History of Randolph-Macon College, Virginia / The Oldest Incorporated Methodist College in America

by Richard Irby

REMOVAL OF THE COLLEGE.

The College year, 1867-68, was not a prosperous one. The financial condition of the country was anything but favorable to a successful year. The dissatisfaction with the location of the College had been increasing since 1863. At the annual meeting in 1868 it was to culminate. The President had become convinced that something must be done or the College would have to close its doors. Some who had opposed removal heretofore now favored it.

In the notice for the meeting a special request was made for a full meeting, and the object was generally understood. The meeting commenced its session June 24, 1868. There were present the following: Revs. James Jamieson, H. B. Cowles, Robert O. Burton, W. B. Rowzie, L. M. Lee, T. S. Campbell, Geo. W. Nolley, L. Rosser, J. P. Moore, Wm. Carter, John E. Edwards, J. C. Blackwell, Nelson Head, J. C. Granbery, John Landstreet, and Messrs. N. Alexander, D. Paul, E. R. Chambers, Wm. Townes, Sr., Thos. Branch, R. B. Baptist, J. J. Daly, R. Irby, R. M. Smith, T. P. Jerman, T. M. Jones, T. C. Johnson, C. S. Hutcheson, W. Townes, Jr., and O. H. P. Corprew—thirty in all.

President T. C. Johnson presided, and Professor Corprew was secretary. The feeling prevailed generally that this meeting would decide the question of removal. There was early skirmishing by the opposing sides, and it was some time before the decisive vote was reached and taken.

Finally, the motion of Dr. J. E. Edwards, which was as follows:

"Resolved, That in the judgment of the Board of Trustees for the greater prosperity of the institution, Randolph-Macon College should be removed from its present to a more accessible and eligible location"—was adopted by the following vote:

Ayes.—Paul, Cowles, Burton, Rowzie, Branch, Lee. T. S. Campbell, Irby, Nolley, Rosser, Edwards, R. M. Smith, Jerman, Blackwell, Head, Granbery, Jones, Johnson, and Landstreet—19.

Noes.—Alexander, Chambers, Townes, Sr., Baptist, Daly, Moore, Carter, Townes, Jr., and Corprew—9.

[Illustration: REV. JOHN ELLIS EDWARDS, A. M., D. D., Virginia
Conference, M.E. Church, South.]

On motion of D'Arcy Paul, the Board took steps to secure the authority of the constituted authorities for the necessary change of the charter, so as to allow the change of location.

On motion of Dr. J. E. Edwards it was—

"Resolved, That so soon as the gentlemen (Messrs. Branch, Irby, Snyder and Watts) who have purchased the property and premises at Ashland are prepared to make a tender of the same to the Trustees for the use of Randolph-Macon College, free from any encumbrance as to title, and so soon as the legal authority is secured for the transfer of the institution, the Trustees bind and pledge themselves to make the transfer and removal to Ashland; and also pledge themselves further to open the next session of the College exercises at that place; provided the above-named conditions are complied with in time to enable the Trustees to carry out this pledge."

A committee, consisting of D. Paul, R. M. Smith, Drs. L. M. Lee, J. E. Edwards and N. Head, were appointed to secure the legal authority to remove the College to Ashland, and to secure proper title to the property to be used for the location of the College.

The President was authorized to employ an Agent to have the furniture, libraries, apparatus, etc., removed to Ashland.

Thus ended the struggle in regard to moving the College. The majority, while taking this step, which they deemed absolutely necessary in order to carry out the object sought in the establishment of the College, took it with the greatest reluctance. They could not grieve so generous a people as those living in the vicinity of the College without feelings of the utmost regret and pain.

The minority could not see what had been the pride of the community and section taken away, without feelings of sorrow. Many of them had for many years been the strongest and warmest friends of the College, and had often manifested their friendship by generous acts and steadfast devotion to it in adversity and prosperity.

After transacting a few items of business, one of which was the
conferring the degree of D. D. on Rev. Robert S. Moran, of the North
Carolina Conference, the Board adjourned to meet again in Centenary
Church, Richmond, Va., July 29, 1868.

After the adjournment of the Board the opponents to the removal of the College sued out an injunction restraining the Board from taking the step contemplated.

When the adjourned meeting of the Board assembled in Centenary Church, Richmond, July 29, 1868, this action was reported, "whereupon a motion was adopted to appoint a committee to wait on General Stoneman, in charge of the District."

This committee addressed the following communication to General
Stoneman:

"RICHMOND, VA., July 29, 1868.

"Major-Gen. Stoneman, Commanding General District No. 1:

"SIR,—We are instructed by the Trustees of Randolph-Macon College, now in adjourned session in this city, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8th instant, addressed to a previous committee of this Board, touching the interests of the College under their management.

"Since the communication on behalf of the Trustees, to which your letter of the 8th instant was in reply, a contingency then contemplated has arrived. A minority of the Trustees have sued out an injunction restraining the Board from making the contemplated removal of the College, the writ being returnable on the first Monday in August at Charlotte Courthouse for hearing before Judge Marshall. We are advised that the suit will prove very tedious as well as very expensive, and will thus operate very disadvantageously to the interests of the College whatever the decision. We therefore add to the former application made to you in behalf of the Trustees, that you will issue an order protecting us, both from obstruction and from delay, through these appeals to the courts, until such time as the legislative authority of the State, of which you are at present the sole representative, shall be regularly organized and open to the application usual in such cases.

"Very respectfully yours,

(Signed) "J. EARLY, ETC., ETC.,

"Committee."

To this communication General Stoneman submitted the following reply:

"HEADQUARTERS FIRST MILITARY DISTRICT,

"RICHMOND, VA., July 29, 1868.

"GENTLEMEN: I am directed by the commanding General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date in relation to the subject of the removal of Randolph-Macon College, and in reply thereto, to inform you that authority is hereby given to the Trustees of that College to remove that institution, with all the appurtenances and fixtures thereunto belonging, to such place and at such time as the majority of the Trustees may think proper, this removal to be subject to the conditions set forth in a former letter from these headquarters, dated the 8th instant.*

*This letter is not found in the record.

"I am, gentlemen, very respectfully,

(Signed) "S. F. CHALFIN,

"Assistant Adjutant-General"

"To Messrs. John Early, D. S. Doggett, Richard Irby, R. M. Smith, and others, Committee of the Trustees of Randolph-Macon College."

The owners of the property at Ashland, who had purchased the same for the Trustees, submitted the conditions on which they proposed to turn it over to the Trustees, and the same were, on motion, accepted. This property embraced all the buildings then standing on the thirteen acres, now constituting the campus of the College at Ashland, with some other lots adjacent. Thus the location was provided for the College with accommodations for professors and students, and the way was cleared for the removal of the College to it.

At this juncture President Johnson submitted the following communication:

"RICHMOND, VA., July 30, 1868.

"Gentlemen of the Board of Trustees of Randolph-Macon College:

"The experiment upon which you are about to enter, with my aid and approbation, seems to me to demand that you should have the widest field for the choice of a man to fill the position I now hold. The general troubled condition of the country, excluding many distinguished men from the arena of politics, in which the talent of Virginia and the South has heretofore been employed, and also the returning to this State of many unemployed scholars and literary men, affords you a wide field of selection for this purpose. I feel that in your straitened condition, having to make a new appeal for students and for friends to re-endow your College, you are entitled to every possible advantage in your arduous undertaking. A son of the College, I love her too well, and the church which has founded and supported her in the past, to stand in the way of any possible effort that may give prestige to your labors to put her once more on the high road to prosperity.

"With this view and the kindest wishes to every member of the Board, I hereby resign the presidency of the College.

"Very truly, your obedient servant,

(Signed) "THOMAS C. JOHNSON."

On motion of Rev. J. C. Granbery, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

"Resolved, That in accepting the resignation of President Johnson it is due to ourselves as well as to him that we express the high esteem which we feel for him as a Christian gentleman and our admiration of the great zeal and fidelity with which he has discharged the duties of his oflice at a most critical and embarrassing juncture in the history of the College, also our warm appreciation of the disinterested and generous motives which have prompted him to tender his resignation."

On motion of Dr. N. Head—

"Resolved, That in the absence of a Legislature having obtained authority from General Stoneman to do so, the College be removed from Mecklenburg county to Ashland, in Hanover county, Va., and that a session of the College be opened at that place on the first day of October next.

"Resolved, That in deciding to change the site of Randolph-Macon College this Board has been actuated only by the solemn conviction that it was imperatively demanded by the educational interests of the church and community at large, and that the opposition which has been offered to this action by a minority of the Trustees is deeply deplored by their colleagues of the Board, who here now and hereby respectfully request that those members will withdraw that opposition, as injurious to the interests dear alike to all, this earnest and fraternal appeal being prompted and encouraged by the very high esteem and respect entertained for the gentlemen to whom it is addressed by their associates of the Board."

On motion of Richard Irby—

"Resolved, That this Board holds itself in readiness to make such arrangements as will secure to the county of Mecklenburg a High School at the present site of Randolph-Macon College on terms such as may be desired, said school to be a preparatory school to the College."

Preparatory steps were taken to have the College furniture, libraries, etc., removed at once to Ashland.

The Board then proceeded to fill the place of President, vacated by the resignation of President Johnson.

Dr. Landon C. Garland, of the University of Mississippi, was unanimously elected President.

A committee of nine members was appointed, who were authorized, in conjunction with Dr. Garland, to elect the professors of the College; and in the event that Dr. Garland declines to accept the presidency, then said committee shall be authorized to elect another man to be President.

The following were then, on nomination, elected to constitute said
committee, viz.: Bishop John Early, Bishop D. S. Doggett, Drs. N. Head,
L. M. Lee, J. E. Edwards, L. Rosser, Rev. H. B. Cowles, Rev. J. C.
Granbery, and Richard Irby.

Professors Corprew, Jones, Blackwell, and La Garde severally submitted their resignations.

The duty of removing the College and preparing the buildings and premises at Ashland, and making other necessary arrangements, was devolved on the "Executive Committee, which consisted of Richard Irby, Dr. N. Head, D'Arcy Paul, Thomas Branch, and Rev. T. S. Campbell.