Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-03

But in establishing the Seminary more re-
gard should be paid to situation than TO
temporary convenience. Once established
the 10000 Baptists of the South would see
to it that it should not suffer from lack OF
funds. The inducements offered by Nash
vile were substantial. There was an insti-
tuition of learning in the city which some
time since offered any Christian denonina-
ton inducements to establish theological
department in connection with it. There
would be no clsshing of interests between
the TWO institutions, for one was purely Sc
cular while the other was purely religious.
A prominent lady in the city offered from
seven to ten acres of land, within two miles
of the city, as site for such an institution.
These were some of the inducements that
were held out; other members of the Con-
vention would refer to the actual endoW-
ment fund which could be raised in support
of the Seminary.
DIR. c. K. Winston referred at some
length to the proposition of the University
of Nashville. They offered ground for
erecting as many buildings as they chose,
to be held by the Seminary in peTpetuity.
There need be no direct connection between
the two Institutions. He spoke of the ad-
vantages to be derived from such posi-
ton, and hoped the Seminary would ac-
cept it.
Rev. DIR. Mays said there was no doubt
that locality was a most important point
in the matter, but money must be obtained.
Memphis and Louisville were anxious to
get the Seminary, and the people of Nash
vile should take care to offer something
substantial to DR.. Boyce if they wished TO
get his institution established in their city.
DR.. Boyce said he intended to talk BUSH
ness. Money must.be had. He had no
power to control the Board of Trustees of
the Seminary. He was Chairman Of the
Executive Committee, and he could tell
pretty nearly what would be the action of
the Board on the propositions which were
to be submitted to them. Nashville had
undoubtedly the advantage Of position over
other places. 1t was a city in central po-
sition, with good railroad facilities. Chat
tanoOga had offered the Seminary 60 acres
Of land on an eminence near the city-one
of the most beautiful sites on the Tennessee
river-and five or ten thousand dollars a
year for ten years, to be expended on build
ings, or whatever might be necessary. The
city would subscribe fifty or perhaps one
hundred thousand dollars, bnt he did
not care about accepting such an offer.
Private citizens would subscribe $4,000
and besides, more could be had from Geor-
gla by locating it at Chattanooga, than at
any other point outside of the State. Mem
phis had made liberal offer. He had the
same objection to the Nashville etfer that
he had to the offer of a city subscription
from Chattanooga. He desired to establish
the seminary as purely Baptist institution.
The experience of the past had shown that
any connection with another institution
was unpleasant. A similar offer had been
made by Mersey University, at Macon,
Georgia. If they were willing to occupy
the position of a theological department to
another college, they had offers enough.
Bethel College, RVssellville, of
fered an endowment of stocks
bonds, etc, already invested at per cent.
to the amount of S24S,000. There was the
same difficulty in the Kentucky offer that
existed in the proposition of Nashville, and
there was the further difficulty that there
were but two railroads touching at Russell
vile. As far as location was concerned,
Greenville occupied central position in the
Southern States east of the Mississippi. A
line drawn from Louisville to Charleston
would intersect one drawn from Baltimore
to New Orleans, just thirty miles from
Greenville. There was but one better
point, and that was Nashville. If Tennes-
see would make an offer equal to that of
Kentucky, there was no doubt Nashville
would get the seminary. 1t was absolutely
necessary that the institution should be pc
cuniarily out of embarrassment.
DR.. Shelton said the whole matter was
clearly brought before the Convention. The
question for the Baptists Of Tennessee to
settle was whether or not they would raise
100000 to bring the seminary to Nash
vile. If that sum were raised, the institu-
ton would be brought here, ifnot, it would
go somewhere else. He did not believe it
would go to Memphis under any circum-
stance. Nashville was the only place in
the State that need hope to get it, and it
would require united effort on the part Of
the Baptists throughout the State to bring
it here. He suggested that a general con
ventiOn of the Bapti-ts Of Tennessee should
be held for the special purpose Of raising
the necessary endowment fund.
Rev. Mr.. Eaton said he was authorized
to say that the University of MmfreesbOTo
had assets of theological department fund
to the amount of S25, 900, which would be
given to the seminary if it should be located
anywhere in East Tennessee. He hoped
the opportunity to bring the institution to
Nashville would not be allowed to slip by.
Rev. Mr.. Montgomery, of LeadVille, East
Tennessee, said he was strongly in favor of
Nashville, believing it to be the best point.
He would, of course, prefer to have it 10
Gated at Knoxville, but he acknowledged
the fact that Nashville was more aVanta-
geous locality. In Middle Tennessee there
were 10000 Baptists who would do all in
their power to help to locate the seminary
in any point that the Board of Trustees
might select in Tennessee.
After some further discussion, the
offered on Friday were
anne nded by striking out all after the pre-
ambIe and substituting the following
Re2OiUed, That believing Tennessee to be
a sui table State for the location of the
Semin airy, first, We propose in behalf of the
Baptisis of the State to raise 100000
whenever the trustees assure us the offer is
second, that the different cities
requiring the Seminary make bids setting
forth the amounts they propose to offer and
send chem to the Chairman of the Execu-
tive Committee of the Board at Greenyille.
The amendment was accepted, and the
resolutions as amended were adopted.
The following resolution was adopted
That a copy of the proceedings of this
meeting be sent to the Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary to be pre-
sented to the Board of Trustees at their
meeting in May next.
Votes of thanks were passed 10 the Citi-
zens who had kindly entertained the mem
bers of the Convention, to the city press,
and to the railway companies for favOrs eX-
tended them.
A resolution to appoint a committee 1.
To issue an address to the Baptists of Ten
nessee; 2. To present the claims of Tennes-
see to the Seminary; 8. To call a meeting
of the Convention at their discretion, was
adopted.
Drs. Shelton, Jones, Branham, Inman,
Nelson and Montgomery, were appointed
to the committee.
The Convention then adjourned sine die.
THE DAUGHTER.
The old man sits beside the lock,
Where all day drips the water;
The old wife, in her faded frOck,