1864 | Centre Faculty | 1867
Centre College Faculty Minutes (Vol. 1 - 1865)

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February 10, 1865

Faculty met at the house of Mr. Beatty. All present.

Messrs. Hawthorn, Denny, Hann, Walker, Beard, Downton, William Moore, Davie Jr., A. Moore, Williams, and Breckinridge having been cited before the Faculty to answer for disorders on which it was charged they had been engaged, the following minute was adopted in relation to their case.

By their own confession, or by other evidence, it appeared that all these young gentlemen were engaged at a late hour of night in a chivaree at the house of one of the citizens in the vicinity of the town, with whom one of our Professors resides, and at other places.

Other disorders of a serious nature were perpetrated upon the same night, and upon other nights, both previously and subsequently at various places in the town. While the Faculty do not

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know that these young gentlemen are guilty of these offences, nor do they mean to charge it upon them, yet they consider these facts make it necessary to insist upon a more stringent discipline than a single offence would seem to require. Therefore, for these reasons, it is ordered that these young gentlemen be indefinitely suspended.

In passing this sentence the Faculty desire distinctly to say that while they see no sufficient grounds for making a difference in the sentence passed upon these young gentlemen, they do not consider the cases as equally criminal. The spirit and temper exhibited were very different in different cases.

The sentence does not preclude the reentrance of any one of these offenders, upon his giving satisfactory evidence to the Faculty of his sincere regret for the past, and appearance of entire respect for the laws of the College, and observance of all propriety and decorum of conduct in the future.

This sentence the President is directed to communicate to the young gentlemen, and to the other students, with such comments as he may deem appropriate.

James Matthews, Secretary

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March 16, 1865

Faculty met. All present. The following paper was presented, viz

Centre College March 16, 1865

We the undersigned do hereby express our sincere regret that we participated in any of the disorders committed on Tuesday night the 7th. instant, and do assure the Faculty of our entire respect for the laws of the College, and of our purpose to remember for the future, due obedience to those laws.

Signed, Andrew M. Moore, Newton Williams, J. Wade Walker, George M. Davie, James S. Hawthorn, William Moore, Alexander Beard, Cabell Breckinridge, William Downton, Gelon Hann, George Denny, Jr.

Whereupon it was resolved that recognizing in this paper a substantial confidence on the part of the signers with the requirement of the Faculty, they be readmitted to the privileges of the College, and that the President inform them of this action of the Faculty.

James Matthews, Secretary

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[No date]

Faculty met. Present: Messrs. Beatty, Matthews, Cooper and Nelson.

On examination of the record it was ascertained that the average standing of Helm of the Senior Class in all departments was the highest. To him therefore was awarded the first honor and the Valedictory. Forsythe was found to stand next, and to him was assigned the second honor and the Salutatory.

June 9, 1865

Faculty met. All present.

Dr. Breckinridge read portions of a letter recently received by him from Rev. Mr. Calvin with reference to the Preparatory Department. It was resolved that we unanimously recommend him to the Board of Trustees as Principal of said Department.

Resolved, that for the three days of Mr. Sloan's examination, the Classes in College have only two recitations daily.

James Matthews, Secretary

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June 30, 1865

Faculty met. Present: Messrs. Breckinridge, Beatty and Matthews.

The Faculty were engaged in completing the circulars, and the following conclusions in regard to the standing of some of the students agreed upon informally by the Professors in the Department of Language and Mathematics were ratified and ordered to be entered in the circulars of those affected by them.

Paschal having fallen below probation in all the Mathematics of the Junior year, is required to review and be examined anew on those studies.

Miller required to be reexamined in the Calculus.

In regard to Messrs. Breckinridge, Davie Jr., Lee, Charles Moore, and Daniel Moore, their standing is such in all Departments as to preclude the possibility of their going on with the next Junior Class.

Campbell, having for want of adequate preparation fallen so far below in two Departments, will in the judgement of the Faculty, be unable to remain in his present class.

Matthews required to review and be reexamined in the Greek of the last session of five months.

Beatty and Green having entered the Freshman Class on trial, and being found below the minimum in two Departments, are earnestly advised to enter the next Freshman Class.

Hann, having been conditioned on Greek at his entrance, and failing to make up his deficiencies, and having

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also a low grade in Latin, he is earnestly advised to enter the next Freshman Class.

In the case of Talbott it was concluded that although he may, owing to peculiar circumstances in his case, be allowed the privilege of reciting as an infamiliar in the class that shall be most convenient.

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At the various meetings of the Faculty which were held at the opening of this session, little or nothing requiring to be permanently recorded was transacted. The new students were mostly admitted on trial to the classes which they thought themselves qualified to enter, and no cases of discipline had occurred up to the date when this record opens.

November 24, 1865

Faculty met. Members all present.

Dr. Breckinridge stated to the Faculty that he had received information implicating some of our students in acts of disorder which occurred in the town some days ago. He also laid before the Faculty the following two papers which were ordered to be recorded and the originals preserved, that they might be laid before the Board of Trustees.

(COPY)

Gentlemen of the Faculty

It has come to our knowledge that Mr. John S. Mizner, a member of our order, is supposed by you to have participated in the disorder committed about three weeks ago, and from that supposition, has been summoned to appear before the Faculty. Know, gentlemen, that this order, the [Greek letters for Alpha Kappa Phi], recognizes the College laws, and requires their support by each of its members and holds them accountable for any misdemeanors.

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But when any misconduct is imparted to him and his innocence appears clear to us after a full investigation of his case, we hold it our imperative duty to defend him before whatever tribunal he may be called to appear.

Having investigated the case of John S. Mizner, and his innocence been clearly proved to us, we beg of the Faculty that they will not require him to appear before them, as it reflects upon the conduct of our order.

We attach in brief, the evidence which appeared in the case before the Order. Drawn up by order of the [Greek letters for Alpha Kappa Phi] Society.

(Signed) Antonio D. Richards, Charles Tevis, William S. Wilson

(COPY)

On the 17th of the present month, John S. Minzer left his room at seven o'clock in the evening with the sole intention of hearing a Catholic Priest preaching in the Courthouse at that hour. Said Mizner after remaining for two hours in the Courthouse, left the place with the purpose of going home, and having met with his roommate in company with other gentlemen was persuaded to join them in a serenade intended for the ladies of the Female Academy of Mr. Selph to which he agreed, but in which he took no part either in singing or approaching the

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house. Returning from the place, the party were met by the watchman, who, inquiring into their conduct, engaged himself in a haughty altercation with them, but which by the arbitration, or rather persuasion of John S. Mizner, was settled peacefully. John S. Mizner continued with the party as far as the Stanford Pike, from which place he succeeded in getting off from their company and returned home without their knowledge. During all this time John S. Mizner engaged himself in no disorder whatever, as each gentleman of the party states and is willing to testify.

On the following day, John S. Mizner was summoned to appear before the Attorney, to whom Mizner stated his case and after satisfying him of his innocence of the charge of disorder. John S. Mizner compounded with the Attorney for a fine in order to avoid the disgrace of appearing at the trial and not because John S. Mizner entertained the least doubt of clearing himself before the Court.

It was agreed to have Mizner, William Moore, and Blakemore summoned before the Faculty, and Dr. Breckinridge was requested to examine the records of the Police Court, and Prof. Cooper to see Rev. Mr. Selph and the policeman, to ascertain if any other students were concerned in the disorder.

Adjourned until Monday.

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November 27, 1865

Faculty met. Members all present.

Messrs. Blakemore, William Moore, and Mizner appeared and made their several statements. Mr. Edward Welsh, who is not a student, voluntarily appeared and a statement intended to exculpate Mr. Mizner; the whole matter having been carefully considered, the Faculty on the following day adopted the following Minute as expressing their judgements in the case.

MINUTE

At a Faculty meeting November 28, 1865, all the members present, the following minute was adopted and ordered to record.

In having come to our knowledge that John S. Mizner, William Moore, and Roe Blakemore, matriculated students of this Institution, have been severely arrested under warrant from the Judge of the Police Court of the town of Danville to answer for disorderly conduct at late hours upon the public streets; the two first named, to wit Mizner and Moore "confession judgement" without trial, and demanding a trial and thereupon convicted and paying the fine and these persons being called before the Faculty on these charges and this testimony, as obtained from the Records of the Court, and being allowed to make such statements in their exculpation, and introduce such witnesses as they desired, and their cases having been

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considered fully, and at length, it is concluded

lst. That Mizner is acquitted of disorderly intentions and is commended for his attempts to compose the disturbances of the violators company into which he was incautiously drawn. But that he merits the censure of this body for being unnecessarily on the streets at such hours of the night; for allowing himself to be detained in the unlawful assembly, after he learned its character, and for giving his encouragement and example to its disorders; by partaking of intoxicating drink amid the lawless proceedings of the occasion. But in consideration of his good department and habits of study heretofore, no more need now be said on the subject.

2nd. That Moore is acquitted of disorderly intentions, and is to be commended for using his influence to withdraw another from the same unlawful company. But that he deserves our censure for entering at all, and for his absence from his home, and for his presence on the streets at such hours without necessity intimated by himself. All this the more because of his former subjection to discipline, and restoration to his standing in the College upon the gravest promise of observing all its requirements as to departments and study.

3rd. That Blakemore has not disproved the correctness of the Courts judgement in his case, which

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learned from its open proceedings we take to be just and lawful, that he has not submitted to us any testimony to show that his intentions on either of the two occasions of his presence with unlawful companies were not disorderly, with whatever motive he joined one of them, at least, he continued long with it, by his own statements after he became aware of its riotous character and of the criminal acts of some persons in it, and sanctioned by the body of them. That he acknowledged that he shared with them, in the use of intoxicating liquor, taking pains to inform us that he drank the less because it was not good, being a judge of the same, and finally, he voluntarily stated, with no expression of regret now for what was done by him then, that with fire arms on his person and no lack of disposition to use them, he had attempted to intimidate a peace officer in discharge of his duty, and to drive him from the same with menace - warning him off from noticing this lawless crowd; all of this following a course of irregular attendance and unsatisfactory study during his connection with us.

Wherefore the said Roe Blakemore is dismissed and his relation to Centre College as a student is dissolved with our advice to him to leave the town at his earliest convenience.

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December 1, 1865

Faculty met. Members all present.

Mr. George Denny was cited by order of the Faculty to appear before this body for irregular and disorderly conduct in Prof. Cooper's room, and for absenting himself without sufficient reasons from his recitations. He was also charged with misbehavior in the Baptist Church during one evening of this week.

After a personal examination, the Faculty adopted the following minute in the case.

While the Faculty do not feel warranted from the evidence in their possession to hold Mr. Denny guilty of these charges to that degree that would warrant any immediate and severe measures of discipline, yet it is their opinion that Mr. Denny is not wholly without offence, and it is ordered that he be informed that without a great and immediate change in his whole conduct, he is in great danger of bringing down the severest discipline of the Faculty for his continued shortcomings.

It is further ordered that a friendly letter be sent to his father expressing the opinion of the Faculty that it would be well for him to withdraw his son from College, but having it to his own judgement to act as he may choose in the matter.

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[December 13, 1865]

At a meeting of the Faculty of Centre College December 13, 1865, all the members present, appeared John P.W. Brown, a matriculated student, charged with disorderly behavior in the streets of Danville at late hours of the night of Thursday December 7th in company with Hugh Moore, a student in the Preparatory Department, and Roe Blakemore, lately a student in the college, and dismissed for like disorders, also with two other persons, not known to this body.

In particular it is laid to his charge that in this company intoxicating drink having been freely used, and one at least of the party drunk, he passed several hours on the streets, or elsewhere in different parts of the town, that he bore a deadly weapon on his person, and shared by his acquiescence in the violent resistance and intimidation of a Peace officer in the discharge of his duty. That when subsequently arrested by a larger force, in company with Moore and Blakemore, he gave to the officers a false name instead of the true, and finally, "confessing judgements" he paid the fine with no attempts to exonerate himself from blame. The proof of which is drawn from the open records of the Police Court of the town of Danville, and the verbal statements of its officers. He was heard in such explanation and defense as he desired to offer, and with liberty to bring any witnesses, he was allowed to introduce Hugh Moore.

After all which the Faculty adjourned to Tuesday December 19th.

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December 19, 1865

The Faculty met, all the members present.

The consideration of the case of John P.W. Brown was resumed, and it was ordered:

That he be informed by the President in presence of the Faculty and students that his conduct in this matter is deemed highly censurable, in that he joined such a company and continued with it for so long a time under such circumstances; but inasmuch as he declares that his sole object was to induce one of the party, whom he specially desired to serve, to return quietly to his room, and that he took no part whatever in the disorders except by his presence; inasmuch as there is no positive testimony before this body to the contrary of this explanation, and inasmuch as his deportment heretofore has been orderly and correct so far as is known to us, the matter may rest here upon his assurance to us of his intention to observe the strictest decorum and propriety in future, so long as he shall continue to be a student of the College according to the pledge of his honor given by him in common with all other students when he entered it. Otherwise that he be and he is hereby dismissed.

[There are no minutes for 1866]