Part 2 (1/2)

John Early, chairman, presiding. The following items of business transacted are noted:

Rev. Thomas Adams, a local minister, of Lunenburg county, was elected in place of Rev. James Smith, who resigned his members.h.i.+p.

A ”Stewards' Hall” was authorized, the cost of the building of which was not to exceed $4,000.

The chairman of the Board was authorized to advertise that the Board would proceed to elect at the next meeting (in October, 1831) a President, Professors, and Masters.

The salary of the President to be elected was fixed at $1,000 for the first year; salaries of the Professors for the first year, $800.

The fourth meeting of the Board was held October 13, 1831, Rev. John Early in the chair.

At this meeting Rev. H. G. Leigh, Agent, reported subscriptions amounting to $9,873, and Rev. William Hammett, $13,047, in all $22,920.

The South Carolina Conference was formally invited to unite and co-operate with the Board in the support of Randolph-Macon College, with the proviso that should the Conference agree so to do, the Board would elect six members Trustees from the bounds of that Conference.

Rev. Martin P. Parks was appointed the Agent to communicate with said Conference and to solicit subscriptions.

The Building Committee reported the centre building walls up and covered in and the wings well under way; also, the purchase of additional land.

The committee to whom was referred the matter of nominating a President and Professors reported, and the following elections were made: Rev.

John Emory, D. D., of New York, President and Professor of Moral Science; Rev. Martin P. Parks, of North Carolina, Professor of Mathematics; Landon C. Garland, of Virginia, Professor of Natural Science; Rev. Robert Emory, of New York, Professor of Languages.

Mr. William O. Goode, member of the Legislature, of Mecklenburg county, was appointed to ask of the General a.s.sembly of Virginia aid for the College.

FIFTH MEETING OF THE BOARD.

A called meeting of the Board was held April 4, 1832. At this meeting letters were presented and read announcing the declination of Dr. John Emory to accept the presidency of the College, and of Rev. Robert Emory to accept the chair to which he was elected. The letters were as follows:

New York, _February 17, 1832_.

”REV. AND DEAR SIR: My conviction of the importance of time to enable you to make suitable arrangements for the opening of Randolph-Macon College at the appointed period, induces me to avail myself of the occasion of your a.s.sembling in Conference to communicate to you the conclusion to which I have come, on mature reflection, in regard to the high and honorable post to which you have kindly invited me in that inst.i.tution.

”I trust I need not repeat here how sincerely my best wishes attend your exertions in the cause of education, nor the pleasure I should take in contributing any small service in my power towards your success.

”Considering, however, the confinement which such a situation would require of me, the studies to which it would oblige me to devote myself in order to discharge its duties as I would wish, and the effect which such a course would be likely to have upon my health, already needing rather relief from the arduous duties of my present post, I am under the necessity of declining the acceptance of your kind invitation, and beg you for me to make this communication to the Board over which you preside.

”Be pleased, at the same time, to accept for yourself personally, and to convey to the members of the Board, the a.s.surance of the deep sense I entertain of the obligations you have laid me under, as well as in behalf of my son as in my own; and that you may at all times command any service which it may be in my power to render as friends of the important inst.i.tution under your care.

”Very respectfully, Rev. and dear sir, yours,

”J. EMORY.”

”_To the Rev. John Early_,

Chairman, etc.. of the Board of Trustees of Randolph-Macon College, Va.”

”New York, November 3, 1831.