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ago. How is Queen's to keep pace with the certain extension of Toronto and McGill? We recognize that whatever strengthens them is for the good of Canada, and helps to strengthen us, if we too keep our place in the constantly rising level of efficiency. Yet how can we do so? We have already done so much considering our numbers and wealth, that we cannot be asked at present to make further sacrifices; and the ill success of the late Dr Smith during the last five or six years suggests that it is unfair to our constituency, loyal as it is, to overstrain this source of supply. The Government, again, no matter how well disposed, could hardly give direct aid to a University, five sixths of whose Board must belong, according to statute, to one denomination.
What should be done in these circumstances? That is the matter to which the best attention of the Board is asked; and seeing that our founders desired to model the University on the Scottish Universities, particularly on Edinburgh, it may be well to look at their Constitution. Many changes have been made, by successive Acts of Parliament to adapt them to change of conditions; and their basal constituency now is the general body of their graduates. Our founders made the Church the corporation of Queen's, because, as the Rev. Dr Machar
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said, at the first public meeting held to collect money for the infant Universities, ''It was a matter of necessity that the control of such an institute should be in the hands of some trustworthy and responsible body.'' That body has declined the control, and the children of the University have become a numerous as well as a trustworthy and responsible body. The General Council of Edinburgh University includes the Chancellor, the members of the University Court, the Professors and the Graduates. The matriculated students appoint the Lord Rector, the Court elects three of the seven Curators of Patronage, the other four being elected by the Town Council. These seven have the patronage of 17 Chairs which were previously in the gift of the Town Council. The Senate regulate the teaching and discipline of the University. Edinburgh has a peculiar position and history amoung the Scotch Universities. The others were founded by the Bishops of Glasgow, St. Andrew's and Aberdeen respectively; whereas it was founded after the Reformation by the Town Council, and was long known as ''The Town's College.'' Hence it remained under the control and patronage of the Council till 1858 when all the Universities of Scotland received from Parliament new and autonomous Constitutuions. As the
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membership of the Presbyterian Church of Canada is represented only by the General Assembly, and it disclaims responsibility for the University, it is suggested that the Charter should be changed as follows:-
I. That the corporation consist of the Chancellor; the Senate; the Graduates; Alumni and Undergraduates, the Benefactors, and all who shall hereafter become benefactors to the amount of $100.
II. That the present Board of Trustees, the five elected by the University Council excepted, be appointed by the General Assembly as the first Board of Management of the Theological Faculty.
III. That the new Governing Board of the University shall consist (a) of certain ex-officio members, such as the Chancellor, the Principal, the Minister of Education, the Mayor of Kingston, the Rector elected by the matriculated students (as in all the Scotch Universities): (b) of Assessors or Associates nominated by certain of the ex officio members; (c) Representatives of the Boards of Management of affiliated schools, of the Senate and of the Board of the Theological Faculty; (d) Three elected annually for four years by the University Council.
A Board probably of from 25 to 30 members, might be thus constituted. These
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details are submitted that different views may be elicited.
Respectfully submitted by the Prinicpal for the consideration of the Trustee.
This memorandum was submitted to the Trustees on May 2nd. A Committee was appointed to consider it, and the following paragraph on the subject ordered to be inserted in the Report to the General Assembly. The Trustee had before these suggestions with regard to making their body more representative, especially of the graduates who are now the basal constituency of the Scottish Universities and with regard to governing the theological faculty by a special Board appointed by the General Assembly. A Committee was appointed to consider the matter and appoint a Committee to confer with it regarding the relations of the Church to the University.
The University this year sustained a severe loss in the removal by death of the Rev. T.G. Smith. The official work which he had of late years done would to many men have been both irksome and trying but had always been performed by him with energy and
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judgement and his loyal affection to the University, his zeal in her service, and his practical good sense had won for him the love and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. During the whole course of his canvass for funds for the University he made for her many friends and not one enemy. During this session the Hugh Waddle Lectureship in Theology was held by the Rev. Dr. James Lindsay of Kilmarnock, Scotland.
A most interesting feature of the closing ceremonies of this session was the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the ordination and ministerial work of the Rev. Dr. J.B. Mowat, professor of Hebrew in the Faculty of Theology.
The celebration was held in one of the classrooms and was largely attended by the clergy and friends present in Kingston for Convocation.
Many of these gave appropriate testimony to the esteem and affection with which Dr. Mowat was regarded, and the value of his pastoral and professional work.
The following benefactions were received during the winter or 1899-1900.
$2,712.97 from the executors of the late Michael Doran, Kingston, making $19,212.97
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