During the session this committee made report, defining the duties of the Financial Secretary, and placing all the business matters and financial interests in the hands of said officer. He was also to travel as much as practicable through the Conferences to influence patronage, secure donations and bequests, and also to encourage the Conference educational collections. The salary of the officer was fixed at $2,000 per annum.
[Illustration: REV. A. G. BROWN., D. D.]
To fill the office the committee nominated Rev. A. G. Brown, of the Virginia Conference. He was not a stranger to the College, having served as chaplain there in former years. He was duly elected, and a resolution adopted asking the Virginia Conference to assign him to this work.
This was a fortunate appointment. The Financial Secretary, after entering on his duties, proceeded promptly to adjust the matters of the College, and soon got them into manageable shape.
Prof. Thomas R. Price appeared before the Board and explained his views in regard to the "School of English."
On motion, it was—
Resolved, That the Faculty be, and they are hereby, authorized to establish, if they find it possible, "a School of English and Literature."
This most important move was on the same general plan adopted in 1835, and carried out for several years by Prof. E. D. Sims after his return from Europe, where he had spent several years studying Anglo-Saxon and other languages preparatory to this course.
It does not seem, however, that Prof. Price was aware that such a course had been previously established, and it was as original with him as it was with the first mover in it. Fortunately, in this second movement it became a permanent course, and the influence of the move has spread far and wide.
[Illustration: REV. W. W. ROYALL, D. D., (R. M. C., 1872-'75.) Missionary to China. Member Virginia Conference, M. E. Church South.]