Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-25
HOW HE WASPUT OUT
Professor Edmund Harrison Makes a
Statement Concerning His Removal.
ruE CORRESPONDENCE GIVEN.
letter. and Resolutions That Passed
and the Facts Connected There
uith-Whnt Occurred in the fi""'
Session of the Bonrd.

from his point Of Niew' O
,,c circumstances under which the Board
of Trustees on Thursday last declare
vacant the Chair OF Latin. which ne h'"
filled so Ions and weN. Although the oS'
sontlal features Of the correspondence De-
tween him and the trustees, which he
Gives in fun. have been printed IN the
Dispatch. there Is such widespread IN
,eres, IN the subject that every line VIII
be read. The letter follows:
To the Editor OF the Dispatch;
a,ucn against my VIII. l am compelled
~, The sudden ana peculiar events OF 'nt
n,sf week To request my former i"r-'3
80 rnv friends IN the city az hlchh'o"'
a,6 elscN mere 10 read and weigh the ioi-
lowing recital OF facts: -
rbcre WAS called meeting ol tne
,r,,stces OF Richmond COLLEGE Nay "y'"'
AT a O'Clock l.. Nj. TO cons'dei any ~"
"snrv ar vacancies that may occur lH
The faculty. and any other h"''t's &C.
ouiriuc immediate attention.
ronmittee OF three from that body
cslled lrou me and presented paper 10
h. read and replied 10. This paper mo
.,,nv was left with mel / poiust'' az ~
could. I'm their presence. ana throwing !,
,,non the table sand that the paper dld
-, concern me. as IL was based upon
~ declaration that information ha"
r,schca The trustees OF an Intention on
me part OF some professors 10 ieS's"
their chairs. and ] had authorized no ON
10 make such a statement. anu lI"o'"'
80 formed no such intention. II W"a
,rsisted by the committee that an answer
must be given, as the trustees WouiH
meet that night 10 receive the replies.
Tbereupon, / requested the committee 10
.co.,ev TO the trustees the following. as
inc only reply that / could give Il use
the exact words. l thlnk-the committee
took ,hem down in wriHnsl-Viz. III
any Intention to resign the CHAIR of laVn'
which now hold. shall hereafter possess
me. l assure the trustees VIII houi|
them IN due time
INSISTED on AN ANSWER.
This was the only answer that could
possibly give, as | had not AT that uine
seriously considered the matter OF my
future course. not even set knowing Wha'
effect the reorganization OF the colle-e
would have upon the integrity or my
d.rartrnent-a question that / n.pose
would be- settled at the annuel meeting
of the trustees. on June lNtn. but on
May glst I received from the same com
tnittee "A communication transmitting 10
me the following:
Copy OF resolution, passed May 90
1875:
whereas. q Is the sense Of this board
that. II a professor shall for any reason
desire TO resign. ii Is his duty 10 give
some weeks notice prior 10 tie annual
meeting:
Whereas, II IS the opinion OF a great
majority Of the faculty that the trustees
are justified in holding this opinion and.
whereas, the professors Of chemistry
and Latin dissent from this view. heid
by both trustees aid members Of the IA
Guilty. and entertain the opinion that they
are under no obligation TO conform 20
this course. provided they should wish 70
resign:
'T.esolved. That the board hereby puts
on record its disappr0val Of the profess
sors Of chemistry and Latin. and hereby
requests that II IL be their purpose 10 re-
sign they send In their designations Ivy
or before Monday morning next an J.
O'Clock. &C. H. RYLAND.
May 20. 1895. Secretary"
This paper showed me that my first
answer would not do. / must make up
my mind before Monday whether / had
necessary Information or not J made II
up. and sent the following reply through
the committee 70 the trustees:
RICHMOND COLLEGE. June Q. 1895
ITO the Trustees OF Richmond College:
"Gentlcmen.-in response 10 a. resolu-
ton passed by your body ON May 39th.
and transmitted 10 me on May Ist by
". ". Landrum. J. Il. Garlick. and Jo-
siah Ryland. Committee on Instruction.
: low me 10 say that ] 10 not purpose
10 resign the Chair of Latin.
VERY respectfully
EDMUND HARRISON.
Professor ot Latin"
WAS FRANK AND SINCERE.
wrote and sent this. with all the
fraukness ard sincerity which should
characterize a truth-lovng gentleman.
and ! intended all that was involved In
holding my chair in Richmond College.
where ] had labOred twenty-nine years
without complaint from any source. ]
felt that this would be the end Of the
matter But no. 10 my surprise and
chagrln Go mild word under the circum-
stances. I received the following
RICHMOND. Va. June 8, 1885.
professor Harrison.
Dear S.r in response TO the letter
cent by you, the trustees Of the COLLEGE
this day ] am directed TO forward to you
the following action OF the board:
Resolved. That interpreting Profes-
for r. Harrson's letter of June "a 90
mean that. remaining in the college as
professor ~ Latin. he viii cordially CO.
operate with the pre- ilent-elect and with
the trustees under tho new regulations of
the board we accept his letter as salts
factory:
Resolved. That this resolution be
conveyed 90 the professor Of Latin
= copy from the records.
&C. II. RYLAND. Secretary"
HIS LETTER SATISFACTORILY.
was pained that my letter had 10 be-
int Tprciod, but ignoring the sinister
h1uin, of this resolution. / thought this
VIII certainly end this lisagreeable mat
Ter Eut on the next dav dune am
me Times reported: Professor Harr.son'g
'ilor was deemed unsati,factorv. ard
N"S returned 20 him for another reply"
az once demanded the authority for
I'M. statement. The reporter of the paper
loil ne Dr. Charles n. Rvland gave Il
20 hin' inserted The following ia re-
20 the Editor o. the Times:
S'r.-ln your issue Of this date under
'he caption o. The College Professors
!1oI reporter says Professor Harrisor's
h'''r Was deemed unsatisfactory, and
" W, ,iAfhed 10 BIN Tor another reply
ms IL Incorrect. The letter was pr1.
h'nncel satisfactory rs the trustees. and
We NOT returned to- me. nor ordered 20
be returned.
"EDMUND HARRISON.
RICHMOND Colo1e. June fih."
Vn lhc next day. in reply 10 the above
the Times contained the following:
fi'OFESsoH HARRISON WILL RE
MAIN
AZ a report Of the trustees meeting.
- sven by the Times. drew from Pro-
l'fsor Harrison reply printed IN ycstor-
ny iifnes, we called upon the secretary
81 ne college. and obtained FROM him
'he eufial reply Of the board which was
~ follows wide above resolution OF
interpretation
jas ohiy confirmed ms statement. ana
~, error or the reporters language
Mnieh error. by the WAY. Or. RVland. I'm
ny presence. explained 90 the trustees
-"fihf he talked with the rcportcr
'nioDsh TIC tclerhCne)
INVITED BEFORE TIE BOARD
Wen a last this matter ~ done with
,lorsht Press people. and friend,
~" Professor Harrison would remain
90 thought an but the inltis-d
IKE clap OF thunder from a clea-
shf me following Significant nsner u,
A.. ct me sixteen days afterwards ly
christopher West. the colored ianltor
"'e forenoon of June 10th.
TN, RICHMOND June 20 lSo5
.eieSsor Edmund Harrison. Richroona