The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-03-28
The West Virginia University.
WESTON, LEWIS Co., W. Va,
March "a, 1876.


Editors Of the InttlliScncer:
In this communication il is not my dc.
sire to find fault, and much less to i'm.
pugn the motives which prompted the
action OF that respectable body Of Chris
tians composing the NJ. +. Church Con-
ference Of West Virginia. recently as.
semblcd in your city. 1t was within
their province and no one ] presume will
question their right to do just what they
did do in reference to the West Virginia
University, i.c., vote down the resolution
offered by Rev. DR.. Blair recommending
the ministers Of the Conference to labor
for the success Of the University. Wheth-
er the resolution Offered by Or. Blair un.
der all the circumstances was properly
disposed OF or not, is question | do not
desire to debate. The action Of the Con.
ference has gone forth to the people Of
the State. They may be the judges OF the
action taken and determine whether it is
to the best interest OF the State or Church
to send their sons and their money out Of
the State Tor educational purposes. Your
correspondent "Layman,' in the INTEL
LIGESCER Of 2lst inst, arraigns, in sup.
posed vindication OF the action Of the
Conference, the Board Of the School Fund,
the Board OF Regents Of the University,
and the whole Democratic party Of West
Virginia, for real or supposed injury
inflicted on the Church. Through igno.
rance of the facts, or wiliully, Il will be
charitable enough to give him the benefit
OF the former he seeks. to place all these in
false position. lie AYERS that all the
MethOdists OF the faculty we're turned out
OF the institution without assigning any
reason therefor except that they were
"Melhodists and Radicals" pray
Brother Layman to be honest. You
make broad and sweeping assertion,
and, as believe, without facts or evidence
for its support. should first ask my
good brother arc all the MethOdists in
the State Of West Virginia radicals? ]
think not. am confident that within
the bounds OF the State fully l2,O00,if not
more, can be relied on when they come
to place their ballots in the box, as Dem
Ocrats. This being so, | would respectfully
ask, would n wise, discreet Democratic
Board OF Regents make war on so large a
portion Of their political household Of
faith. Certainly they would not. He
SAYS that DR.. Alex. Martin, late President
of the University, was dismissed from the
faculty. DR.. Martin was not dismissed
from the faculty, nor was any other mem.
ber OF the Faculty, and had "Layman"
attentively given ear TO the proceedings
in Conference he would have learned this
fact from the lips OF DR.. Martin himself,
when he arose from his seat to correct
Bro. Steele on this very point. DR.. Mar
tin stated that he resigned his position.
lie did not say that the Board Of Regents
made war on his spolitical or ecclesiastical
opinions. lie resigned because the Board
OF Regents, while in session at Martins.
burg, passed an order that members OF
the Faculty. (oilicers and Executive Board
should be elected annually. This action
on the part Of the Board offended the
Doctor and was doubtless instrumental
in bringing forth that iIl-timcd and more
ill.tempered "bull against the comet"
At that meeting several Of the old pro.
iesSOrs Il believe all that made npplica.
ton Tor reelection, save Onel were re-
elected. A new tutor in the Primary De.
partment was elected and he was 81 un.
fortunate or otherwise as to I've n Meth.
odist, ! cannot but think that bull OF the
Doctors was ill.timed and ladened with
errors, and suspect that "Layman' gath.
cred much Of the ilI.temper that il EN-.
bodied in his communication from that Of
the late President. Think can say that
in all the deliberations Of the present
Board Of Regents Of the WeSt Virginia
University the question Of politics or
religion has not swerveG .GSm from their
sworn duty, although their actions have
been severely and nnjustly criticised,
first by portion Of the Democratic, press
for refusing to turn every body out Of
position entertaining political views
antagOnistic to those Of the Board, II ]
am not mistaken, the Board made but one
removal, viz: thSt Of Superintendent Of
Grounds and Building.. The gentleman
removed was Republican and a Metho.
dist, yet he wna removed at the sugges.
tion and on complaint made against him
by DIR. Martin. The year following, tho
chnir occupied by Prof. Stevens was dis.
trlbuted among the other chairs Of the
faculty. This wa. done for reasons Of
economy, and not for political reasons, as
inserted by some. Did the Board make
any other changes in the faculty until
changes were made Ht the Martinsburg
meeting? II 40, ain not acquainted with
the fact. The order Of the Board reqnir.
ing nm annual election was simply fulfill.
ing the requirement. Of the law, as they
we're sworn to do. Then, ask, had DR..
Martin cause to go of in Wild uncon.
trollabIc fury, In way diametrically op.
posiIe to the teachings Of that meek and
oWly saviour,whOm he processes to have
taken rs bis model through liieH