Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-06-08
PROFESSOR BRIGGS
IS SUSTAINED BY THg MANAGERS OF UNION
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
By Vote Of Nineteen to Two, Blu! Their Charter
IS Endangered BY This Action and They May
Withdraw from that Body and Annu(
ths Compact Of 1870.

700 Park Avenue, as the professor OF
Biblical theology.
Thus the directors of that institution
decided at meeting yesterday after
noon, Notwithstanding that the General
Assembly, convened at Detroit, one
week ago Yesterday decided by vote of
44O against 81 that that body did not
countenance the professors appoint
ment.
Professor Briggs was retained yeSter-
day by vote of 10 in favor of ? opposed;
that followed the offering of resOlu-
ton by which the directors OF the sem
mary declared they saw no reason for
changing their determination, irrespect-
i've Of the action of the General As
sembly.
The action of yesterday came OF much
thought, 10 which the weight Of legal
knowledge was given.
The seminary on Park avenue is de-
stined virtually to become private in
stitution dSaSSociated from the Gen
eral Assembly in the future, for the
directors have been Informed by eX-
Judge Noah Davis that the charter Of
the institution is jeOpardized by the
compact entered into with the General
Assembly in 1870 which gives TO that
body the right to veto appointments to
DrofeSsOrShipS in the institution.
WILL BECOME INDEPENDENT.
Therefore. probably in the coming
fall, the Union Theological Seminary
will request the General Assembly TO
annul that compact and thereby give to
the former the exclusive right of man
aging their own affairs.
The special meeting OF yesterday
afternoon was one of the most impor
tant ever held in the seminary. 1t was
beyond all doubt the most largely at
tended. The hour of the meeting was
set for half-paSt three o'clock, but long
before that time the corridor Of the
building fast filled with directors, who
came afOOt or in carriages.
As result the meeting room was
thrown open early, and by three o'clock
nearly all the members had made their
appearance. The hands of the large
clock in the hall had just pointed to fif
teen minutes past three when President
Charles Butler, dignifed, yet feeble
with his eighty-nine years and cOnval-
escent from his late illness, took his
chair as presiding officer.
When the meeting was called TO order
the directors representing the ministry
present were Thomas 5. Hastings,
David R. Frazer, Charles A. Dickey,
Erskine n. White, Charles II. Park
hurst, Stephen w. Dana, James Hall
McIlvaine, John Hall, James Cuthbert
Hall, James Nj. Ludlow, Robert Russell
Booth, Edward l.. Clark and Wilton
Merle Smith. The directors represent
ing the laity present were William A.
Booth, Henry Day, d. Willis James,
William A. Wheelock. Vice President
John Crosby Brown, David IL. McAlpin,
Ezra NJ Kingsley, Morris X. JeSup and
William w. HOppin, Jr
Out of the entire directory of twenty
five members there were but three alb
senteeS-the Rev. DR.. John Nee.
Holmes and Laymen John Taylor
Johnston aud William f. Dodge.
A PHENOMENAL ATTENDANCE.
This attendance, as one of the direc-
tors told me last night, was phenomenal
i'm fact, il was the fullest attendance at
a meeting OF the Board in years. But
there was important business on hand
and nothing was TO come in and keep
the individual members from attending
and once for all deciding whether or no
the General Assembly was to manage
the Union Theological Seminary'S in
ternal affairs or whether that was TO be
the work of the directors.
That was the feeling in the breasts
OF twenty-One members who took their
seats in the meeting room at quart er
,f.1, no to
were closed.
President Butler quickly but quietly
informed the assembled directors OF the
object of the meeting. Was Professor
Briggs, as the result of the decision by
the General Assembly at Detroit, to be
deferred from accepting the professor
ship which had been offered him by
the directors? That was the question
and now was the time for action.
This brought layman director Lawyer
Henry Day To his feet
Mr.. President and gentlemen" said
Lawyer Day, Il desire TO offer the fol-
lowing for your consideration.
Then the lawyer exploded Il veritable
b0mbShel 1t was in the shape OF an
opinion which had been written TO the
lawyer by ex-Judge Noah Davis, whose
services had been requested by the di
rectOrS TO let them have light on a sub
iect that was dark and menacing. EX
Judge Noah Davis gave il as his opinion
that the directors of the Union TheOlOg-
zeal Seminary by entering into the COM
pact with the General Assembly
in 1870 had acted illegally. Their
action was i'm direct violation of
the laws of the State of New York
governing corporations, in this respect,
that if corporation transfers its re-
SponSibility 10 another corporation it
thereby endangerS its charter, which
may be annued by the State authorities
As an Instance where this violation has
led to action by the State ex-Judge
Davis cited the recent trials in the
sugar trust eases.
With the completion OF the reading
Of this paper the assembled directors
were thrown in a state Of bewilderment.
They hardly cOmprehended that their
action of twenty years ago was at this
late day 90 be brought up Is a weapon
which would or could be used TO hew
down that which they had 50 faithfully
labOred TO build. They were not com
posed, therefore, when Lawyer Day,
who had renamed standing, offered the
following resolution:
\ STRONG RESOLUTION.
"RcS0lrcd, That this Board of Direct
orS, after having taken legal advice and
after due considerations see no reason