board of Trustees Minutes (Vol. 3 - 1875)

Danville Kentucky June 15, 1875

Board of Trustees met pursuant to adjournment & was opened with prayer by the Rev. John S. Hays, D.D. who was, in the absence of the Chairman, chosen to preside. Members present Rev. John S. Hays, D.D., Rev. Heman H. Allen, Rev. Stephen Yerkes D.D., Rev. James P. Hendrick, Robert Rodes, Esq., Rev. John M. Worrall, D.D., William H. Kinnaird, Levi L. Warren, John W. Scott.

Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

On motion, a committee was appointed to whom was committed, for examination, the accounts of the College Home presented by Dr. John L. McKee - Messrs. Ernst & Scott were appointed this committee.

On motion, Dr. McKee was allowed to make a statement in reference to his work as an agent for soliciting funds for the further endowment of the College and for collecting the former subscriptions.

A committee consisting of Messrs. Worrall, Warren & Welsh was appointed to confer with Dr. McKee & report to the Board on tomorrow evening at 8 o'clock p.m.

The Financial Report was read, received & referred to a committee, viz. Messrs. Ernst, Warren & Scott.

Page 330 [view page image]

The Faculty report was read, received and it with accompanying papers was referred, viz. Messrs. Hendrick, Allen & Kinnaird.

Faculty Report

The Faculty of Centre College beg 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 17th day of June 1875.

In the earlier part of the winter the health of Prof. Chenault, whose physical powers had been severely taxed, gave way, and he was compelled for a time to abandon his class room. His colleagues cheerfully undertook his work as far as it was in their power. But with their advice Prof. Chenault took a season of absolute rest, which it was thought the condition of his health demanded. The Faculty, already so fully occupied with their own work, were not able to hear all his classes, and it became necessary to assume the responsibility of employing temporary help. The Faculty secured the services of Mr. Robert D. Chenault, who had been trained under the eye of his brother & whose aid proved to be most acceptable to the Faculty & to the students. He continued with us to the close of the year and rendered very great assistance for a comparatively small compensation. Prof. Chenault's health has been re-established & he has been since April at his post. The other professors have been in their places and at their usual work.

There was, for many weeks last spring,

Page 331 [view page image]

a very deep religious interest among the students. Although we are not able to record many additions to the Church as the fruit of this awakening, yet we believe that great good was done. Professors of religion were greatly revived, back sliders were reclaimed, some conversions we have reason to hope took place, and an interest was awakened in many which we trust may yet bear fruit. We confidently expect to see or hear of many joining the Church, hereafter, who will refer their first impressions to this awakening last spring.

The College Home has been in successful operation during the year. The Faculty made diligent effort by advertising & in other ways to disseminate information in regard to it. The result was that we had more applications for places than we had at our disposal, and we were compelled to refuse a number. But as all to whom places were promised did not come to College we always had a few beds at our disposal & no one was rejected who reached Danville. The actual number who occupied rooms in the Home is 32.

There are in the building seventeen rooms not occupied by the matron & her family. This makes provision for 34 students, and as, in several instances, they have gone voluntarily three into a room, 38 or 40 may be accommodated. A kitchen and a dining room have been fitted up in the building, and a matron appointed who furnishes their meals to as many as may desire it in the building itself.

Page 332 [view page image]

The lady solicited for this post is Mrs. Gilbert, a Christian lady of high character who came to Danville from St. Charles, Missouri, & who is personally well known to some members of the Board of Trustees. A separate paper regarding the College Home will be submitted herewith & made a part of this report.

It may be proper to add that most of the students of the College Home are in the earlier stage of their education. Perhaps about one half of them desire & expect to take a full course & graduate, and among them are found some of the most promising students in the College. The Faculty are of one opinion in regard to the advantage which the College derives from the Home.

Closely connected with the Home is the subject of a sub-Freshman class in College. A number of young men in the Home are older than the average students of our Preparatory School, and in a condition to make more rapid progress. The full preparatory course requires three years to fit a young man, or rather lads of the age usually found in this school, for the Freshman class. But a number of the young men of the Home were organized into a sub-Freshman class and after one year's study, these young men are not only able to enter the Freshman class, but to take the highest place in it. The sub-Freshman class was taught exclusively by the professors until the sickness of Prof. Chenault compelled the Faculty to call in the assistance of his brother. The Faculty are clearly of the opinion that the sub-Freshman class ought

Page 333 [view page image]

to be kept up, although it materially adds to their labors, until the resources of the College will justify permanent provision for this department.

The Special reports on the Library, Museum and Chemical Department will exhibit their present condition. They are herewith submitted and made a part of this report.

The Financial Report & annual catalogue will show the state of the finances & the number of the students the past year. The catalogue will show a roll of 99 students in College proper & 78 in Preparatory, or deducting those common to both departments, 170 in all. This will show an increase of 35 in College Proper & a decrease of 5 in the Preparatory, or a total increase of 28 in all. The Faculty recommend the following fifteen young men for the degree of A.B., viz. Clifton Rodes Anderson, John Clinton Barret, Samuel Robertson Cheek, Thomas Porter Curry, Joseph Crittenden Finnell, Henry Horace Grant, William McDowell McClure, John Thomas Vansant, William Craig Barkley, William McDowell Bent, William Henry Cooper, James Bailey Dunlap, John Donaldson Fleming, Breckinridge Jones, Joshua Bell Reed.

Respectfully submitted, (Signed) 0rmond Beatty

Library

To the Board of Trustees of Centre College.

The following items are offered for

Page 334 [view page image]

your consideration, as to the condition of Centre College Library and the additions thereto during the year ending May 31, 1875.

Number of books added by purchase	85
Number of books added by donation	118
Catalogued June 1, 1874	2,845
Alcove A (uncatalogued)	1,112
Total	4,160

List of Books Purchased

</tr>

Motley - Rise of the Dutch Republic	3 vols.
Motley - History of United Netherlands	4 vols.
Motley - John of Bomeveld	2 vols.
Grote - History of Greece	12 vols.
Rowlinson - Ancient Monarchies	3 vols.
Bukle's History of Civilization in Europe	2 vols.
Draper's Intellectual Development of Europe	1 vol.
Taine's English Literature	2 vols.
Reek's Greek Antiquities	1 vol.
Spencer's First Principles of Philosophy	1 vol.
Spencer's Biology	2 vols.
Spencer's Psychology	2 vols.
Spencer's Social Statics	1 vol.
Spencer's Discussions	1 vol.
Spencer's Essays	1 vol.
Munsie's History of Philosophy	2 vols.
Mills - Political Economy	1 vol.
Mills - Autobiography	1 vol.
Colridge - Complete Works	7 vols.
Stanley's Jewish Church	2 vols.
Stanley's Eastern Church	1 vol.
Ruskin's Modern Painters	5 vols.
Alibines Dictionary of Authors	3 vols.

Page 335 [view page image]

Thornwell's Theological writings	4 vols.
Mill's Logic	1 vol.
Broadus' Sermons	1 vol.
Miller's Feleche in Theology	1 vol.
Froude's England	12 vols.
Jowetts Plato	4 vols.

Books donated - Honorable M. G. Durham

Hayden's Geological Survey of Territories	4 vols.
Medical History of Rebellion	2 vols.
Congressional Record	8 vols.
Exploration for Ship Canal	1 vol.
Address on Charles Sumner	1 vol.
Commerce & Navigation, 1873	1 vol.
Commercial Relations, 1873	1 vol.
Coast Survey, 1873	1 vol.

By United States Government

Public Documents

54 vols.

By Smithsonian Institute

Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections	3 vols.
Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge	1 vol.
Smithsonian Reports 71-72	2 vols.

By Ormond Beatty

Gregory's Chemistry	1 vol.
Lavoisier's Chemistry	1 vol.
Thompson Chemistry	2 vols.
Mitchell's Chemistry	1 vol.
Becke's Geological Manual	1 vol.
Poisier's Mechanique	2 vols.
Froneven Mathematics	2 vols.
Mineralogy	2 vol.
Mineralogy Shepherd	1 vol.
Beatty Agriculture	1 vol.

Page 336 [view page image]

Grnelin Chemistry	6 vols.
Lechman Chemistry	1 vol.
Coast Survey	2 vols.
Commercial Relations	1 vol.
Boucherlot's Calculus	1 vol.
Meteorological Observations	3 vols.
Pacific Railroad	2 vols.
Jeffersons Notes on Virginia 0. Garnett	1 vol.

By Book Trade Association

Kelley's Speeches	1 vol.
Report on Education, U.S. Board of Education	1 vol.
Raymond's Mineral Resources Honorable M. J. D.	1 vol.
Cudnure's Ireland by author	1 vol.

(Signed) John C. Fales, Assistant Librarian

Museum

The increase in the number of entries in the Museum during the past year though not great, is yet enough to be highly gratifying. By working up some old material and adding the donations the total number has been raised from 1342 to 1712 as follows:

Added to Geological Section - Fossils	90
Added to Mineralogical Section - Minerals	123
Added to Zoological Section	4
Old Material	153
Beginning of the year	1,342
Total	1,712

(Signed) John C. Fales

Page 337 [view page image]

Expenditures in Scientific Department

1874 - June 1 to balance on hand		$87.50
1874 - September 8 Scott Trust Fund		$62.50
		$150.00
By chemicals	$8.11
By apparatus	$29.64
By box & freight	$1.50
By glass for Heliostol	$1.50
By repairs to apparatus	$0.15
Balance	$109.10	$150.00

(Signed) John C. Fales

Additional paper relating to the College Home submitted by the Faculty

In discussing the subject of the College Home, the following conclusions were reached by the Faculty which they desire to submit to the Board as their judgment in the several points.

1. It is the unanimous opinion of the Faculty that the Boarding Department of the Home ought to be kept up.

2. That the price of board ought to be definitely fixed at a rate not greater than $2.50 a week to be paid weekly or monthly in advance.

3. All classes of students, Regular, Scientific & Preparatory students, ought to be received into the Home. But when all who apply cannot be accommodated, preference ought to be given to full course students over those who propose to take only a partial course.

4. Each student shall be required to deposit

Page 338 [view page image]

with the President five dollars which shall be used in repairing damages should they occur. Should there be no injury the money shall be returned to the depositor at the end of the year or so much as may remain after making good the damages which his room, the buildings, or the grounds may have received through him.

5. A committee of the Faculty shall be appointed to examine from time to time the condition of each room, and report to the Faculty. Assessments & collections shall be made, in pursuance of such report, of each student who may have inflicted injury upon the buildings or grounds. Such committee shall visit the rooms at least once a month.

6. The matron of the College Home shall conduct it under the general superintendence of the Faculty of the College who shall, in subordination to the Charter & College laws, make such regulations for the government of the Home and of the students who live in it, as their judgment may approve.

7. The question has been raised whether or not Mr. Lord's shop might not be converted into dormitory rooms for students. The Faculty, while making the suggestion, make no recommendation.

8. The question of compelling the young men who occupy rooms in the Home, to take their meals in the building, evoked some discussion & showed a difference of views among the members of the Faculty; and Dr. McKee

Page 339 [view page image]

and 0rmond Beatty were requested to present the subject to the Board for its decision.

A report was received from Mr. Ralston, Principal, in reference to the Preparatory. It was referred to the committee in the Financial Report.

Resolved that the Board will visit the College Home at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning.

Adjourned to meet in the lecture room of the Theological Seminary at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.

Closed with prayer.

Wednesday, June 16, 1875

Board reassembled & was opened with prayer by Rev. Mr. Hendrick. The oath of office was duly administered to Dr. Worrall, Mr. Kinnaird, Mr. Warren & Dr. Scott.

On motion it was ordered that the Committee of Repairs, viz. Messrs. George W. Welsh, J. E. Wiseman, Thomas Barbee, with 0rmond Beatty & Prof. John C. Fales be authorized to erect on the College grounds a residence for the janitor at an outlay not to exceed $400.

Prof. Chenault is authorized to take at cost not to exceed $100, three or more of his students to the State Teachers Association about to convene at Glasgow for public examination.

The following degrees were conferred, viz. at the recommendation of the Faculty, the degree of A.B. on fifteen young gentlemen of

Page 340 [view page image]

the Senior class (see their names in the report of the Faculty, page 333).

The degree of A.M. in course on J. Clay Armstrong of the Class of 1851, Henry F. Albright of the Class of 1858, William L. Dulaney of the Class of 1857, Richard C. Warren of the Class of 1863, William Turner of the Class of 1870, and upon Arthur W. Johnstone & James B. Walton of the Class of 1872.

The degree of D.D. on Rev. Richard Hooker Cobbs of Greensboro, Alabama & upon Rev. George J. Reed of Columbia, Kentucky.

The Board then took recess until 3 o'clock p.m.

3 o'clock p.m. Board reassembled.

The committee to whom was referred the report of the Faculty submitted their report, which after consideration & amendment was adopted and is as follows:

The committee to which was referred the annual Report of the Faculty of Centre College, and also the reports on the Library, on the expenditures in the Scientific Department & on the Museum have carefully examined the same and respectfully submit the following action as proper to be taken by this Board.

1. We heartily commend the diligence, fidelity & wisdom of the Faculty in the management of the important trust committed to them in all its departments during the past year, and we give thanks to God who has so largely blessed their efforts in

Page 341 [view page image]

building up and extending the usefulness of our cherished institution. The annual catalogue shows a net increase of 35 in the College Proper and a decrease of 5 in the Preparatory.

The report of the Faculty contains also the cheering fact that the Lord has been specially generous to the College in the pouring out of his Blessed Spirit upon the students, manifested in the quickening into higher life of a very large number of them, and in the hopeful conversion of a few.

The report of the Librarian shows a total of 4,160 volumes in the Library and an increase of 203 during the year, viz. 85 volumes by purchase and 118 by donation.

The report of the Secretary of the Scientific Fund shows a total increase of $150 during the year with an expenditure of $40.90, leaving balance to the credit of that fund of $109.10.

The report on the Museum of the College shows a gratifying increase in that Department also. There have been made during the year 370 new entries making a total of 1,712.

The attention of the Board is called to the report of the Faculty recommending 15 young men - members of the Senior class - for the degree of A.B.

We recommend the adoption by this Board the suggestions of the Faculty in regard to the College Home as far as the 7th (see pp. 337-338). Upon this we recommend that a committee be appointed to visit the building referred to

Page 342 [view page image]

during the recess today and to report as soon as practicable.

With reference to the matter suggested in the 8th Section, we recommend that it be left to the wise discretion of the Faculty as stated in the 6th section.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

Resolved that the members of the Board and the friends of the College be required to make between this time & the opening of the next session such communications touching the College in the local newspapers in their respective sections as they may find practicable; and if convenient send copies of such papers to Dr. Beatty.

The Committee to which the Financial Report was referred submitted a report which was received and adopted and is as follows:

Your Committee have had placed in their hands the following papers:

1. Financial Report of Centre College
2. List of notes for subscription to College endowment fund, etc.
3. Report of Principal of Preparatory Department

They have examined the figures & compared the vouchers with the payments and find them to be correct.

It appears from the Financial Report that the Permanent Fund is indebted to the Income Fund in one sum of $1,055.10 and another of $840. Your Committee recommend that

Page 343 [view page image]

the first monies collected on Permanent Fund account be applied to the payment of these two sums.

They further recommend that such of the old notes as can be made available be collected as soon as practicable & the proceeds applied as above.

In reference to the Preparatory Department, your Committee recommend that it be placed upon a self-sustaining basis & that the Faculty be authorized to make such arrangements as will secure that result if practicable.

The committee to which was referred the accounts of the College Home reported that there appeared to be private accounts made in running the Home and with which this Board has nothing to do. The accounts were returned without examination & the committee was discharged.

The committee on that part of the Faculty report which referred to Mr. Lords shop made their report which was received, adopted, and is as follows:

Your Committee have examined said building and recommend that the matter be referred to the Faculty and to the Financial Committee to act in the case as seems to them best, with the suggestion, in case more room is needed, to sell said building & ground and erect additional buildings on the College grounds.

The Faculty were authorized to prepare a suitable certificate to be granted to Scien

Page 344 [view page image]

tific students or such as have not taken the full regular course of study.

A motion was made & passed to take up at this time the subject set for 8 o'clock tonight.

Rev. Edward P. Humphrey, D.D. & Honorable Tyler T. Alexander appeared and took their seats as members of the Board.

Pending the discussion of the subject before it, the Board adjourned to meet at 8 o'clock p.m. at the house of Mr. Beatty.

8 o'clock p.m. Board reassembled.

On motion, the Faculty of the College were empowered at their discretion, to employ a teacher for the sub-Freshman Class at a salary which shall not exceed $400 per annum.

The following standing committees were appointed
On Finance - 0rmond Beatty, George W. Welsh, George E. Wiseman, & Thomas Barbee
On Repairs - Welsh, Barbee & Wiseman
On Investments - Levi L. Warren, Edward P. Humphrey, & John B. Temple

The following paper in regard to Dr. McKee's work was adopted, viz.

It is the sense of this Board that the agreement heretofore entered into with Dr. John L. McKee to raise an endowment for the College be continued from the 1st of July next, or as soon thereafter as practicable, until the further order of this Board, on the terms heretofore agreed on, that is to say, he shall receive a salary as Vice President of $1,000 as heretofore & the additional sum

Page 345 [view page image]

of $2,500 for his services in securing subscriptions and such evangelistic work as he may find time to engage in. He is requested to confer with & co-operate with the Financial Committee of the College and report to them at least once in two months the progress of his work. It is desirable that Dr. McKee give as much of his time to evangelistic labor as practicable & that he be paid for his services quarterly out of the first money collected of the subscriptions not otherwise appropriated. It is further recommended that in the subscriptions taken the notes be without restrictions or limitations as far as possible.

The division of Dr. McKee's time between his duties in the College and his evangelistic work shall be arranged between him & the Faculty of the College.

The following order was adopted, viz.

Ordered that a committee consisting of Dr. Hays, Beatty, & Welsh be appointed to prepare on behalf of the Board a statement of the necessity of the prompt collection of the notes now due, to be used by Dr. McKee in their collection; also to prepare a suitable heading for a subscription book.

Ordered that a committee consisting of 0rmond Beatty, John C. Fales & Dr. McKee be appointed to make a clear and distinct classification of the subscriptions already taken, as well as those that may be made in the future, including both notes & cash subscriptions, and that they be permanently recorded for reference.

The Secretary is authorized to procure

Page 346 [view page image]

a separate account book, in which the financial reports shall be recorded, & which shall be considered as forming a part of the minutes of the Board.

Minutes were read & approved, and the Board then adjourned to meet in the basement room of the 2nd Presbyterian Church in Danville at 8 o'clock p.m. on Tuesday before the 3rd Thursday in June 1876.

Closed with prayer.

0rmond Beatty, Secretary