St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-01-07

Inc heV. Wllllam Il. ote
in a published letter said the
bringing Nichols to trial be-
cause he had held back the money
for over six months"
Rev. Stevenson inferred that
Bishop Nichols was stili withhold
ing some $4,000.
Rev. Stevenson accused Bishop
Nichols OF withholding the $500
for personal reasons other than his
dissatisfaction with the colleges
administration.
In the fall the AME prelate was
attacked and publicly denounced
by wilberforce President Charles
l.. Hill for keeping the funds In
escrow. Bishop Nichols In turn
dashed out at Hill calling him
"wastsful. uneconomicai. and UNI
intelligent concerning things fin
anciai"
Rishop Nichols said Hill was
using him for n "scapegoat only
because he tHill) IN unable TO &C.
cure another position that would
allow him to be as wastcful as he
Is in his present position"
Nichols also said DIR. Hin In
wise enough TO know that he has
been and Is a miserable failure"
II was rumored that Hin would
be dismissed by the board OF trus-
tees as a result Of the controversy
but at present he is still at Wilber-
force.
The storm apparently had blown
over when Bishop Nichols revealed
that he was turning over TO the
school the $500 which he had
been holding pending edministra-
tive developments.
Bishop Nichols apparent change
OF heart came when a Thorough
administration rcvamping" was
made which included the replace
ment OF George Valentine ms treas
urere OF the university. Valentine
had held the post for 20 years
Nichols called the replacement
"soreiy needed"
Just when things appeared to
be smoothed over. Rev. Stevenson
dropped his bombshell.
stevenson wrote.
please be informed that the
money collected and paid by the
pastors OF the several annual con-
ferenccs over which Bishop Me-
hols presidcs In the name OF and
for wilberforce was withheld by
the bishop for no plausible reason
other than he was unhappy over
the employment OF a member OF
the faculty"
Stevenson said that Nichols de-
manded the dismissal OF white
teacher and refused 10 turn owed
the money because the board did
not dismiss her,
MANY have been led TO believe. I"
he continued. that Bishop Nichols
withheld the money because the
college was not under proper ad-
minlstratlon. This was not true In
any sense OF the word He. himself
did not say this was true.
"In the meantime, the matter OF
securing new treasurer for the
university was brought up and an
effort begun by the Trustee board
10 take care OF this matter This
had no bearing upon or connection
with the money held by the Bish-
OPP"
Rev, Stevenson said the trustee
board quickly called Nichols hand
THE law Of the AME church. Z"
Rev. Stevenson said "forbids any
bishop 10 withhold educational
funds, The church has been lcnient
in not bringing Bishop Nichols to
trial in this matter. because he
held back the money for over six
months. There is no justification.
especially since the faculty mem.
Der In question resigned over four
months ago.
Why" concluded Rev, Steven.
son, has the good Bishop not
paid the $4,000 quota for WILDER
force for ie5f-55 since over $50.
600 was raised al the educational
chautauqua held IN New York the
last Of September. 1882
How can wilbertorce have any
look, 10 say nothing OF new
look" n Bishop Nichols continues
to withhold funds collected for the
university"
The new look" Rev Stevenson
mentioned evidently refers 10 the
major reorganization changes in
the curriculum as web as the adj
ministrative setup at wilberforce
Among the casualties OF the new
reorganization were the Business
Administration and Music depart.
ments, which represented what
Bishop Nichols called fields we
can afford to dispense with In the
interest OF streamhning our pro.
gram to fit our purpose and
purse"
MASSEY SPEAKS
n. Hss-..A