The Harrison times., 1914-03-28
VANDERBILT CAN
ACCEPT BIG GIFT
BOARD OF TRUST WINS THE VAN
DERBILT UNIVERSITY
CONTEST.
RELATIONS TO THE CHURCH
Appointments Of Board OF Trustees
Subject to Confirmation by the
General Conference.
Newspaper Union New, Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service,
Nashville, Tenn. - The supreme
Court of Tennessee in a unanimous
ppinion fixed the relation OF Wander
bilt University and the Southern
Methodist church, and settled a terrific
controversy which has menaced the
determination with threats OF schism
for 40 years
The decision is against the conten-
ton OF the bishops, II Is in favor OF
the board of trustees, The bishops
contended that the general conference
was the source Of authority; that the
church was the founder Of the univer'
sity, and that the conference had the
right to fill the vacancies on the board
OF trustees. The contention OF the
board OF trustees was that the board
was a self-perpetuating body: that
Cornelius Vanderbilt was the founder
OF the university, and denied all the
authority which the bishops claimed
The decision of the court was IN
keeping with the contention OF the
board OF trustees, except 1t held that
while the board Of trustees had the
right 70 elect its own members, the
general conference has authority TO
approve or reject such members, But
whatever satisfaction might be CLEAN
ed from that announcement by the
advocates OF church control was ruth
lessly shattered by the further mold
ing OF the court that the trustees elect
ed by the board have right to act
until rejected by the general confer
ence,
The natural conclusion is that when
members OF the board elected by the
trustees are sent to the general con-
ference, they will probably be rejected
This will result IN vacancy which the
board OF trustees may proceed to fill
when the conference shall have ad'
iourned In nutshell, the board OF
trustees must hereafter struggle along
with Vanderbilt University as best
they can, without the blessing of the
bishops.
There is nothing in the decision on
which the opponents of the board OF
trustees could base the slightest ap-
prehension. II does not alter the
method OF control or management,
which has been in vogue from the be-
ginning,
The only significant factor OF the
decision is that the university emerges
from the tanglng limitations OF sect1
rIanism. without restricting the uni
versity to the control OF the bishops,
the court IN its opinion establishes IT.
reyocably lts relation with the general
conference and Identifies II with
Southern MethodIsm 30 firmly II will
ever stand as u monument TO that de-
nomination.
The animus OF the suit had its in
coption in the proifer Of gift OF 81
100000 from Andrew Carnegie as an
endowment for the medical depart
ment, The trustees accepted the gift
and the bishops Of the church vetoed
the action and rejected the gift
Tho money will now be forthcom.
ing, II will II ls believed make the
medical department the foremost In
the south and the rival Of the best In
the country
II will allow the board Of trustees 70
carry out their plan Of forming some
aort OF alliance with Peabody Col,
legc which they are said 10 have un.
der contemplation, and add hundreds
OF students 20 Vanderbilt On rela'
bic information II h said that the
trustees have reason TO expect gifts
OF S2,0OOOOO endowment for the aoN
domic department, These gifta, ST..
100000 already proffered and $1,000
600 reasonably certain, depend on the
outcome OF the law suit An adverse
decision would have mean the rejeo.
ton Of Mr., Carneglos gift and the
other would never have boen offered.