After the joint conference was concluded, on the 19th of November, the
Board proceeded to elect a President of the College. The result of the
first ballot was: For R. N. Sledd, 6 votes; for W. W. Bennett, 6 votes.
Necessary to a choice, 7.
The second ballot resulted in the same vote.
The third ballot, other members having come in, resulted as follows: W. W. Bennett, 9 votes; R. N. Sledd, 5 votes. Necessary to a choice, 8 votes. So Rev. W. W. Bennett, D. D., was declared elected.
[Illustration: BISHOP W. W. DUNCAN. Elected President 1877.—Declined to accept.]
[Illustration: REV. W. W. BENNETT, D. D., President of the Board of
Trustees, 1877; President of the College. 1877-1886.]
Resolutions respecting the death of William Willis, Jr., late treasurer of the Board, who had died since the last meeting of the Board, were adopted.
At this meeting Rev. Thomas A. Ware resigned his place as Agent.
The new President, when elected, was the editor of the Richmond Christian Advocate, of which he had been the proprietor, wholly or in part, for ten years. He was a leading man in the Virginia Conference, and largely acquainted with the ministers and people of the church in Virginia and elsewhere, having been a member of the General Conference for a number of sessions. He was in the full vigor of manhood. His education had been secured at the University of Virginia. Having been an active member of the Board for years, and frequently on important committees of the Board, and having lived in Ashland for a number of years, he was thoroughly conversant with the affairs of the College. He felt and appreciated the great purposes of its establishment and the capabilities which it might be endowed with by the action of the church. He also knew what a burden he was about to take up and carry—a burden which had taxed the energies and heart of his predecessor; but, hopeful and sanguine, he probably did not appreciate the full weight of the burden which was to test his heart and energies, in turn, to their utmost strain. It was well that he was hopeful and trustful.
Dr. Bennett commenced his duties with the following colleagues in the
Faculty December 1, 1877: Robert Emory Blackwell, A. M., Professor of
English and Modern Languages; Harry Estill, A. M., Professor of
Mathematics; William A. Shepard, A. M., Professor of Chemistry; Charles
Morriss, M. A., Professor of Greek and Latin.
At a meeting of the Board, held in Baltimore, March, 1878, the Faculty was increased by the election of William Waugh Smith, A. M., to the chair of Moral and Mental Philosophy. Some time afterward he entered upon his duties as professor, and his connection, in some capacity, has continued to this day. Of his connection with the College more will be recorded further on in this narrative.