The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-13
THE RIcHMoNp EpNEsnAY, May it, 1914

! question Of the confirmation OF trus-
toes by the virginia conference.
The Virginia courts sustained right
| OF conference to such control
! There are six resolutions, the nrst
being full declaration Of poaition OF
church concerning question OF estab-
lishment, ownership and control OF
Vanderbilt university, declaring that
tuniverntty was founded by men acting
Rs Representatives CT the church and
that since 1898 all trustees have been
confirmed by the authority OF the
church and that they occupy repre-
sentative capacity. that 1t is the duty
of the trustees in view of their repre-
sentative capacity. to carry out the
plans Of the church as declared from
tine to time by general conference.
that contract made in 1898 between
general conference and board of trus-
tees guarantees to the conference the
right to confirm. including, Of neces-
sity, the right to reject
Amazed ut Tennessee Court.
The second resolution expresses
amazement and regret at the decision
of Supreme court of Tennessee, and
enters protest against the said de-
Cision
The third resolution emphasizes that
part of the decision OF the court,
which declares there Is a contract rela.
tltI ptLAbtH tDS CnuTIU ana Inc UNI
rersty, which contract gives to the
board of trust initial selection Of
trustees and to the conference the
final decision. That inasmuch as rine-
tenths of the members OF the board
of trustees are ministers and members
of the church, and have membership
in that board because of connection
with the church and are there as rep
resentatiyes of the church. the general
Frr fn lie rnn
tatives to safeguard the interests of
the church in every possible way and
TO resist any effort made from what
soever quarter to destroy the rights of
the church in control and manage
ment of the university
VIII Continue Fight.
The fourth resolution commits to
the hoard OF education for the next
quadrennium the work of conhrma :
ton OF trustees of the university The
board of education is instructed that
in the performance of this duty ii
shall confirm no person as trustee I'M
less II Is satisfied that such person Will.
as trustee, endeaVor to carry out the
purposes ef-tffe church in tire esraD-
iishment OF the university and the pur-
poses of the general conference in
making contract with the board in
1898: that in event the board of edu-
cation shall decline to confirm any
person who has been elected by the
board of trustees 10 FIJI vacancy and
board Of trustees declines to accept
said rejection as final, and shall re-
elect the rejected person and insist
that he be permitted TO act as trustee
In spite of the refusal of the board of
education to confirm, then the board
OF education is instructed to enter suit
In the courts OF the United States. or
of Tennessee, as may seem wise to the
board, in order to determine the rights
of the church in the management OF
Vanderbilt university; that in the
event the court sustains the action OF
the board OF education, then the board
shall continue to cooperate in the
management of the university. but il
the courts derry the right of the board
of education to veto the election of a
trustee and thus declare the relation OF
the church to be formal and not vital
then the board af education shall
cease to cooperate with the board OF
trustees in the management OF the
university.
Desire For Harmony.
The fifth resolution provides that the
board OF education shall surrender the
charter granted to Il by the State OF
! Tennessee in 1895. and secure charter
I In soma other State, and If necessary
for the protection of the interests of
the Church TO Incorporate the general
conference in some other state than
| Tennessee, ali costs involved on the
/ legal action to be paid by the board
/ of education.
I The sixth resolution declares the de
| sire Of the Church 10 maintain har-
monious relations with the board OF
| trustees of Vanderbilt university, but
/ declares that the Church must con
| tinue and enlarge her great work OF
| training ministers and laymen. and
| therefore the board of education is em =
| powered to receive and consider pro-
| posals for the esta ishment of theo-
| logical school at some point east of
! the Mississippi, and is given fun au-
! thority in the premises. provided by
/ the right Of the general conference or
| some other governing body of the
| Church TO determine the method OF the
| selection of trustees.