The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-30
GOD FROM NATURE
Calvin McNair's Request
to University.
To Provide for Course of Lectures to
Show Mutua! Bearing of Science
and Theology on Each
Other.

| Trustees of the University met in the
| Governors office at noon yesterday.
| There were present Governor Glenn
and Messrs. A. b. Andrews, r. II.
Battle, f. II. Busbee, Josephus
| Daniels, Claudius Dockery, John w.
! Graham, Thomas S. Kenan and Rich
ard III. Lewis. President Venable also
came down from Chapel Hill to at
tend the meeting.
The chief matter that came before
the meeting was the question of SELL
ing 200 acres of land belonging TO
the University, near st. Paul's, Robe
son county, and an offer of IS, 500
was made by the Beaufort County
Lmmbier Cpmoany. 1t Wass decided
not to accept the offer until an expert
lumber man had gone over the land
and reported upon the value of the
timber. A committee composed Of
Governor Glenn, Mr.. Il. IL. Battle and
DR.. r. II. Lewis was appointed to
take such steps as are necessary to
ascertain The value of the land and
report to a later meeting of the eXecu-
tive committee.
The University came into possession
Of the land by q gift from Mr.. John
Calvin McNair, of Robson county,
under a viii made before the war.
His executor sold the land at auction
and for nominal sum it was pur-
chased by DR.. Kemp =. Battle for the
University, that course being deemed
wisest in order to secure a perfect
title. Mr. McNair was one of the
first men in Robson county. a Scotch
man of the best type, devout and q
sincere believer in the doctrine pro-
claimed by John Calvin. the great
Presbyterian theologian for whom he
was named. Mr.. McNair was evil
IDENTITY a friend Of the University, but
in dcViSing property to the UniVer-
Sity he was actuated more by Il de-
sire to teach sound religious princi-
pies to the youth educated there.
Therefore he devised the money TO
secure. lectures by great men who
would eXpound the fact that science
proves the declarations in the Bible.
He saw the danger that materialism
might take the place of faith and he
wished the young men at Chapel Hill
TO have presented to them every yea
obstruction that would. while con-
tirmng the.r faith i'm the Word not
bring it in conflict with Science.
This gift is SO remarkable and eX-
tra0rdinary, that the words of the
will making the Gift will be read with
interest. We therefore print the Will
in full below:
Will Of John Calvin McNair.
T. John Calvin McNair, Of the coun-
" of Robson and State of North
Carolina, being OF sound mind and
memory, but considering the mcer-
tainty Of my earthly existence, do
make and declare this my last Will
and testament, in manner and form
following, that is to say:
Ia
after named, shall provide for my
body a decent burial and pay all fun
eral expenses together with my just
debts, out of any of the moneys that
may first come into his hands as
Tart or parcel of my estate
Second wish my executor to sell
my family of negroes to highest bid
ders-all of them must be sold to-
gether. l wish the money to be
placed at interest or invested in some
interest bearing stocks until the death
Of my mother. AT her decease | wish
all my land to be sold in parcels or
al together as may be esteemed best
by my executor. All my other prop
erty with notes, accounts, and all
dues. I wish to be at the disposal OF
my mother until her death, at which
time | desire that all should be col
lected and sold. and the money for
which the negroes sold with the IN
tcrest thereon. the money for which
the land sold. together with all other
moneys that may be collected by my
executor. | desire to be given III
trust to the Trustees of the University
of North Carolina at Chapel HILL
under the following conditions, to-Wit:
that is to say:
The Trustees of said University at
Chapel Hill shall, as soon as practi-
cable after the payment of my be-
quest to them, invest in some interest
paying bonds all the moneys received
frCm my executor. AS soon as the
interest accruing thereon shall By
said Trustees be deemed sufficient
they shall employ some able scientific
gentlemen to deliver before the stud1
ents then in attendance at said Uni
versity, a course of lectures, the OBJ
iect of which lectures shall be to show
the mutual bearing of science and
theology upon each other, and TO
nrDvc the existence of attributes Cas-
far as NAV be) of God from nature.
The lectures which must be per-
formed by a member of some one Of
the Evangelic denominat, ons of Chris
tians. must be published within twelve
months after delivery, either in
pamphlet or book form.
Sity Of North Carolina fail to give
bond to my executor for the faithful
performance of The above require
mcnts then and in that case I wish
and devise that he pay over all the
moneys available from my estate to-
tho Board of Education of the Pres
byterian church in the United States
of America to assist in building or
endowing Presbyterian College In
some one of the South American
States, when the way for such an en-
;erprise is opened. The interest to
be appropriated to assisting poor the
illogical students Of the Presbyterian
church until that time
Lastly, / do hereby constitute and
appoint my friend. Rev. Neil Mckay,
OF Summerviie, n. c., to all intents
AMI purposes Co execute this, my last
viii and stament, according to the
true intent and meaning of the same
and every part and clause thereof
In witness whereof I, the said J. {.
McNair. do hereunto SET my hand ana
seal This Doth 1aV Of IulV A d., 1891