1863 | Centre Faculty | 1865
Centre College Faculty Minutes (Vol. 1 - 1864)

Page 60 [view page image]

January 8, 1864

Faculty met at Prof. Patterson's room. Nothing worthy of record decided. Dr. Breckinridge absent.

January 15, 1864

Faculty met. All present.

The following persons, viz. J. Foster Barbour, Herseman, and Edward H. Semple of the Chamberlain Society, Edward C. Humphrey, George Moore, and Henry Buford of the Deinologian Society were presented for approval by the Faculty as speakers for the approaching celebration of the twenty-second of February. It was found on examination that the whole election had been contrary to the order required by the Faculty both in manner and in the number of names presented, but as the societies averred that they did not know of the requirements of the Faculty, and had provided in good faith, it was agreed that for this once we would not interfere. But it was told the societies distinctly that for the future this must be no precedent. On the contrary, the Faculty will require strict conformance with the regulations heretofore existing relative to the manner of presenting names for approval, the number submitted out of which choice is to be made, and the number permitted to speak at the Celebration.

Jacob Cooper, Secretary

January 22, 1864

Faculty met. All present but Prof. McKnight.

Examination for middle of session to begin Tuesday, February 2, 1864.

Paschal and Underwood summoned to account for three absences without excuse. Reprimanded for absence on insufficient grounds.

Page 61 [view page image]

January 25, 1864

Faculty met at Prof. Patterson's recitation room. Present all but Dr. Breckinridge.

Mr. Moody presented himself for admission to the Junior Class. His preparation was thought sufficient to admit him in the languages subject however to his progress in daily recitations. But in the Mathematics he arrived no standing, being unable to pass examination on any part of the course though he professed to have studied nearly all required. He will therefore be required to pass an examination of the whole mathematical course studied prior to his admission, as well as the Chemistry and Mental Philosophy, required in the course.

The Faculty by vote request the Committee of Repairs of Centre College to remove the fence now running between the College Building and the cistern belonging to the College, and place said fence in such position that said cistern will be between the fence and the College Building, in order to have drinking water convenient to the students.

Jacob Cooper, Secretary

January 29, 1864

Faculty met at Prof. Beatty's. All present.

Mr. Joseph Scott having been summoned to appear and answer for the offence of throwing against and through a window during the time a recitation was in progress in the room of a professor, was indefinitely dismissed for this as the culmination of a series of disorderly acts. Pres. Breckinridge was requested to write to Mr. Scott's father informing him of the action of the Faculty.

Page 62 [view page image]

February 2, 1864

President Breckinridge called the Faculty together to lay the request of Mr. Scott for a new hearing of his case. Faculty being present in the College Chapel, Mr. Scott appeared and showed such evidence of repentance for his past misconduct and made so many promises of amendment for the future that the Faculty inclined toward mercy and agreed to receive him back, but with the understanding that the whole case would be publicly explained before the class in which Mr. Scott recites, and also that if Mr. Scott should offend in future that this case will be remembered and he summarily dismissed.

The following is the order of the Senior Annual Examination:

Tuesday February 2, 1864  
8 1/2 - 10 1/2Sophomores: GreekProf. Cooper
10 1/2 - 12 1/2Freshmen: LatinProf. McKnight
3 - 5Juniors: CalculusProf. Patterson
Wednesday February 3, 1864  
8 1/2 - 10 1/2Sophomores: LatinProf. McKnight
10 1/2 - 12 1/2Juniors: ChemistryProf. Beatty
Thursday February 4, 1864  
8 1/2 - 10 1/2Freshmen: GreekProf. Cooper
10 1/2 - 12 1/2Junior: LatinProf. McKnight
Friday February 5, 1864  
8 1/2 - 10 1/2Sophomores: GeometryProf. Patterson
10 1/2 - 12 1/2Freshmen: AlgebraProf. Patterson

Page 63 [view page image]

February 5, 1864

Faculty met. All present.

The scholarship and habits of study of all the students considered and it was resolved that in addition to the circulars showing the standing of each the following, notes be added either in the circular or an accompanying letter.

It is the judgement of the Faculty that Anthony ought to be withdrawn from College. But if he be continued here he must go back to the Sophomore Class. This to be communicated to Mr. Anthony's father by the President.

A letter be written to Mr. Bell, guardian, recommending the ward to be placed in the Sophomore Class.

A letter be written to Thomas' father stating that the son is put on probation until reexamined in Analytical Geometry and the Geometry of the Sophomore year; and if at the end of this year his grade be not naturally improved he must be put one class back.

A letter be sent to Waggener's father calling attention to the low grade of scholarship of his son in some branches; his failure to stand examination in Geometry of Sophomore year and to his very disorderly conduct in College.

Attention called to Mr. Brumfield's low scholarship, and unless there is a very marked improvement he cannot possibly graduate.

Davis cannot graduate with this Class. His father requested to take him home as he is not doing sufficient good to justify his longer continuance at College.

Scott's father to be written to with statement that his son has no standing in Greek and cannot graduate without

Page 64 [view page image]

passing a satisfactory examination on the Greek of the whole course.

McCullagh; idle and inattention to study, his Father requested to notice his grade.

Mr. Meyer's father be informed that it is the judgement of the Faculty that his son must repeat the Freshman year; having it with Mr. M. to place him in the Preparatory Department now, or reenter the Freshman Class next fall.

Charles W. Moore's father be informed of the low grade of his son's scholarship, and the judgement of the Faculty that he ought not go on with his class; or if he continue in College now, he must repeat the Freshman year.

V. McGoodwin does not appear to study and is noisy and disorderly.

Posey's attention called to his low grade. Inattentive to study.

Renfroe his low grade of scholarship to be pointed out and his inattention to study.

February 8, 1864

Faculty met at Prof. Beatty's. All present.

It was determined in view of the increasing disorders throughout the College, in the Chapel, in the hall, [and] in the recitation rooms, that this must be checked. And to effect this each Professor keep a grade of the misdemeanor of each student coming under his notice and when the marks for misconduct for any student amount to a certain number (two of the Faculty preferring a scale of 15 the other members one of 5), then such student be summoned forthwith to answer

Page 65 [view page image]

before all the Faculty for his disorder.

February 12, 1864

Faculty met. All present.

Prof. Patterson, to the great sorrow of all his brethren, announced his wish to resign his position in the College based on the inadequacy of the salary received, and the prospect of a more remunerative situation in Pittsburgh, Pa.; considering all the facts in the case, no one was prepared to oppose the course Professor Patterson proposes to take, but it is with unfeigned regret that we submit to the necessities which deprive us of such a faithful and accomplished as well as genial co-laborer. Hope was however expressed that Prof. Patterson would not go immediately, and if possible, such offers might be made him as would induce him to stay, but if such could not be made, we saw it clear for him to accept a situation promising to be far more remunerative than his present one.

February 19, 1864

Joseph Scott of the Senior Class appeared and begged the indulgence of the faculty in regard to the deficiencies of his grade in Greek. After hearing his statements it was resolved that Mr. Scott be required, in lieu of his deficiencies, to prepare the whole of the Oration of Demosthenes On the Crown and stand such an examination on this whole book as to satisfy the Faculty that he deserved a mark of 50 on our scale of 0 to 100. If he do not comply with this requisition, Mr. Scott cannot be permitted to graduate in the present Senior Class.

Page 66 [view page image]

Thomas C. Moore appeared to answer for going out of examination. He was admonished for insolence and required to promise better behavior in future.

February 24, 1864

Faculty met but nothing of special interest transacted.

February 27, 1864

Faculty met at Prof. Beatty's.

Mr. Anthony, father of our student of that name and guardian of Mr. Bell of Junior Class, met with the Faculty to consult with them relative to the condition of his son and ward.

February 29, 1864

Mr. Anthony of Junior Class appeared and voluntarily agreed to take the Mathematical recitations with the Sophomore and Freshman classes to endeavor to make up his deficiencies in that study, and thus relinquished his attempt to continue with the Junior Class.

Bell also appeared and was advised to take the same course as his deficiencies were much the same, but he desired to be permitted to recite with the Junior Class till the end of the year with the view of working up deficiencies. He was allowed to do so, but plainly told that the Faculty did not believe he could succeed. And in case he could not he must not object or consider that it is a harsh or unexpected decision if he then have to go back a year.

Mr. Nicholas Damrou Thurmond of Westminster College, Missouri, was received from the Junior Class of that Institution on regular certificate of admission in good standing, ad eundem gradum in this College.

March 3, 1864

Faculty met at Prof. Beatty's. All present.

Page 67 [view page image]

Russell of the Sophomore Class appeared by summons before the Faculty to answer for absence from the exercise of speaking on February 8. After hearing the case the Faculty decided that the President reprimand Russell for absence from this exercise without any adequate reason, and that this reprimand be in presence of the Faculty.

Davies requested to be placed on a par with Scott, that is, to be allowed to prepare on the Oration of Demosthenes on the Crown as an equivalent for all the deficiencies of his course in Greek.

The request to be allowed an examination in Demosthenes. De Corona as an equivalent for his deficiencies was refused.

Mr. Davies is to be told distinctly that he cannot graduate with the present Senior Class.

March 10, 1864

Faculty met, but nothing transacted requiring a record.

March 17, 1864

Nothing transacted which was necessary to be recorded.

March 24 & 31, 1864

Faculty met and adjourned, but nothing was done of importance.

April 6, 1864

Faculty met at Dr. Breckinridge's, the President being unwell.

A communication was received from the two Literary Societies and the Societies appeared before the Faculty by committee to confer in relation to the appointment of the speaker for the Celebration of the 22nd of February. The Societies

Page 68 [view page image]

desire to have three speakers each instead of two as heretofore, and that the Faculty will allow them to present the vote for each candidate as an inducement to secure the confirmation by the Faculty of said candidate. The Faculty do not wish but two speakers for each society and wish out of four candidates to confirm two without regard to the vote of the Society. This to avoid the opportunity for electioneering on the part of the candidates. Nothing definite was settled.

Adjourned.

Jacob Cooper, Secretary Faculty pro tem

April 22, 1864

Faculty met.

The following minute prepared by the President was voted one negative vote only. The Chamberlain and Deinologian Societies having requested the consent of the Faculty to the appointment by each Society of three speakers for the 22nd of February instead of two, as heretofore, it is ordered that the request be granted. But as we see no sufficient reason for a permanent change of arrangements, under which for many years each society has been represented on that occasion by two speakers, it must be understood that this order will be repealed, whenever this body may deem it expedient to return to the old usage.

These Societies having also requested our consent to the nomination of six persons, by each Society, to be laid before the Faculty, together with the ballot by which the nomination was made, the Faculty to select three of the six as named, as speakers: It is ordered that the request be granted,

Page 69 [view page image]

so far as concerns the number nominated. But the Faculty declines, as always heretofore, to be informed of the ballot, and will use its own judgement in choosing three out of the six proposed - provided, however, that this body must not be held obliged in any case, to allow a person deemed by us gravely unsuitable, to appear on such an occasion. And in accepting our answer to their request, the societies will be held to agree to the use of this needful control, when the Faculty may deem the occasion to call for it. Otherwise, we consent to no changes in the usage under which the societies have named their speakers heretofore.

Adjourned.

Jacob Cooper, Secretary

April 29, 1864

The Societies being still dissatisfied with the exercise of power by the Faculty in selecting three out of the six names presented to them without regard to the ballot, the President called the Faculty together today, and laid a communication before them from one of the Societies requesting the permission to be allowed to elect their own speakers - the Faculty always confirming the election of these names presented by the Societies, unless there be something in the particular person justifying his rejection, when the Society will present another, then virtually taking all choice in the matter from the Faculty; the matter was discussed at length. The President was very anxious and earnest that the wishes of the Societies be complied with. But the Professors, and especially those who have been connected

Page 70 [view page image]

with the College for the longest time, strongly opposed. They plead the abuses and great troubles arising from the whole control of the election resting with the Societies as it once did, and is now contemplated by the President's recommendation; abuses so great that the Board of Trustees ordered the Faculty to take measures to stop them when the regulations in form for the past ten years were adopted, to wit - from the names (4) presented by each Society without the ballot the Faculty confirmed two for speakers for the 22nd of February. The Professors unanimously urged that this regulation had checked abuses and had worked in a manner entirely satisfactory for ten years, abating the very evils which constantly recurred under the arrangement which the President now proposes to introduce again.

After a full and earnest expression of opinion in which Messrs. Beatty, Cooper, and McKnight strongly opposed the proposed change and deprecated the evils which they had seen under its operation, or heard from those who had witnessed them, the President still strongly and persistently urging the change, at last Professors Beatty and McKnight said that they would yield their judgement and views of what ought to be done and surrender the responsibility of managing the matter to the President. Prof. Cooper distinctly refused to yield in this matter, feeling that his views were right and sustained by the facts and history of the case, as well as by the clear majority of his colleagues; and that as he cannot, so long as connected with the College, free himself

Page 71 [view page image]

from the responsibility for its good government; he therefore cannot yield his convictions to a measure which is sustained by less than a majority of his colleagues.

Adjourned.

Jacob Cooper, Secretary Faculty Centre College

May 2, 1864

Faculty met. Present Dr. Breckinridge, Prof. Beatty and McKnight.

The members present yielded their convictions of what was right and proper on the matter of the confirmation of the Societies' speakers for the 22nd of February, to the earnest and persistent desire of the President. There was no change on the part of either President or Professors as to conviction.

May 6, 1864

Faculty met. No business of importance transacted.

May 10, 1864

The Senior Class was examined. The following honors were conferred.

Valedictory - Henry M. Buford
Salutatory - Alfred B. Nelson

These gentlemen were nearly equal. Mr. Nelson was one third of a Unit (on a scale of 100) higher for two years. But in consideration of the fact that Mr. Buford had gone through the whole course, and stood at the head of his class heretofore, while Mr. Nelson had been with us only two years, and was deficient on a part of his studies when he returned, and has now made up those deficiencies by examination, Messrs. Beatty, Cooper, and McKnight thought the highest honor was justly due to Mr.

Page 72 [view page image]

Buford. The President was in favor of dividing the honor between the gentlemen. This, however, was not carried by vote, and so the honors stand as above specified. The President presented the following paper which was adopted and ordered to be put on the record, one vote only opposing.

Having been authorized by the Faculty to arrange with the Societies all matters relating to the appointment of speakers for the 22nd of February, I met both Societies in their respective halls last night. Representing to them that the Faculty had referred these matters to me to be arranged according to my judgement, and therefore, I would be mainly responsible for their settlement and its issues - the whole however subject to the control of the Faculty whenever that body should think proper to interpose, I proposed to consent to their request for three speakers from each society - their names to be submitted to the Faculty for approval; and if any should not be approved, others to be substituted till three were approved.

I represented further that they were understood to recognize the wisdom and propriety of this control, and would be expected to acquiesce in its use without making or countenancing difficulty or disturbance in case of nominations disapproved.

Further, that it was expected of them to use such methods as were sufficient to put down all attempts on the part of members to procure

Page 73 [view page image]

such nominations for themselves - in which, no doubt were understood by all though not specially insisted on, because not thought of by me at the moment, all entertainments given by the persons as nominated, in consideration thereof.

To all of which I was clearly informed that both Societies cordially agreed and the Chamberlain Society by a formal and unanimous vote taken in my presence, and the Deinologian by an open statement of the President in his chair to the effect that the Society had already taken action concerning the whole ground, and needing only the assurance from me by authority of the Faculty, that it was allowed to be finally settled.

I make this report so minute and explicit that the whole matter may be understood; and I recommend that it be entered of record, or at least carefully preserved for reference, if need be hereafter.

(Signed) William L. Breckinridge
Centre College
May 7, 1864

After a lengthy and earnest discussion again of the propriety of giving the honors as decided at the previous Faculty meeting, and each person retaining the same views as before, the Faculty adjourned.

Jacob Cooper, Secretary Faculty Centre College

Page 74 [view page image]

May 24, 1864

Mr. Joseph Scott appeared and passed an examination inDemostheness on the Crown; which in consideration of his great improvement in other studies and in behavior as well as somemanifestationn of knowledge of the book in question, was accepted by the Faculty.

May 26, 1864

Seniors were examined in Natural Philosophy and Astronomy.

May 27, 1864

Faculty met. Present: Messrs. Beatty, McKnight, and Cooper.

The following young gentlemen, fourteen in number, members of the present Senior Class, were recommended by the Faculty to the Board of Trustees for graduation, viz J. Foster Barbour, Obadiah Brumfield, Henry M. Buford, William M. Hersman, Edward W. C. Humphrey, Robert L. Irvin, William J. Lapsley, Samuel McKee, James G. Moore, Alfred B. Nelson, Joseph M. Scott, Edward H. Semple, Henry A. Scomp, Joseph McDowell Wallace.

Jacob Cooper, Secretary pro tem

June 28, 1864

Faculty met from week to week till end of session, but nothing of importance or demanding record was transacted, and no further entries were deemed necessary.

Jacob Cooper, Secretary pro tem

Page 75 [view page image]

September 12, 1864

Faculty met. Present Messrs. Breckinridge, Beatty, Matthews, and Cooper and Mr. Nelson Tutor.

At this meeting, and subsequent meetings during the week following, new students were assigned to the classes for which they were found qualified.

Messrs. Harbison and Pryor admitted to the Junior Class, conditioned on Greek.

Richards to the Junior Class in Latin. On trial in Mathematics and Greek.

Semple and Williams to Sophomore Class.

Barbour and Tevis to Sophomore Class, conditioned on Greek.

Orr to Sophomore Class in Mathematics. On trial in Latin and Greek.

Neill admitted to Sophomore Class on trial.

September 24, 1864

Hann admitted to the Freshman Class, conditioned on Greek.

Denny and Walker admitted to the Freshman Class in Mathematics. On trial in Latin, conditioned in Greek.

Talbot and Townsend admitted to the Freshman Class in Mathematics, on trial in Latin, conditioned in Greek.

Beatty, Hawthorn, Lee, Meyer, and Wood, Freshmen on trial.

A letter was received addressed to the Faculty by Prof. McKnight, informing them that pending the question of his resignation before the Board of Trustees, it did not appear to him to be his duty to enter on any permanent work as a Professor in the College. The letter was filed, and the Faculty them resolved that, for the present, they would fall back upon the scheme of studies and order of recitation in use before the organization of the Scientific Department.

Read in Faculty to this point and approved.

James Matthews, Secretary

Page 76 [view page image]

At the several weekly meetings of the Faculty from the date of the last entry, although diverse matters were discussed, no business requiring a permanent record was transacted. With the exception that the nominees of the two Societies for 22nd Speakers were confirmed, viz on the part of the Deinologian Society Messrs. Moody, Moore and Wilson; on the part of the Chamberlain Society Messrs. Glass, Helm, and Huston. On Thursday 22nd of December the recess for the holidays began.