The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1917-04-13
TO WHOM DOES ROGER
WILLIAMS BELONG?
is 1T THE PROPERTY OF TENNES
SEE BAPTISTS?
HOME MISSION SOCIETY DESIRED TO HELP -CHARTER
OF INCORPORATION, DEED AND CONVEYANCE

1T is not in the interest of fault
I finders of the drowning" t hat this
article is prepared and sent forth, but
In the defense of the Trustee Board
Of Roger Williams University whose
integrity and honesty have been as
sailed and in the interest of the
sympathizers and faithful supporte.s
of the institution, who are put to
doubt as to the ownership of Roger
Williams, by designers who display
their intelligence" in an effort to
strike a blow at an institution of
learning for personal vengeance.
The delay on the part of the
Trustee Board to reply to the charges
made, has not been due to their hav-
ing been routed as has been cir
culated, but in order that the reply
might be conclusive and foreer set
tie the question as to the ownership
of Roger Williams.
q First, had there been any legal tech
nicalities overlooked in the purchase
and transfer of Roger Williams, it
should have been excusable, for I'M
der the pressure and strain of that
stragic time; at that time of transit
ton from Negro freedom as to the
burden of running institutions, to Ne
gro responsibility for building and
maintaining institutions; at time
of gloom and dependency; and mex
perienced, 1t is marvellous that Il
htupders were made.
sBut the Home Mission Society was
sincere in their desire to help the Ne.
gro Baptists of Tennessee to rebuild
Roger Williams, their pride, and Rev.
Vim. Haynes, "the most influential
man in the State at that time" as it
is alleged, together with his colea.
CUES, were sincere in placing them
selves on the altar of sacrifice to the
same end, and therefore one of the
best lawyers (white) of Nashville
was employed to examine the papers
and draw the deeds and so on, and
even now when all this stir comes up
it lis shown that they all "buiTded
better than they knew" We are pre-
pared to show that no selfish motive,
no thought of individual profit ever
entered the minds of those who labor
ed to restore Roger Williams to the
Baptists of Tennessee. We are prepar-
ed to prove that Roger Williams has,
from the beginning of the new instl-
tuition, and now does belong to the
Baptists of Tennessee.
We will show that this provision
was made from the start.
First-The question why we oper-
ate under the Charter of the old in,
stitution?
In the first place it was the desire
that the name Roger Williams" be
retained for this institution
Secondly-It was found that the
Home Mission Society held in trust
certain bequeaths and funus for and
in the interest of Roger Williams
University" and for us to remain the
beneficiary of those funds we would
havetto retain the name Roger vii.
liams University" and operate under
the Charter transferred to us by the
American Baptist Home Mission So
ciety of New York City
Taird-there was no necessity for
change of charter nor to make an
amendment thereto since the Trustees
under this charter transferred all their
rights and so on to a Board OF
Trustees elected by the Missionary
and Educational Convention of Ten
nessee. which we show later.
The Charter Is a General Welfare
Charter" and is as follows:-