The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-09-03


ginning, in sense of need, felt by
many Methodist people in the central
South, for. higher educational instl-
tuition under the control of the
Church, an institution, which could
furnish the young men of the section
with educational facilities equal to
the best in the land, an institution, to
which the many excellent colleges OF
the denomination could bear the rela-
ton of preparatory schools, and with
which these colleges might be CORE
lated, thus forming an educational
system worthy of the leading denomi-
national body of the South.
Charter Secured.
This feeling led to the calling of a
convention, which met in Memphis,
Tenn, January 24-27, 1872, participat-
ed in by representatives from nine or
ten Annual Conferences, occupying
the territory of the States of Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Ten
nessee, and part of Kentucky. The
convention adopted series of nine
resolutions, favoring the early estab-
lishment of the Central University of
the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, creating provisional Board
of Trustees, and instructing the Board,
thus constituted, to procure a charter
for the proposed institution. In the
summer of 1872 the charter was Sc
cured, and in the fall and winter fol-
lowing seven or eight of the Annual
Conferences elected each, four trus-
! tees, thus constituting permanent
Board of Trust.
One Half Million Endowment Fund.
About this time Commodore Cor
nelius Vanderbilt, through Bishop H.
N. McTyeire, offered to donate to the
corporation of the proposed Univer-
sity the sum of $500,000.00, to be used
for the purchase of grounds, the
erection of buildings, the es-
Establishment of a library, and the
endowment. 1t is said that Mr.. Van
derbilt became interested in the en-
terprise through the influence of his
wife, who was a southern woman and
closely related to Mrs. McTye1re,
whose distinguished husband was
greatly interested in the new educa-
tional venture.
Charter Amended and Name Changed.
When the offer of Mr.. Vanderbilt
was made known to the Trustees OF
the Central University, the generous
donation was accepted, and it was
proposed that the name of the insti-
tuition be changed to the Vanderbilt
University. Accordingly, the charter
of 1872 was amended SO as to make
the desired change in the name, and
the institution was located in Nash
vile, with Bishop McTyeire as the
President of the Board of Trustees.
Under these conditions the enterprise
was launched and in the fall of 1875
the University opened its doors for
the reception of students, the owner
ship and control of certain Annual
Conferences, known as "the patronlz-
ing Conferences" being recognized.
An Early Precedent.
When, in the early experience OF
the University, the question arose as
to where lay the authority for filling
vacancies in the Board of Trust, the
position was assumed by that body
and this assumption was sustained
by the judgment of the President OF
the Board, that, in-as-much-as the
charter, under which the University
was operating, did not indicate the
method by which the vacancies were
to be filed, this function devolved
upon the Board itself. This course
was adopted, and the trustees-elec'
were submitted for confirmation te
the Annual Conferences, of which
they were accounted representatives
This seems to have been the uniform
practice.
Confirmation of Trustees.
As the University increased II
prominence and patronage a growing
sense of its Importance and usefulness
was aroused throughout the Church
and, with this, a conviction that the
institution should sustain a more vita
relation to the Church at large ano
be made the head Of the educationa
system of the entire Connection
This led to the suggestion, cordially
endorsed by the Board of Trust, thai
the "Patronizing Conferences" should
transfer their property rights and in
terests to the General Conference Of
Nj bur