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stry. Not neglecting his own peculiar work in the church, he was always foremost in everything that he esteemed promotive of the good of the church and the state. From the outset he threw into the college enterprise all his great energy, and gave it the benefit of his large practical sense, because he felt that the church, as well as the state, was in need of such an agency. Under the charter, as subsequently amended, he was elected President of the Board of Trustees, and retained that position for about forty years, rarely ever failing to attend the annual meetings, when attendance involved days of tedious and difficult travel over rough roads. When over eighty years of age he was found at his place in the Board. Doubtless his latest prayers were for the success of the cause to which he gave many of the years of his manhood's prime. Randolph-Macon College will never let the name of John Early be forgotten. His portrait adorns the Trustees' room, and his eyes look down every June on his successors in the Board of Trustees, who are laboring to carry forward the work which he and his co-laborers commenced in 1825.

The first secretary, Rev. William Andrew Smith, was another man of power, a self-made man, as such men are commonly called. He accepted the "call from on high" to do great things. He was endowed with a wonderfully fertile and active mind. When fully aroused in any cause his heart espoused, he was a power with the people and with deliberative bodies. Commencing active service for the College as Secretary of the Board, he lived to become the President of the College from 1847 to 1865. When he took charge of it, the College was at the lowest condition financially as well as in patronage, that it ever reached. Full of faith and zeal himself, he infused new life into it and animated its friends with fresh courage and zeal. Realizing that an endowment was absolutely essential, in 1855 he undertook to raise 0,000 for it, and succeeded. Of this endowment more will be said further on.

Another self-made man among the corporators present was Lewis Skidmore. In native talent of a peculiar order, he was second to none of his associates. He had, however, none of the ambition of some of the others. For power of argumentation on any subject he took in hand, he was equal to the foremost. He said once, when asked at what college he had graduated, "I graduated at the anvil." When the hammer of his logic struck it shaped or shivered the object it struck. As punctual as a clock, the day before the Trustees were to meet, his rotund form would be seen about the same hour rising over the western hill as the sun was going down.

Space will not allow particular reference to the other members of the Board. All of them were men of mark in their callings. Three of them--laymen, citizens of Mecklenburg county--were not members of the Methodist church.

William O. Goode was a representative man. He was a member of the Legislature, and brought forward the College bill. He was a member of the State Convention of 1829 and of the Congress of the United States for several sessions.

Nathaniel Alexander was a wealthy planter and a man of fine education, and represented his county in the Legislature more than once.

John W. Lewis was a lawyer of prominence, and served as Treasurer of the College as long as he lived.

The fact that these men were on the Board will show that sectarian bigotry was not so strong in olden times as some have been inclined to believe.

Rev. John G. Claiborne served on the Board for many years faithfully and efficiently, and outlived all of the original members.

At the second meeting of the Board of Trustees, held October 30, 1830 , the Building Committee reported the plan for the main College building, with cost of erection. William A. Howard and Dabney Cosby were the contractors. The plan embraced a centre brick building fifty-two feet front by fifty-four deep, with wings east and west sixty-seven and a half feet each, making a total front of one hundred and eighty-seven feet, all four stories high. The contract price for the same, except painting, tin roof, casement of the library, and seats in the chapel, to be finished in "a plain, workman-like manner, of the best materials," to be ,137, and it was to be ready for occupancy by the spring of 1832. The committee also reported the purchase of two hundred and fifty-seven acres of land from several parties, including previous purchase, the several tracts forming a solid body.

Rev. H. G. Leigh, Agent, made report as to the finances, as follows:

Monies collected to date, . . . . $ 941 59 Subscriptions deemed good, . . . . 27,762 70 Total,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,703 29

Rev. William Hammett, an eloquent Irish minister, was appointed agent for soliciting additional funds.

Of the subscriptions made by citizens of Mecklenburg county, the name of William Townes heads the list with ,000, the largest subscription to the College funds in early times. He was not a Methodist, nor a member of any church, but he was one of the earliest and best friends of the College.

On the early subscription lists there were about five hundred names. Next to the subscription of Col. Townes, there were none above 0.

The third meeting of the Board of Trustees was held April 15, 1831, Rev. John Early, chairman, presiding. The following items of business transacted are noted:

Rev. Thomas Adams, a local minister, of Lunenburg county, was elected in place of Rev. James Smith, who resigned his membership.

A "Stewards' Hall" was authorized, the cost of the building of which was not to exceed ,000.

The chairman of the Board was authorized to advertise that the Board would proceed to elect at the next meeting a President, Professors, and Masters.

The salary of the President to be elected was fixed at ,000 for the first year; salaries of the Professors for the first year, 0.

The fourth meeting of the Board was held October 13, 1831, Rev. John Early in the chair.

At this meeting Rev. H. G. Leigh, Agent, reported subscriptions amounting to ,873, and Rev. William Hammett, ,047, in all ,920.

The South Carolina Conference was formally invited to unite and co-operate with the Board in the support of Randolph-Macon College, with the proviso that should the Conference agree so to do, the Board would elect six members Trustees from the bounds of that Conference.

Rev. Martin P. Parks was appointed the Agent to communicate with said Conference and to solicit subscriptions.

The Building Committee reported the centre building walls up and covered in and the wings well under way; also, the purchase of additional land.

The committee to whom was referred the matter of nominating a President and Professors reported, and the following elections were made: Rev. John Emory, D. D., of New York, President and Professor of Moral Science; Rev. Martin P. Parks, of North Carolina, Professor of Mathematics; Landon C. Garland, of Virginia, Professor of Natural Science; Rev. Robert Emory, of New York, Professor of Languages.

Mr. William O. Goode, member of the Legislature, of Mecklenburg county, was appointed to ask of the General Assembly of Virginia aid for the College.

FIFTH MEETING OF THE BOARD.

A called meeting of the Board was held April 4, 1832. At this meeting letters were presented and read announcing the declination of Dr. John Emory to accept the presidency of the College, and of Rev. Robert Emory to accept the chair to which he was elected. The letters were as follows:

"I trust I need not repeat here how sincerely my best wishes attend your exertions in the cause of education, nor the pleasure I should take in contributing any small service in my power towards your success.

"Considering, however, the confinement which such a situation would require of me, the studies to which it would oblige me to devote myself in order to discharge its duties as I would wish, and the effect which such a course would be likely to have upon my health, already needing rather relief from the arduous duties of my present post, I am under the necessity of declining the acceptance of your kind invitation, and beg you for me to make this communication to the Board over which you preside.

"Be pleased, at the same time, to accept for yourself personally, and to convey to the members of the Board, the assurance of the deep sense I entertain of the obligations you have laid me under, as well as in behalf of my son as in my own; and that you may at all times command any service which it may be in my power to render as friends of the important institution under your care.

"Very respectfully, Rev. and dear sir, yours,

"J. EMORY."

Chairman, etc.. of the Board of Trustees of Randolph-Macon College, Va."

"New York, November 3, 1831.

"I take, however, the earliest opportunity after his return to express through you, to the Board of Trustees, the high sense which I entertain of the flattering honor which they have been pleased to confer upon me, and at the same time my regret for the necessity which I am under of declining its acceptance.

"My anxiety to prosecute thoroughly and with an undivided attention the study of a profession is such that neither my desire to promote the interests of education, nor even the temptation of the honorable post which you have offered me, and the agreeable society which I should enjoy in Virginia, are sufficient to withdraw me from a course in which my father has had the kindness to yield me his acquiescence. With the best wishes for the prosperity of your institution, and a hope that you may secure for it the services of one whose ability to serve you will be far greater than mine, I remain with great respect,

"Yours, &c., R. EMORY.

Prof. Landon C. Garland and Rev. Martin P. Parks accepted the chairs to which they had been elected at the previous meeting. Their letters of acceptance were as follows:

FROM LANDON C. GARLAND.

"WASHINGTON COLLEGE, December 13, 1831.

"DEAR SIR: Circumstances not altogether under my control have prevented me from replying to your communication of October 15th as early as I wished. Having given to its contents that mature deliberation which their importance surely demanded, I feel myself prepared to give a final decision.

"Yours very sincerely,

"LANDON C. GARLAND.

FROM M. P. PARKS.

"For the institution now growing under their auspices I cherish the warmest regard, and so far as devotion to its interests can ensure success, I hope not altogether to disappoint the expectations of the Board. More, it is presumed, need not be promised; less could not be required. Offering through you to the Board my most Christian regards, I have the pleasure to subscribe myself, dear sir,

"Very respectfully yours,

"M. P. PARKS."

Dr. John Emory was subsequently elected Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was one of the most honored and beloved Bishops that church ever had. It was soon called to mourn his sudden and untimely death, which occurred while he was in the prime of life and in the height of a most useful career. His name is made honorable by its association with two colleges of the church--Emory College, Oxford, Georgia, founded in 1837, and Emory and Henry College, Virginia, founded 1838.

His son, Rev. Robert Emory, was subsequently president of Dickinson College, Pennsylvania, and was most highly esteemed by the church. His name is known and repeated to this day as the christian name of children whose fathers were under his care and tutelage at Dickinson College.

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