Vault Early Papers of the University Box 2 Document 68

Called at residence of H Green Esq prayers by Bp Elliott -- Roll called quorum Com on Finance made rept. L. Mitchell {illegible: Resolved?} Mr. Crane {illegible: Lexburg? Rexburg? Leasburg?} Mr. Fairbanks {illegible} -- Craighead reelected Treasurer {illegible} of Mitchell {illegible} {illegible} to {illegible: best? last?} Secy -- {illegible} {illegible} {illegible} --

Rept Bp Elliott {illegible: C? @?}.

The undersigned late am of the Commissioners appointed by the Board of Trustees of the University of the South for the collection and preservation of the endowment of the University of the South beg leave to report.

That the Com'rs as soon after the adjournment of the Board as was practicable took advice from some of the most experienced Lay Trustees as to the practicability of continuing their mission. The unanimous assertion of these gentlemen was that nothing could be effected in the way of collection in the {illegible} uncertain and {illegible: disturbed?} condition of the country and especially while the position of Tennessee was undecided. Their advice was to place every thing in connection with the University in as {illegible} condition as possible & wait events. In pursuance of the instruction of the Board the com'rs under the direction of the Board of Trustees proceeded as rapidly as incoming revenue would permit to liquidate the outstanding claims upon the University & to put a stop at once to all expenditures -- Many were engaged in this work when they were separated by secession {illegible} & more and circumstances have entirely prevented their meeting since the secession of Tennessee North Carolina & Arkansas has reunited our Dioceses. It was useless to prosecute any work so long as Tennessee remained in the old Union & as she did not determine her status until {illegible: June? Jan?} last when the country was in the confusion of war & my colleague was defending his {illegible: house? home?} {illegible: opposed?} nothing has been done to advance the University. -- It is impossible for the undersigned to make any detailed account of the receipts & expenditures of the {illegible: Comsr?} without consultation with his colleague in {illegible: both?} {illegible: propose?} an all the accounts & vouchers. {illegible} position in the {illegible: army?} of the Co

federate States has rendered an {illegible} impossible. The undersigned can say in a general way that no loss has accrued to the University; and that every thing {struckthough: done} has been done which could be done to advance its interests. Your commissioners trust that the time may soon come when the Board may resume its active {illegible} -tions and consummate the great work which has been so nobly begun -- In resigning his position as comr's, the undersigned {illegible: decrees?} himself to be considered responsible for all transactions of the com missioners up to the date of his resignation. -- Stephen Elliott, Bp of Georgia

Columbia SC {illegible: Ocr?} 1861

Rt Rev {illegible: Dr? Fr? Js?} Otey -- Chancellor of the University of the South

Dear Sir, The political troubles of the country & the disturbing condition of all financial matters rendering it altogether impossible to collect at present any additional funds for the endowment of the University, I hereby beg leave to resign the office of {illegible: Comrs?} with which I have been entrusted. With the hope that the time may come when my honored colleague may resume his successful labors I am very truly & respy yr obt svt Stephen Elliott

Resolved 1. That in the death of Bp Cobbs this Board has not only experienced a heavy loss in common with the whole Church which has been thus {illegible} {illegible: ved?} of one of its most eminent and useful Prelates and with the comm -unity which has been deprived of one of the best and {illegible: wisest? nicest?} and most devout men of his generation, but has itself especially suffered a {illegible} the services of a member whose zeal in its behalf was ardent whose counsels were always judicious and whose great and well merited influence in his Diocese and elsewhere recommended to the public confidence and favor any enterprise he was known strongly to sustain.

Resolved 2. That in the death of Bishop Cobbs each member of the Board feels that he has lost a personal and highly valued friend Resolved 3. That a copy of these Resolutions be communicated to the family of the deceased with the assurance of the sincere sympathy of the members of the Board and their grief for the {illegible: implacable?} loss they have sustained. Thos. Atkinson Chrmn

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Minutes. Col SC Oct 14 / 61

This {illegible: being?} {illegible} {illegible} & places {illegible} at Rectory of Fr Ch -- After prayer by Prest. called to order & in absence of Secy {illegible: Recorder?} Crane requested {illegible} -- Roll called Bp. Otey. Elliott Green Rutledge & Davis. Curtis Glennis Mitchell & Crane -- -- {illegible: Whittle?} Fairbanks & {illegible} {insert symbol}no quorum -- adjd to 10 a m tomorrow

10. am. 15"

{Illegible: I am? Sam} present -- no quorum {illegible} to {illegible: 5?} PM --

15" {illegible: 5?} PM -- Bps Atkinson Greggs & Lay in addition to Mr. A Pringle Board declared duly {illegible} -- {illegible: No?} {illegible: mention?} Rev {illegible} Crane Dr Pise unanimously re-elected Secy -- see 2d page

3d page. Bp of Ga presented resignation & Rept. -- {illegible: Mention?} {illegible: of?} {illegible: Gollary?} {illegible: R--burg?} {illegible: can?} Finance {illegible: apptd?} {illegible: the?} {illegible} & {illegible: ---ffin?} D. {illegible: mention?} of Mitchell. {illegible: I?} adjd to 4 1/2 PM tomorrow

Oct 17 4 1/2 PM -- Bp {illegible: met?} Prage? & Bp Elliott -- {illegible} Bp Gregg {illegible: Reverend?} F. Mitchell. {illegible: Resolved?} G. Whittle?. H -- Fairbanks J. Mitchell K adj'd to meet at call of Prest -- Oct 21 -- 61

Dr Crane -- {illegible}

Resolved that such funds as shall be specially contributed for the purpose be applied to the establishment of a preparatory school at Sewanee under the direction of the Ex Com.

Fairbanks{underlined} that the Ex Com be authorized to draw upon the Treasurer for such funds as may come into his hand as may be required to carry into effect the resolution of this Board

The Com on Finance in presenting their Rep beg leave in justice to them selves respectfully to remind the Board that the duties of the Committee are defined in the following Resolution passed at the last meeting of the Board held at University Place Oct 9 1860 to wit -- 1 Resolution {illegible} 14)

The Journals containing the Resolution and the {illegible} proceedings of the Board at its last meeting though {illegible} by order of the Board have not so far as the Committee can ascertain been distributed even to the parties named in the Resolution and {illegible: thus? this?} {illegible: it? as?} is {illegible: persuing?} is {illegible: one? our?} reason why only a small part of the Report called for by said Resolution have been presented to the Committee. The few which have been received were obtained in response to a request of the Com who when it was fully ascertained that the Journals of the last meeting of the Board had not been distributed sent a manuscript copy of the afore said Resolution to each of the several parties therein named. They are not sufficient however to enable the committee to present the Board at this time with any statement of the financial affairs of the Uni -versity which would be of any service or value whatsoever

Finding it impossible therefore (by no fault however of their own) to perform the duty assigned them either satisfactorily to themselves or so as to effect any good purpose your com respy ask to be excused from any attempt to do so at the present meeting of the Board -- Rspy & {illegible} Bp Atkinson Rept. The com assented to propose resolutions in reference to the death of the late Bishop Cobbs a former member of the Board beg leave to {illegible} the following Resolution --