Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-12-18
A Central University for the NJ. K. Church
in the South.

In tie SCUM.
An educational meeting of interest to
the general public, but especially to the
members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, was held Wednesday, December
of the General Committee appointed to
inaugurate measures to establish Central
University for the NJ. +. Church in the
South, The committee is composed men,
bers appointed by the Knoxville Educa-
tional Convention of the NJ. E. Church,
and by the Holston, Tennessee, Georgia
and Alabama Conferences, Each Confer
ence designated three ministers and two
laymen to act on its committee.
There were present, DR.. n, G. Taylor OF
Chattanooga, representing the Knoxville
Convention Rev. DIR. n. E. Cobleigh,
editor of the Methodist ADVOCATE, Rev. j.
f. Spence, Rev. r. H. Guthrie and Prof.
p. G. Wilson, from the Holston Confer
ence; Rev. J. w. Lee and Rev. DIR. w.
Prettyman, from the Georgia Conference,
and Rev. T.. n. Williams, Rev. +. A.
Mason and Rev. VIM. Houston, of Bed
ford county, from the Tennessee Confer
ence.
The committee met at % o'clock, A. NJ,
in the Methodist Church and organized by
appointing DIR. n. e. Cobleigh, Chairman,
and Rev. f. A. Mason, Secretary. After
the opening exercises free and informal
discussion of the general subject took place.
The chair then closed the discussion,
and stated that the committee were
not here to consider the question of
the founding of the University, but to do
it, ana that the business before us was,
first, to select a location for the
University second, to inaugurate plans
for establishing it; third, to take steps to
get charter, and appoint Board of Trus-
tees.
A committee consisting of Rev. DR.. Cob
leigh, II. H. Guthrie, f. N. Williams, w.
Prettyman, ID. D., and J. w. Jones, was
appointed to draw up an address inviting
the Conferences in the South, not II ow
represented in this committee to cooperate
in the movement.
A committee on location was appointed.
1t consisted of one minister and one lay
man from each of the four conferences rep
resented in the General Committee. J. f..
Spence, p. G. Wilson, +. A. Mason, VIM.
Houston, L. Q. Fuller, L. c. Kimball, O..
r. Franklin and James Thomas, were APP
pointed. They were instructed to use the
best means to ascertain through peblic and
private solicitation what each place will do
to secure the location of the University in
their midst, and report as soon as possible.
Knoxville, Atlanta, Athens, Happy Val
ley, Garter county,, Chattanooga and
New Market, were each represented as of
fering special advantages for the location
of the University.
The committee on location divided their
work among themselves as follows: To j.
f. Spence and p. G. Wilson was assigned
East Tennessee, except Chattanooga to
f. A. Mason and VIM. Houston was as
signed Chattanooga, Middle and West
Tennessee: to Z. @. Fuller and /. G. Kim
ball, Atlanta and Georgia, and to o. r.
Franklan and James Thomas, Alabama.
Prof. p. G. Wilson and Revs. j. w. Lee
and +. n. Mason, were appointed Il COM
mittee to arrange an educational system
for our work.
Rev. DR.. Cobleigh was appointed . com
mittee to correspond with the Board OF
Education, of the NJ. +. Church in regard
to our work.
The following in reference to the East
Tennessee Wesleyan University was
adopted:
ReSoyoed, That until our Central Uni
versity be established and opened, we
most heartily recommend our University
at Athens, Tenn, to the liberality and
patronage of our people, and we especially
| recommend the Board of Education of the
NJ. +. Church to aid the finances of that
Institution, to the extent necessary for its
| efficient support until the establishment
of our University.
The Secretary was requested to furnish
an abstract of the proceedings of this com
| mittee to each of the Chattanooga Dailies
to the Knoxville CHRONICLE, and to the
| Methodist ADVOCATE.
The committee on location was author.
ized to appoint, through their chairman
he time and place of the next meeting OF
the general committee.
t At night spirited public educational
meeting was held. Brief addresses, inter
| spersed with singing, were made by Drs
n. G. Taylor and w. Prettyman, Rev..
II. Spence, and Dr. Cobleigh. John James
Esq, DIR. Vanderman and - Rathburn
| ESD, prominent and active citizens o
Chattanooga, being called upon, expressed
the view that if the University should bt
located here Chattanooga that the citi
ton, aud not only aid handsomely in it
endowment but support it with a liberia