1891 | contents | 1893
Centre College Board of Trustees Minutes (Vol. 4 - 1892)

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Danville, Ky., January 6, 1892

The Board of Trustees of Centre College met pursuant to the following notices:

Danville, Ky., December 28, 1891

The Board of Trustees of Centre College will meet in the Session Room of the Second Pres. Church of Danville on Wednesday, Jany. 6, 1892, at 3 P.M. As the business to be transacted is of a routine character, the presence of members from a distance is not necessary.

J. McCluskey Blayney, Chairman, by Alfred B. Nelson, Secretary

Danville, Ky., January 1, 1892

Touching the meeting of the Board of Trustees called for January 6th inst., it is deemed proper to state that the special business to come before the Board is the action of Synod looking to the increase in the number of Trustees from nineteen to twenty-five.

J. McCluskey Blayney, Chairman, by Alfred B. Nelson, Secretary

The following members were present:

Rev. J. McCluskey Blayney, D.D.
J. A. Curry, Esq.
R. P. Jacobs, L.L.D.
Rev. W. C. Young, D.D.
Rev. C. B. H. Martin, D.D.
Rev. S. Yerkes, D.D.
G. W. Welsh, Esq.

The meeting was opened with prayer by Dr. Yerkes. The Chairman, Dr. Blayney, stated the object of the meeting in accordance with the foregoing notices.

On motion the following resolution was adopted:

In pursuance of the action of the Synod of Kentucky at its last meeting held in the city of Owensboro, Resolved, that it is the sense of the Board that the number of members of the Board should be increased from nineteen to twenty-five; and that a Committee of two be appointed, of which the Chairman of this Board shall be one and R. P. Jacobs the other to procure proper authority from the

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General Assembly of Kentucky for that purpose and that the same committee act in the interest of Centre College in all matters of legislation by said Assembly concerning this and institutions of like character.

It was moved and carried that the Charter of the College be so changed that, instead of two-thirds of the Board being necessary to elect officers of the College, a simple majority shall be necessary to elect said officers, and that the committee appointed in the preceding resolution be entrusted with the duty of carrying this motion into effect.

On motion the President of the College was authorized to appoint an agent to collect tuition and other fees of the College until the next regular meeting of the Board in June, and to fix the compensation therefore.

On motion the following resolutions were adopted:

Resolved that the Treasurer of this Board sell the ten Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company first consolidated mortgage five per cent, registered gold bonds due 1939, for $1,000 each, numbered 37 to 46 inclusive.

Resolved that the Rev. J. McCluskey Blayney, Chairman of this Board, be authorized and empowered to assign & transfer said bonds, and to execute on behalf of this Board any papers required to complete the sale & transfer of said bonds, and to affix the seal of this corporation thereto.

On motion the Board adjourned, and was closed with prayer by the Chairman.

Alfred B. Nelson, Secretary

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Danville, Ky., March 29, 1892

Pursuant to call of the Chairman the Board of Trustees of Centre College convened in the Session Room of the 2nd Presbyterian Church for the purpose of taking action in reference to increasing the number of members of the Board from nineteen to twenty-five, under authority of a recent act of the Legislation; and also for the transaction of any other business that may come before the Board.

The following members were present:

Rev. J. McCluskey Blayney, D.D.
G. W. Welsh, Esq.
C. M. Garth, Esq.
R. P. Jacobs, L.L.D.
Wm. Ernst, Esq.
Rev. S. M. Hamilton, D.D.
E. W. C. Humphrey, Esq.
Rev. W. C. Young, D.D.
J. A. Curry, Esq.
Rev. S. Yerkes, D.D.
Rev. C. B. H. Martin, D.D.

The Board was called to order by the Chairman, Dr. Blayney, who opened the meeting with prayer.

The following persons, viz. Messrs. Hamilton, Welsh, Garth, Ernst and Jacobs, after being duly qualified, took their seats as members of the Board.

The minutes of the meeting held in June, 1891, and of the meeting held in January, 1892, were read and approved.

Rev. W. S. Fulton, D.D., was put in nomination to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Rev. Thomas H. Cleland, D.D., and he was elected by a unanimous ballot.

On motion a committee consisting of Drs. Young & Jacobs, and Edward W. C. Humphrey, Esq., was appointed to consider & report on changes in the College charter proposed to be made under authority of a recent act

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of the legislation.

On motion a committee consisting of President Young & Alfred B. Nelson was appointed to examine the minutes of the Board from the beginning & extract therefrom all the by-laws that have been enacted from time to time.

The Treasurer, John A. Cheek, Esq., made a comparative statement showing a large growth in the income of the College for the last four fiscal years.

This was followed by President Young with a statement in regard to the increase in the number of students of the College, the enlargement of its sources, its present prosperous condition, and the encouraging outlook for the future. He emphasized one imperative need of the College, to wit, the expansion of the scientific work, and the erection of a new scientific building.

The Board then took recess till 7:30 p.m.

The Board reassembled at 7:30 p.m. and proceeded to business.

The Committee on proposed changes in the Charter of the College reported that they deemed it inexpedient to make any alterations. On motion this report was received and approved.

The following paper was adopted:

Whenever in the opinion of the Financial Committee of the Board there is such a prospect of funds being received sufficient to erect a suitable building for scientific purposes, said committee, with the name of Prof. John C. Fales added thereto, is hereby authorized to have such building erected and to use of the surplus income of the College for

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the year 1892 a sum not exceeding $5,000, and not exceeding a like amount from the surplus of income for the year 1893.

On motion the following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, that the thanks of the Board of Trustees of Centre College be hereby extended to Mr. Thomas H. Swope in recognition of his munificent gift to the College, and that this unanimous action of the Board be conveyed to Mr. Swope.

Dr. Young reported the special expenditure in the final equipment of the Gymnasium & in the preparation of the athletic grounds; and, on motion, his action in these matters was approved by the Board.

On motion the President was authorized to employ Prof. Berry as director of the Gymnasium for one or more years.

On motion the Faculty was authorized to employ Prof. Hubbard and such other instructors as may be necessary for the ensuing year.

The minutes of the meeting were read and approved for record, after which the Board adjourned and was closed with prayer by Mr. Curry.

Alfred B. Nelson, Secretary

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9 A.M., Danville, Ky., May 4, 1892

The Board of Trustees of Centre College met at the call of the Chairman at 9 a.m. in the Theological Seminary building.

The Chairman, Dr. Blayney, presided and the meeting was opened with prayer. In the absence of the secretary, Dr. William C. Condit was appointed secretary pro tem.

The following members were present:

Rev. J. McCluskey Blayney, D.D.
Rev. S. M. Hamilton, D.D.
Rev. C. B. H. Martin, D.D.
Rev. W. C. Young, D.D.
Rev. W. C. Condit, D.D.
Rev. S. Yerkes, D.D.
E. W. C. Humphrey, Esq.
Rev. W. S. Fulton, D.D.
W. H. Kinnaird, Esq.

Dr. W. S. Fulton appeared and was duly qualified.

The following resolution was unanimously adopted:

Resolved that the Board consider it inexpedient to postpone the Commencement exercises on account of the absence of Dr. Young at the General Assembly; and that Dr. Young be granted leave of absence from Commencement of the present year at his own discretion.

The meeting then adjourned and was closed with prayer.

(Signed) W. C. Condit, Secretary pro tem.

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Danville, Ky., June 7, 1892

The Bd. of Trustees held its regular annual meeting in the parlor of the 2nd Presbyterian Church at 2:30 p.m.

The following members were present:

Rev. S. Yerkes, D.D.
Geo. Nichols, Esq.
Rev. C. B. H. Martin, D.D.
J. A. Curry, Esq.
Rev. J. P. Hendrick, D.D.
G. W. Welsh, Esq.
R. P. Jacobs, L.L.D.
W. H. Kinnaird, Esq.
Rev. W. S. Fulton, D.D.

In the absence of the Chairman, Dr. Hendrick was called to the chair, and the meeting was opened with prayer by Dr. Fulton.

Satisfactory reasons for absence were presented from C. M. Garth and Dr. Heman H. Allen.

The minutes of the meetings held March 29, 1892, and May 4, 1892, were read and approved.

The minutes of the proceedings of the Financial Committee were read by the Treasurer, John A. Cheek; and on motion these minutes, and likewise the transactions of the Committee, were approved.

The Report of the Treasurer for the year ending April 30, 1892, was read. This report, bearing the certificate of the Auditing Committee that it had been

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examined by them & found correct, was received and approved, and ordered to be put to record in the Financial Statement Book.

The Financial Committee was authorized to omit from the assets of the College as given in the Financial Report, such notes as in their judgement are of no value.

The Report of the President of the College, including a personal statement from him, the Report of the Faculty, embracing reports on the Library and Scientific Fund, were read and, on motion, were received. These reports are as follows:

Report of the President
To the Board of Trustees of Centre College

Dear Brethren:

On behalf of the Faculty I would submit the following brief report:

The number of students matriculated in the College - over 150 - is greater than during any year since 1861. The general conduct of the students, freedom from disorder and excesses of any kind, have been on the whole most commendable. While a number, on account of continued absence from recitations or want of adequate preparation, have been sent home or put back in the Academy, yet no serious case of discipline has occurred during the session. The two most serious causes of trouble are those above mentioned inadequacy of preparation, students slipping into classes for which they are not-prepared, and absence from the classroom. The Faculty is considering measures by which it is confidently expected that during the coming year, both of these evils will be greatly diminished.

The health of all of the professors has been most mercifully preserved during the year, and the courses of instruction as outlined in the catalogue, have been regularly prosecuted. The President dur-

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ing a good portion of the time has been away from Danville in the interests of the College. Owing to a projected change of Ethics from the Junior to the Senior year, and also to the fact that our system of elective studies not having been perfected, each class had more than its determined number of studies, the President has undertaken no regular class work. He hopes that the coming year will be the last during which much of his time will be occupied infield work. He proposes, however, during this year to conduct for one term at least recitations in two classes, Junior & Senior.

Dr. Worrall & Gov. Knott have entered regularly upon the class work of their departments, and have done most efficient service. For the accomplishment of the best results two additional professors are greatly needed, one for the department of Chemistry & Physics, the other for the department of Modern Languages. The work of the last of these has been distributed among the other professors. It is being well done, and, for a time, without any serious loss this chair can remain vacant. We should, however, plan & look forward to its being filled at as early a date as is practicable. A second teacher in the Scientific Department is, however, an urgent, pressing need. Our present income would probably justify his employment now; but until our projected new scientific building is erected, he would be without quarters or apparatus for his work. I call attention to these things, not asking any present action, but that you may have them in mind.

I would ask that the Faculty be authorized, as in the past, to employ any additional temporary instructors that may be needed. It is not probable that any will be required; but in case the Freshman Class is large, a tutor may be a necessity.

I would also report that I have assumed the responsibility of making Mr. Berry a fair offer for his services during the coming year. I am confident that our experience is not sufficient with this department

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to justify the Board in making its instructor a regular Board elected officer of the College. I wish the work in this department, as also the compensation, to be left in charge of the Faculty. While a most valuable adjunct, the whole Athletic Department, I can already see, will require close supervision & direction.

I have assumed to state in the catalogue that exercise in the Gymnasium will be with us, as in all the best eastern colleges, required. The fee for the whole year has been put at the low price of $6.

The Vice President, Dr. McKee, will in my absence present names of those recommended for degrees. Prof. Fales will present reports on the Library & Scientific Dept.

I send with this a brief paper from myself personally as President.

Very truly, (Signed) William C. Young

Dr. Young's personal statement is as follows:

To the Board of Trustees of Centre College:
Dear Brethren:

In addition to Report of the Faculty herewith submitted I respectfully ask consideration of, and if they should commend themselves to your judgement, action upon the following recommendations:

(1) A hearty endorsement and commendation of the movement to raise $30,000 among the Alumni & friends of the College during the current year for the erection of a scientific building.

(2) Continue committee on courses of instruction and committee on rules for guidance of Faculty & government of College, with instructions to report at next regular annual meeting of the Board.

(3) Grant to President for another year power to employ for a reasonable compensation some one to attend to collection of Gymnasium & tuition fees. The result of this work during the past year has far more than justified its expense. I cooperate with and aid

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in every possible way the collector.

(4) As different arrangements seem to have been made with different professors, pass some general resolutions to following effect: The Bd., save in those exceptional cases where special arrangements have made, claims the right to call on each of the professors for 16 hours class-room work each week; and for any temporary extra work owing to sickness or absence of any professor no extra compensation can be claimed.

(5) Add $50 to salary of each regular professor. I hope this will be done. I hope nothing more will be done at this time. We must move slowly in this matter. I hope we can make a small increase each year till the salaries amount to $1,650 or $1,700. But we must husband our resources in view of appropriation of $5000 a year made to scientific building, and the necessity for soon providing for additional professors. We can afford an addition of $50 & I think we should make it.

(6) Give degree of Ph.D. to Miss Leila McKee. It will be an honor worthily bestowed. Give degree of D.D. to Rev. William S. Plumer Bryan, 2nd Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati. I would advise giving no other honorary degrees this year. We gave a large number last year. It will be well to call a halt this year. As to Mr. Bryan, he is thoroughly deserving, a number of influential men in Cincinnati have asked for it. His church has been most liberal to us.

(7) Give formally President leave to spend during next year what time he deems desirable in outside work for College.

Very truly, (Signed) William C. Young

On motion, each recommendation contained in these papers was taken up and approved, with the exception that the recommendation as to compulsory attendance upon & fee for Gymnasium, was modified as follows:

Attendance upon Gymnasium, amount of fee

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to be charged therefor, and remission of the same in whole or in part in exceptional cases, are referred to the discretion of the Faculty of the College, with full power to act as it deems best.

On motion the papers as a whole with the modification mentioned above, were then approved.

The Report of the Faculty is as follows:

To the Board of Trustees of Centre College:
Gentlemen:

The Faculty of the College having learned that the President of the College has sent in his report, desire to add the following as their part of said report:

During the year the Gymnasium has been opened, and regular classes organized & instructed by Physical Director Berry. Grounds for outdoor sports have also been prepared in the rear of the College buildings.

The Faculty desire to state that while feeling assured that if properly managed these gymnastic exercises & sports will be undoubtedly beneficial to the students, and indirectly to the College; yet on the other hand they feel equally certain that if they are not controlled & restricted by stringent rules rigidly enforced, they will prove a nuisance & work evil to all.

The Faculty would recommend the young men whose names are here presented for these degrees:

Bachelor of Arts:

Louis Bryan
Wm. Stephen Burch
Eugene Wilbur Cook
Jas. Reed Curry
Henry Livingston Godsey
John Ray Honey
Patrick Joyes, Jr.
Wm. Scott Lawwill
Thos. Prather Nicholas
Wm. Jennings Price

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Edward Virgil Spicer
John Elmer Turner

Bachelor of Science:

George Howe Green
Harry Beverly Irvin
John Harkins Johns
Wm. Woolfolk Johnson

Certificate in Elective Course:

Francis Breckinridge Douglass
Edwin Lafayette VanWinkle
John David Ziegler
Calvin Morgan Fackler

The Faculty unanimously recommend Prof. H. T. Eddy, President Rose Polytechnic Institution, Terre Haute, Indiana, for the honorary degree of L.L.D., and Dr. Robert T. Morris, of N.Y. for the honorary degree of A.M.

John W. Redd, Secretary Faculty

The following is a summary of the Report on the Library:

No. Books in Library June 1, 1891
No. Books added during year, by gift
No. Books added during year, by purchase
No. Books in Library, June 1, 1892
6,989
193
1
7,183

The Report concludes as follows:

In my last Report I requested the Board to order the purchase of a case to hold the cards containing the catalogue of the subjects in the Library, which was promptly done. I found, however, on ordering the case that none was made large enough to contain the number of cards, and that two would be needed. As the Board had ordered the purchase of only one case, and as the two would cost more than the original request contemplated, I did not feel at liberty to purchase but

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one.

I therefore desire that the Board will kindly permit the purchase of an additional case and outfit, that all the cards may be accessible for use.

I may add that since the cards have been introduced the use of the books in the Library has largely increased.

Respectfully, (Signed) John C. Fales, Librarian

The report on the Scientific Fund showed:

Balance due Prof. Fales June 1, 1891
Expenditures during year
 
Appropriation for 1891-'92
Balance on hand June 1, 1892
$37.23
$65.52
$102.75
$120.00
$17.25

(Signed) John C. Fales

On motion, the recommendations for degrees made by the Faculty were taken up in detail, and all the degrees were conferred as recommended.

On motion, the request of the Librarian for authority to purchase an additional case for the card catalogue was granted.

On motion, the Faculty report as a whole was approved.

Prof. Fales's resignation as chairman of the committee on Repairs was presented; and on motion he was requested to withdraw said resignation, and continue at the head of said com'tee, at least for the present.

The Committee on Repairs was instructed to remove the small brick building west of the College Home, which has long been a nuisance to the neighborhood.

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On motion, the Faculty was given control of the Gymnasium, and it was authorized & requested to prescribe rules for the management thereof, and for the whole Athletic Department.

The usual annual appropriation of $120 was made for the Scientific Department for the coming year.

The Committee appointed to prepare a suitable minute on Dr. Beatty was continued, and requested to report at the next regular meeting of the Board.

On motion the following paper was adopted:

This Board extends to Prof. Fales its hearty thanks for the time & labor he has devoted to the College Library, and for his good taste in the arrangement of the books, and the efficient plans adopted for the increasing usefulness of the Library.

On motion the following committee was appointed to prepare a minute on Dr. T. H. Cleland, late a member of this Board, viz. J. A. Curry, Dr. Stephen Yerkes, and W. H. Kinnaird.

The standing committees were reappointed for the ensuing year. They are as follows:

Committee on Repairs: Messrs. John C. Fales, Guy E. Wiseman, and George W. Welsh
Auditing Committee: Messrs. R. P. Jacobs, and George W. Welsh
Financial Committee: Messrs. J. H. Cheek, Edward W. C. Humphrey, William C. Young, R. P. Jacobs, and George W. Welsh

On motion the degree of A.M. in course was conferred on:

Robert F. Caldwell, Class of 1889
Edward Lee Grubbs, Class of 1889

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George E. Davis, Class of 1886

The minutes of the meeting were then read and, on motion, were approved for record.

The Board then adjourned to meet on Tuesday, June 28th inst., at 4 p.m. in the parlor of the 2nd Presbyterian Church, that being the time fixed for the adjourned meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Theological Seminary.

The meeting was closed with prayer by Dr. Hendrick.

Alfred B. Nelson, Secretary

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Danville, Ky., 4 p.m., June 28, 1892

The Board of Trustees of Centre College met pursuant to adjournment, with the following members present:

Rev W. C. Young, D.D.
J. A. Curry, Esq.
R. P. Jacobs, L.L.D.
G. W. Welsh, Esq.
Rev. S. Yerkes, D.D.
W. H. Kinnaird, Esq.
Rev. W. S. Fulton, D.D.

In the absence of the Chairman, Dr. Blayney, Dr. Fulton was chosen to preside, and Dr. Young opened the meeting with prayer.

On motion Mr. George W. Welsh was appointed secretary pro tem.

On motion the degree of A.M. in course was conferred on Rev. Evander McNair, of the Class of 1857.

Dr. Young moved that the degree of L.L.D. be conferred on Hon. Boyd Winchester, of the Class of 1855, whereupon the ballot was spread & the degree was conferred by unanimous vote.

A letter of resignation as a member of the Board was presented from C. M. Garth, Esq., assigning as a reason his inability to attend the meetings of the Board. On motion his resignation was accepted.

On motion of Dr. Young, Gov. John Young Brown was elected to fill the vacancy in the Board, subject to the confirmation of the Synod.

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The offer of an annual gift of magazines to the College Library by Profs. Fales & Nelson was accepted with thanks; and the Librarian was authorized to have same bound from year to year, and the Treasurer was ordered to pay the bill therefor.

On motion the minute of June 7th touching the removal of a certain nuisance in the rear of the College Home, was amended by authorizing and instructing the Committee on Repairs to erect a suitable building in a convenient place to answer the purpose of the one removed.

On motion the following resolutions were adopted:

1. It is the judgement of the Board of Trustees that henceforth there shall be a closer connection between the Academy and the College, and that something should be done to give greater efficiency to our Academy work. As tending to secure these results the Board of Trustees hereby places the Academy under the supervision of the Faculty, instructing them to appoint, if it be found practicable, a Head Master who shall be coordinate & coequal with Prof. Walton. All details between the Principals of the Academy and the Faculty shall be arranged by the President of the College and Professors Fales & Nelson, after conferring with the Principals of the Academy.

2. If this scheme be put into operation, the Committee as above named shall present to the Board at its next regular meeting a detailed plan covering the relations of the Academy with the College.

3. If in carrying on the work of the Academy during the coming year under the first resolution, it be found that the income from the Academy is not sufficient, a sum not exceeding four hundred dollars from the General Fund of the College may be used to supplement the deficiency thereof.

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On motion a committee consisting of Dr. Fulton and Mr. Curry was appointed to make known to Prof. Walton the action of the Board contained in Resolutions 1 and 2.

The minutes of the meeting were read & approved for record.

The Board then adjourned to meet on the Tuesday before Commencement at 2:30 p.m.

Alfred B. Nelson, Secretary