FROM

THE

MILLENNIAL HARBINGER.

NEW SERIES.

VOLUME IV.-----NUMBER XI.

B E T H A N Y, VA. NOVEMBER, 1840.

      THAT our friends and the public may know that our scheme of a great literary and moral institution for the proper training of youth in harmony with human nature and the whole destiny of man, is not sleeping on the shelf; and that the Lord being our helper, we are determined to prosecute the undertaking with a zeal and an enterprize in the ratio of the magnitude of the object--we lay before our readers the proceedings of the Board of the College at their two first meetings. The whole of our proceedings, so far as interesting to the community, together with the subscriptions received and the sums collected, shall be from time to time published in the Harbinger. We are making no exertions as yet to raise the necessary funds. The times being so unpropitious, and the political excitement so high, we are resolved not to commence these efforts until the political horizon becomes more clear, calm, and tranquil; which most devoutly to be wished for event we expect to commence after the storms of November shall have purified the atmosphere, and the presidential election shall have ended this unprecedented campaign.

      The first meeting or the Board of Trustees of Bethany College was held at Bethany in pursuance of the Charter of the Institution, on Monday, May 11th, 1840. Trustees present--Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, Robert Richardson, Robert Y. Henly, Matthew M'Keever, Samuel Grafton, John C. Campbell, William Stewart, and Robert Nicholls.

      On motion of John C. Campbell, Thomas Campbell was unanimously called to the Chair.

      On motion of William Stewart, William F. M. Arny was appointed Secretary of the Board of Trustees.

      On motion of Samuel Grafton, Alexander Campbell was appointed Treasurer of Bethany College; also, as General Agent to procure donations, and to publish an Expose of the contemplated character of the Institution.

      On motion of John C. Campbell, William Stewart, Robert Richardson, Matthew M'Keever, and Alexander Campbell, were appointed a Building Committee, who shall have power to procure and adopt a plan agreeably to which the necessary buildings shall be erected; also, to procure, when sufficient funds are collected for the purpose, the necessary materials for said buildings.

      Ordered, That the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees shall be held on the second Monday in May.

      Ordered, That the Treasurer shall file with the Secretary of this Board, before its next meeting, his bond, in the penalty of ten thousand dollars, with good security, conditioned for the proper performance of his office.

      Ordered, That when this meeting adjourn, it adjourn to meet on Friday, the 18th day of September next, at 12 o'clock A. M., at Bethany.

      On motion of Samuel Grafton, the meeting was adjourned.

      A meeting of the Board of Trustees of Bethany College was held at Bethany, on Friday, September 18th, according to adjournment. Trustees present, Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, Robert Richardson, Robert Y. Henley, Matthew M'Keever, Samuel Grafton, John C. Campbell, William Stewart, Robert Nicholls, Albert G. Ewing, and Adamson Bentley.

      On motion of John C. Campbell, Thomas Campbell was unanimously called to the Chair.

      After which the Secretary presented the Bond of the Treasurer, which was ordered to be filed.

      Thereupon the Treasurer made a Report of what had been done by him since the last meeting, which was ordered to he filed.

      After which Alexander Campbell presented a Bond for a Deed of ten acres of land for the use and benefit of Bethany College, which was received and ordered to be filed.

      On motion of John C. Campbell, it was

      Unanimously resolved, That the Building Committee be authorized to erect such buildings as they may deem necessary, according to the plan adopted; also, to procure permanent furniture, including beds and bedding, for the building now in progress of erection.

      On motion of William Stewart, it was

      Unanimously resolved, That the Board now proceed to the election of President of the College.

      Whereupon Alexander Campbell was unanimously elected.

      On motion of Albert G. Ewing, it was

      Unanimously resolved, That the President be requested to prepare and submit to the next meeting of this Board for their action, a scheme of the course of education which he thinks ought to be adopted in this Institution; showing the number of Professors requisite under such system, and the branches to be taught by each respectively. Also, that he make inquiry for such Professors, Stewards, and Officers as he may deem necessary to be employed, and report to the next meeting of the Board the names of such persons as he would recommend for the various offices.

      On motion of Adamson Bentley, it was

      Unanimously resolved, That eight additional Trustees be now appointed:

      When, on motion of Alexander Campbell, it was

      Unanimously resolved, That Reuben L. Coleman, of Charlottesville, Va.; Major J. Johnson, Woodville, Wilkinson county, Mi.; Buckner H. Payne, Louisiana; Henry Ewing and Joseph W. Clay, Nashville, Ten.; William Dabney, Richmond City, Va.; Judge Charles Somner, Akron, Summit County, Ohio; and L. A. Sandidge, of May's Lick, Mason county, Ky., be appointed additional Trustees of Bethany College. [509]

      On motion of Robert Richardson, it was

      Unanimously resolved, That the Secretary of this Board be instructed to send a copy of the Charter and the proceedings of the former and present meeting to the absent Trustees and those newly appointed.

      On motion of William Stewart, it was

      Unanimously resolved, That the Secretary be instructed to prepare for publication in the Millennial Harbinger and all other periodicals and papers, whose editors may be so kind as to insert them, the proceedings of the former and present meeting.

      On motion of Robert Y. Henley, the Board adjourned, to meet on the second Monday of May, 1841.

      The building above alluded to is the Steward's Inn, or boarding-house, a capacious brick edifice, undertaken on my own individual responsibility, designed to accommodate one hundred students, besides occasional visitants. It will be covered in this season, and is hoped to be in readiness to receive Students about the first of October, 1841. It is desirable to have the College Proper and another edifice similar to that now in process, erected next summer. We want the Family Mansion House for a hundred lads to compose our model family. Unless our friends are very prompt in rendering assistance, these two buildings cannot possibly be raised next season, and we cannot go into operation so soon. If the College Proper be raised next summer, we may commence in one branch of the Institution on a small scale, with probably one hundred scholars. If the model family house also be raised next summer with the College, then we can have two great branches of the Institution in operation some time in 1842. Nay, if the brethren and friends of mankind are only half as benevolent and as prompt as they ought to be, we might in another year have the whole Institution in all its parts commenced. We intend a vigorous prosecution of this great object, the Lord willing, the ensuing, season. If the Lord opens the hearts of his people, to be as liberal as he is kind to them, we will succeed: otherwise, this useful enterprize will flag. But this is what I cannot yet begin to think.

A. C.      

[The Millennial Harbinger (November 1840): 508-510.]

      Thomas Campbell's "Proceedings of the Board of Trustees of Bethany College" was first published in The Millennial Harbinger, New Series, Vol. 4, No. 11, November 1840. The electronic version of the essay has been produced from the College Press reprint (1976) of The Millennial Harbinger, ed. Alexander Campbell (Bethany, VA: A. Campbell, 1840), pp. 508-510.

      Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. I have let stand variations and inconsistencies in the author's (or editor's) use of italics, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling in the essay.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 20 March 1998.
Updated 9 July 2003.