History of Randolph-Macon College, Virginia Part 29

"There is visible in this act of Mr. Walton no less wisdom than of generosity and tenderness. The helps to the successful carrying on of Greek study are becoming year by year more numerous and more masterly, but, unluckily, more costly, too. To use them is indeed necessary for every earnest student, but to buy them is oft-times to the student impossible. To meet this necessity is the object of Mr. Walton's gift, while his prize will serve to stimulate and reward Greek study; in all the cla.s.ses of our school the Library will, year after year, as it widens, open to students that are more advanced the treasures of Greek learning.

"Being sure that you will feel the same pleasure that I feel in this wisely-devised increase to our means of education, I ask you to make Mr.

Walton's purpose known to the Board, and to have the proper measures taken for the consummation of the gift.

"With great respect, your obedient servant,

"THOMAS R. PRICE,

"_Professor of Greek._"

The donation of Mr. Walton was accepted with thanks, and an order was made to carry out his intentions as speedily as possible.

It may be stated here that this fund was safely invested, and the annual proceeds, from the year of its establishment, have been applied, as directed, in annual prizes and the purchase of books, until, at this writing, the collection has, become imposing and very valuable. The first prize was awarded June, 1872, to R. E. Blackwell, of Virginia.

The College year 1872-'73 was remarkable in the patronage and financial outcome. The number of students was 234, the largest in the history of the College up to that year. The receipts for fees amounted to $11,220; Conference educational collections, $3,411. The excess of current receipts over current expenses reported, for the first time in the history of the College, went towards needed improvements of the property and reduction of debts of other years. Available a.s.sets were reported at $74,610; liabilities, $26,377--net a.s.sets, $48,233. This exhibit, made by Rev. A. G. Brown, Financial Secretary, was highly gratifying to the Board, so long accustomed to discouraging reports.

Of the 234 students, 44 were studying with a view to the ministry, and 29 sons of ministers.

The honorary degree of D. D., on recommendation of the Faculty, was conferred on the following: Rev. John C. Wills, president of Central College, Missouri; Rev. Alpheus W. Wilson, of the Baltimore Conference; Rev. John D. Blackwell, of the Virginia Conference.

The degree of A. M. was conferred on Franklin C. Woodward, of Virginia.

The "Sutherlin Medal for Oratory" was awarded Franklin C. Woodward, of Virginia.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FRANKLIN C. WOODWARD, A. M., D. D., _Sutherlin Medalist, 1873; President South Carolina College._]

The "Walton Greek Prize" was awarded to Robert Sharp, of Virginia.

An educational convention to devise plans to increase the Endowment and Building funds of the College was held in Richmond, April, 1874. The following plan was adopted:

"I. That delegates shall be appointed (by the committee under item III.), consisting of one layman and one preacher in each district, whose duty it shall be to present the subject to the several District Conferences at their meetings during the summer and fall of this year, and take up collections for this object, and that the presiding elders be requested to arrange the exercises of their district meetings so as to secure _one whole day_ for the interests of Randolph-Macon College.

"II. That we earnestly solicit the co-operation of the presiding elders in this great work, and request the appointment of meetings in the several pastoral charges, in which this cause shall be presented and collections taken.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PROF. W. M. BASKERVILLE, PH. D., _Vanderbilt University._]

"III. That a committee be appointed, who shall attend these meetings, take up collections, etc."

(_Committee_: Rev. J. A. Duncan, D. D., Rev. A. G. Brown, and Richard Irby, Esq.)

It was resolved that a committee be appointed to mature a plan for the further prosecution of this work, and report to an adjourned meeting at Ashland in June, 1874.

It was resolved that any contributor of $20,000 shall have the privilege of naming a professors.h.i.+p in the College.

It does not appear on the record that any direct and decided benefit resulted from this convention, but it kept the subject before the people, and doubtless bore good fruit in after times.

[Ill.u.s.tration: JOHN T. MOORE, _Of the Virginia Conference; Sutherlin Medalist, 1874._]

At the annual meeting, June, 1874, it was found that, by inadvertence, the amendment to the charter approved April 9, 1874, contained a clause which read as follows:

"[Section] 14. That the said Board of Trustees shall never be less than twenty-four nor more than forty-four, one of whom shall be elected by the Board president thereof; provided, also, that no member of the Faculty or Board of Instruction in the College shall be a member of the Board of Trustees."

This vacated the office of the president of the Board, inasmuch as Dr.

Duncan was a member of the Faculty. Steps were taken to have the above clause stricken out by the Legislature.

[Ill.u.s.tration: [Portrait of Thomas Branch, inscribed "Tho. Branch", and captioned "_Trustee 1846 President Board of Trustees 1877._"]]

To the office thus vacated Thomas Branch, Esq., of Richmond, Va., was elected. He was the only layman ever elected to that office.

Mr. Branch had been a trustee for thirty years. He was one of the most zealous and constant friends the College had. His donations to the College had been frequent and liberal. He had been largely instrumental in having the College moved to Ashland. Recognizing the faithful service and devotion of Mr. Branch to the College, the Board thus unanimously elected him president. At the same time Rev. Alpheus W. Wilson, of the Baltimore Conference, was unanimously elected vice-president.

[Ill.u.s.tration: GEORGE MERRITT NOLLEY, A. M.]

The attendance of students for the closing year had been 235, one in excess of the previous year's number.

In the record of this year the regular report of the President and Faculty is not found, though doubtless one was made.

On the recommendation of the Faculty, the following degrees were conferred:

A. M.--George Merritt Nolley, of Virginia; Robert Emory Blackwell, of Virginia.

D. D.--Rev. C. Green Andrews, of Mississippi; Rev. William A. Harris, President of the Wesleyan Female Inst.i.tute, Staunton, Va.

On motion of Rev. J. C. Granbery, the following was adopted:

"Whereas, since the last annual meeting of the Board the venerated Bishop John Early, for many years the president of the Board, has been taken from us by death: therefore,

"_Resolved_, That in the death of Bishop John Early the College has lost one of its most zealous, faithful and useful friends, and the Board of Trustees one of its most honored and efficient members."

His term of service (1830-1874) was the longest on record.

The School of English, under Prof. Price, had shown great progress, and had become the most popular of all in the College, evidenced by the fact that out of 235 students, 191 took the English course.

The report of the Financial Secretary gave the following items:

a.s.sets, ... ... ... ... ... ... . . $72,496 47 Liabilities, ... ... ... ... ... ... 21,538 12 Net balance ... ... ... ... ... ... $50,958 35

This exhibit of the finances was particularly favorable and gratifying when it is remembered that the country had in the past year pa.s.sed through one of the severest financial panics ever known, a panic whose withering effects on business did not cease for many years. The College, in common with all other enterprises requiring the use of money, felt the effects of it, and it might be said that it felt it for nearly a score of years.

A called meeting of the Board was held in Richmond during the session of the Virginia Conference, November, 1874. This meeting was held to bring the College more particularly to the attention of the Conference with a view of enlisting its members in a hearty effort to raise $50,000, to be used in increasing the facilities of the College, specially in buildings and apparatus.

The action of the Trustees was laid before the Conference, and the following action was taken thereon:

"1. That we will seek to raise within the bounds of the Virginia Conference $50,000 for the College, to be expended in the erection of suitable buildings under the direction of the Board.

"2. That the Joint Board of Finance apportion this amount among the districts of the Conference.

"3. That all the preachers be solicited to do their utmost to secure the full amounts apportioned to their respective districts."