Centre College Special Collections - Board of Trustees Minutes (1896)

Centre College Board of Trustees Minutes (Vol. 4 - 1896)

Danville, Ky., June 9th 1896

The Board of Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky held its regular annual meeting in the session room of the Second Presbyterian Church, Danville, Ky., and on account of the health of the President, Dr. William C. Young, who is also a member of the Board, it adjourned to meet at the study of the President. The Board re-assembled at the President's study and was opened with prayer by Dr. Blayney. The members of the Board present were: Dr. J. McClusky Blayney, Dr. Claud B. H. Martin, Dr. William C. Young, Edward W. C. Humphrey, James A. Curry.

The minutes of the last meeting of the Board were read and approved. The minutes of the meetings of the Financial Committee held since the last meeting of the Trustees were read and on motion were approved.

The Treasurer's report for the fiscal year ending April 30th 1896 was read to the Board and on motion the same was approved and ordered recorded in the Financial statement book.

The report of the Faculty was as follows.

The Faculty would submit to the Board of Trustees, and through the Board to the Synod, the following report for the year ending June 10, 1896.

Faculty

There has been no change in the Faculty proper during the year. Two new instructors, however, have been employed and have done efficient and faithful work.

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Prof. C. H. Mayer, Ph.D., of Yale has taught English and French, thus taking the place occupied for several years by Rev. C. F. Hubbard, and R. O. Stilwell of Cornell has had charge of the department of Chemistry & Physics. The chair of Natural Science has thus been divided, & the instruction in consequence has been far more complete and thorough. The increase in the number of teachers has enabled the Faculty to provide several elective courses for students in the upper classes; and, also, to furnish far better facilities for those who, not expecting to graduate, desire special lines of study.

The health of all the members of the Faculty, with the exception of the President, has been good, and their work has been regularly performed.

The two instructors at a small increase of salaries have been engaged for the coming year.

Students

The catalogue herewith submitted as a part of this report shows a small decrease in the number of students. Almost the whole of this falling off, as the catalogue shows, has been in the Academy. Indeed the regular attendance both in College proper and the Law Department has been larger than ever before. The conduct of the students, on the whole, embracing attendance in the classrooms, studiousness, and good behavior have been fairly good.

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One case of flagrant disorder embracing five or six students occurred. All of those engaged in it were discovered and dealt with faithfully but kindly.

Bible Teaching

Owing to ill health the President was able for only a part of his term to give instruction in the Bible. Nothing connected with his sickness has caused him keener regret, as he values this above any other part of his work. Since the opening of the year Dr. McKee has faithfully performed this work. The President and the Vice-President are now considering plans to give added efficiency to this most important department.

College Home

The College Home has during the year, as for several years before, been conducted entirely by the students themselves - the President appointing the steward. Good boarding has been furnished at $2.25 per week, and the best of order has been observed. During the coming year an effort will be made to furnish board at $2.00.

Academy

For the first time in many years the Academy has been a source of expense to the College. Despite the payment of $300 to aid the Academy, the number of scholars, as the catalogue shows, has been smaller than for many years. The teaching and government, we believe, are as good as ever before,

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but competition through the opening of new schools & the better equipment of the city school have drawn away many scholars. Our hope and expectation are ere long to have a large boarding and training school belonging to the College, but in the meantime it seems best to continue our present work even though it be small and costs some money.

Reports on the Library and Scientific Department are herewith submitted as a part of this report.

While the health of the students has generally been good, the Faculty grieves to report three cases of fatal sickness--two of these were able to return to their homes before dying--the third died in the College Home. We rejoice to know that they were all Christians.

The Faculty recommend the degree of A.B. be conferred on the following young men:

Degree of A.B.

C. E. Bates
V. Blythe
J. T. Brown
Wallace Brown
R. W. Hill
L. C. Humphrey
E. Jennings
W. Kelley
J. W. Phelps
W. E. Savage
H. W. Starling

also the Degree of B.S. on following:

A. M. Allen
C. W. Caldwell
C. Christensen
W. R. Cubbins
R. L. Dudley
W. J. Dunn
J. A. Hunter
W. Keen
R. Lyle
J. N. Sebastian
E. T. Smith
S. C. Willis
T. V. Zimmerman

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Faculty Report concerning Law Dept.

The degree of B.L. on the following in Law Department:

C. C. Bagby
C. C. Baldrick
J. E. Robinson
J. B. Wood
L. Nicholas

Also certificates be given the following:

C. E. Archer
H. B. Wall
Trigg Waller

On motion the Report of the Faculty report was approved and the degrees granted as recommended.

A number of letters from absent members of the Board were presented and read, stating reasons for absence.

The following report of committee & resolution was received and adopted.

Owing to the ill health of the President the committee appointed by the Board at its last annual meeting to report the conditions on which the degrees of A.M. & Ph.D. would be conferred has been unable to attend to this work, therefore be it Resolved, that the committee be continued with instructions to present a report covering the whole subject to the next annual meeting.

The following was presented by Dr. Young and adopted.

Resolved that the incidental or contingent fee be increased to $16.00 payable semi-annually and that this fee, in addition to what it formerly embraced, entitles

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each student to free instruction and exercise in the gymnasium.

Resolved that except for reasons satisfactory to the President, every student in the three lower classes and every one pursuing an elective course be required to take regular class exercise in the Gymnasium.

On motion the chairman was authorized to appoint 3 committees, each committee to report a minute on the death of one of the Trustees who have died during the past year, viz. Dr. Stephen Yerkes, William Ernst and George Nicholas.

Faculty Report Concerning Law Department.

Twenty five students have been enrolled in the Law School during the year, an increase of 20 per cent over the previous year. For several weeks Gov. Knott's health kept him a close prisoner in his house. His classes however were largely cared for by his two co-professors. So the instruction in this department has been not only of a high order, but regular through the whole year. Of the $1,000 appropriated for the equipment of this department, about $850 has been spent - $150 therefore still stand to its credit.

The Law Faculty recommends the Board to grant the Degree of B.L.

On motion it was agreed to appropriate $100 in discretion of the Faculty for aiding the "Cento".

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On motion the President and Faculty were authorized to employ additional instructors when needed.

The Board took a recess until 2 1/2 o'clock p.m.

At 2 1/2 o'clock p.m. the Board reassembled in the President's study.

The Chairman appointed the 3 committees to report minutes on death of deceased Trustees as follows:

Dr. Hendrick and Mr. Simpson for William Ernst, deceased
Dr. Martin and George W. Welsh for Dr. Yerkes, deceased
Edward W. C. Humphrey and J. A. Curry for George Nicholas, deceased

Report of the Committee having in charge the report of Prof. Fales on the Library was received and approved. The President and Prof. Fales were authorized to look into matter of moving museum out of main building, and if deemed advisable, were authorized to expend the necessary funds to do so.

On motion the following appropriations were made: $100 for use of Library, $100 for Prof. Stilwell's department, $30 for Prof. Fales' department, and an amount sufficient to purchase a gas engine and erect same and make proper connections with the gas mains.

Dr. Martin offered the following resolution on gambling.

Whereas there is alleged the prevalence of Sunday card playing among the students, Resolved that the Faculty be urged

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to use all possible efforts to prevent the practice & especially to secure the prohibition of gaming for money or other forms of gambling.

Dr. Young, Dr. Martin, and Mr. Welsh were appointed a committee to revise the rules for the government of the College and the students.

Dr. Young and Mr. Welsh were appointed a committee on the Foot Ball games and were authorized to guarantee up to $210 to secure a trainer for the team.

The following standing committees were reappointed:

Committee on Repairs: John C. Fales & George W. Welsh
Auditing Committee: Robert P. Jacobs & George W. Welsh
Financial Committee: Robert P. Jacobs, George W. Welsh, William C. Young, and John A. Cheek

The degree of D.D. was conferred on Rev. W. B. Jennings of Louisville.

On motion of Dr. Martin the three vacancies in the Board were filled as follows:

Dr. R. R. Southerland in place of Dr. Stephen Yerkes
Dr. M. Waller in place of William Ernst
A. M. J. Cochran in place of George Nicholas

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

The Board then adjourned to meet in the session room of the 2nd Presbyterian Church, Danville, Ky., on Tuesday before Commencement 1897 at 9 1/2 o'clock a.m.

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Lexington, Ky., October 1, 1896

The Board of Trustees of Centre College met in the Second Presbyterian Church Lexington, Ky., pursuant to a written call made by J. McClusky Blayney, Chairman of the Board. Present: Dr. Blayney, Dr. Hendrick, Dr. Fulton, Dr. Condit, Messrs: Curry, Welsh, Humphrey, Simpson, Cochran, Dr. Sutherland.

After opening with prayer, Dr. Blayney explained the objector the meeting, and called attention of the Board to the death of Dr. William C. Young, stating in a few words the great loss which the College and the Church had sustained. On motion John A. Cheek was elected Secretary of the Board, this office having become vacant by the death of Dr. Young.

Dr. W. S. Fulton, Dr. R. R. Sutherland and A. M. J. Cochran took the oath of office in the presence of the Board.

On motion the Treasurer was instructed to pay the expenses of the Trustees in attending this meeting, and all meetings of the Board in future; and the Secretary was instructed to state this in the notice of meetings sent by him to the members of the Board.

At an informal meeting of the Trustees present at Dr. Young's funeral, Messrs. George W. Welsh & John A. Cheek were requested to see Dr. John L. McKee, Vice-President of the College, and ascertain his wishes about the control and management of the College and students until a President was elected. This committee reported that they had interviewed Dr. McKee and that he did not desire this responsibility if the Board could make other arrangements.

On motion Prof. John C. Fales was

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elected Dean of the Faculty, and the government and discipline of the College is put in his hands until further ordered by the Board.

On motion that part of the action taken at the last June meeting requiring compulsory attendance in the gymnasium was suspended and the question of attendance in the gymnasium was referred to the local Trustees residing in Danville and the Chairman. It was made a standing rule that the Secretary obtain from the Stated Clerk of the Synod of Kentucky a certificate of the appointment of the Trustees by the Synod.

On motion the Treasurer was authorized to pay bills marked correct by the Auditing Committee.

On motion Rev. Samuel A. Mutchmore, D.D., of Philadelphia was elected a Trustee in place of Dr. William C. Young, deceased, and the Secretary was instructed to notify him of same.

After an informal conference by the Trustees about a President of the College, on motion a committee consisting of Dr. Blayney, Messrs. Humphrey and Welsh, were appointed to consider the names suggested and any others that might be suggested to them, and report to a called meeting of the Board.

Dr. Blayney, Dr. Martin & Mr. Humphrey were appointed a committee to prepare a minute concerning death of Dr. Young.

The Chairman & members residing in Danville were appointed an executive committee until election of a new President.

John A. Cheek, Secretary

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Lexington, Ky., December 3, 1896

Pursuant to a call regularly made the Board of Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky met at Lexington, Ky., in the session room of the Second Presbyterian Church of Lexington. The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. J. P. Hendrick, D.D. The members present were: Dr. Blayney, Dr. Hendrick, Dr. Condit, Dr. Waller, Dr. Martin, Dr. Warren, Dr. Sutherland, Messrs: Simpson, Humphrey, Welsh, Jacobs, Curry, Dr. Fulton.

The Secretary presented the following certificate from the Stated Clerk of the Synod of Kentucky: "At a meeting of the Synod of Kentucky in connection with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, in session in Louisville, Ky., on Oct. 14, 1896, elected as Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky:

Rev. J. P. Hendrick, D.D.
Rev. R. R. Sutherland, D.D.
Rev. J. McC. Blayney, D.D.
Rev. E. L. Warren, D.D.
Rev. C. B. H. Martin, D.D.
A. M. J. Cochran, Esq.
J. A. Simpson, Esq.

To serve for the term of three years or until October 1899. Also Rev. S. A. Mutchmore to serve for two years or until October 1898 in place of Rev. William C. Young, D.D., deceased, and Rev. M. Waller to serve for one year or until October 1897 in place of William Ernst, deceased."

Signed, Attest, L. Eddy, Stated Clerk, Synod of Kentucky

The following members elected named in the foregoing certificate, viz. Hendrick, Sutherland, Blayney, Warren, Martin, Simpson and Waller were present and took the oath of office in the presence of the Board.

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The minutes of the regular annual meeting in June 1896 and of the called Meeting held October 1, 1896, were both read and on motion were approved as recorded.

The Committee appointed at the called meeting in October consisting of Dr. Blayney, Messrs. Humphrey and Welsh, unanimously recommended to the Board Rev. Willis G. Craig, D.D., of Chicago for President.

The report was received and approved.

After prayer for divine guidance a ballot was taken for President, resulting in the unanimous election of Rev. W. G. Craig, D.D. On motion of Edward W. C. Humphrey the salary offered to Dr. Craig was fixed at $3,000 per annum and a house. On motion Dr. Blayney, Messrs. Humphrey and Welsh were appointed a committee to notify Dr. Craig of his election, and the Treasurer was authorized to pay the expenses of the Committee.

On motion of Robert P. Jacobs the appropriation made at the June meeting 1896 (of the Board) for the purchase of a gas engine and apparatus for Prof. Stilwell's department was increased to $850.

A communication from Dr. John L. McKee was received and referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. Welsh, Jacobs, and Humphrey.

A paper from the Trustees of the Danville Theological Seminary was received and on motion the Treasurer was directed to pay over the income of the Theological Fund accruing from and since May 1, 1896, to the Treasurer of the Danville Theological Seminary and this order to con-

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tinue until revoked by this Board.

The Chairman was requested to notify the Board and the public of Dr. Craig's answer when received.

A paper from the Faculty concerning music was referred to the executive committee.

John A. Cheek, Secretary