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REF BU 4070 .C79415 1873
Columbia Theolosical
Seminary (Columbia* SO.
Constitution oF the
Theolosical Seminary of the
For Reference
Not to be taken from this room
85-01^38
3ohn Bulow Campbell Library
Columbia Theological Seminary
Decatur, Ga. 30031
PLAN of GOVERNMENT
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COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA
AS AMENDED TO 1909
1909
The R. L. Bryan Company, Printers
Columbia, S. C.
Plan of Government
OF THE
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
OF THE SYNODS OF
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida
OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES
SECTION I.
Of the Associated Synods.
i. Article i. The Seminary shall be under the direction and
control of the Synods of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama,
and Florida, and others which may hereafter be associated
with them, through the incorporated body known as "The
Board of Directors of the Theological Seminary of the Synods
of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, of the Pres-
byterian Church in the United States," which has always
hitherto had charge of the property of the institution, the Asso-
ciated Synods retaining the power of instruction and ultimate
control.
2. Art. 2. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian'
Church in the United States shall have the right of general
supervision over the interest of this Seminary, and for this
purpose the Directors shall lay before the Assembly, at its
annual meeting, a report setting forth the existing condition
of the institution ; and the Assembly can advise and recom-
mend measures for its welfare. Should the Assembly see rea-
son, at any time, to object to any of the acts of the Directors
or other authorities of the institution, it shall send down, in
writing, to the Synods, its opinions in the premises, but shall
have no controlling negative, nor the right to originate any
measures for the management of the Seminary.
3- Art. 3. Alterations or amendments of this Plan of Gov-
ernment are in every case to be proposed to the Synod at one
meeting, but not adopted till the meeting of the subsequent
year, except by a two-thirds vote in at least two of the Synods
and a majority in another.
SECTION II.
Of the Board of Directors.
4. Article I. The Board of Directors shall consist of fifteen
members ; and no one shall be a member of the Board who is
not either a minister, a ruling elder, or deacon. These Direc-
tors shall receive their appointment from the respective Syn-
ods, as provided for in the Article immediately following. Va-
cancies occurring ad interim may be filled by the Board until
the next meeting of the Synod not fully represented.
5. Art. 2. Of the members of the Board, the Synod of South
Carolina shall elect six ; the Synod of Georgia four ; the Synod
of Alabama three, and the Synod of Florida two; the term of
office of five of whom, viz : two from the Synod of South Caro-
lina and one from each of the other Synods, shall expire each
year. Of these fifteen Directors, four ministers, one from each
Synod, shall be designated by their respective Synods as Ex-
aminers, whose special duty it shall be to attend the examina-
tions at the close of every term and report thereon to the
Board of Directors.
6. Art. 3. The Board shall elect its own President, Vice-
President, Secretary, and Treasurer ; and shall appoint its own
organ or organs of communication with the Synods. The
Treasurer shall be a member of the Presbyterian Church, but
need not be a member of the Board, and shall give a suitable
bond.
7. Art. 4. The Board of Directors shall meet statedly once
in each year, at the close of the session, and may meet oftener
on its own adjournment. It shall also meet when it is called
together by its President, or by any three of its members, not
more than two of whom shall be from the same Synod, who
are hereby empowered to convene it. It shall appoint an Ex-
ecutive Committee to act ad interim between its stated ses-
sions. Five members shall constitute a quorum of the Board
for the transaction of business ; provided they are not all of one
Synod.
8. Art. 5. All Professors of the Seminary shall be elected
by the Board of Directors, two-thirds of all the members of the
Board being necessary to a choice. But such elections shall
be subject to the approval of the Synods, to which they shall
be reported at their next stated meetings thereafter ; and if an
election is approved by a majority of the Synods, it shall be
regarded as complete.
8. Art. 6. The Board shall have authority by a two-thirds
vote to transfer a Professor from one chair to another, the
act being subject to like approval by the Synods. The Board
shall also have authority to fix the salary of each Professor.
10. Art. 7. The Board shall hold all the property belong-
ing to, or to be acquired by, the institution, in trust for the
Associated Synods ; and nothing in this Plan of Government
shall be understood as in any manner or degree infringing
upon its legal and chartered rights,
11. Art. 8. The Board shall appoint such committees of in-
vestments as it shall deem necessary.
12. Art. 9. The Secretary of the Board shall conduct its
correspondence, preserve on file its papers, and keep a record
of its proceedings in a book which shall be annually submitted
to the inspection of the Synod of South Carolina, and a certi-
fied copy of the minutes of each year shall be sent to the
other Synods.
13. Art. 10. The Treasurer shall receive, manage, and
(with the joint advice and consent of the appropriate Com-
mittees of Investment) invest the funds of the Seminary, under
the direction of the Board. He shall give bond for their faith-
ful management, in such sum as the Board shall direct, with
sufficient sureties, to "the Board of Directors of the Theologi-
cal Seminary of the Synods of South Carolina, Georgia, Ala-
bama, and Florida of the Presbyterian Church in the United
States." He shall give receipts for all moneys received; pay
all moneys appropriated by the Board ; and make an annual
itemized report of the state of the funds, and of the expendi-
6
tures of the Seminary, to the Board of Directors. And the
Board shall appoint, at least once a year, a committee oi two
or more of its own members, before whom all the bonds, notes,
and assets of the Seminary shall be exhibited by the Treas-
urer.
14. Art. 11. The investing Committees shall aid the Treas-
urer in investing the funds of the Seminary such investments
always to be made in the corporate name of the institution ;
and the investing Committees are further required to make
an annual itemized report to the Board, through the Treas-
urer, of whatever funds itemized report to the Board, through
the Treasurer, of whatever funds may have been invested with
their advice and consent.
15. Art. 12. When the further continuance of a Professor
in the Seminary shall, in the judgment of two-thirds of all the
members of the Board of Directors, be deemed undesirable, the
Board shall request him to resign, and if he declines to do so it
shall, by a vote of two-thirds of all the members, without a
formal trial, dissolve his relation to the institution : and this
action shall be final.
16. Art. 13. When a Professor shall be removed from his
chair by the Board, either with or without the instruction of
the Synods, that chair shall be vacant from the date of the re-
moving act, and the Board may proceed at once to fill the
vacancy.
17. Art. 14. The Board shall annually submit a full writ-
ten report of the state of the Seminary to the Synods.
18. Art. 15. The Board for its information may. at its
stated meetings, and at such other times as may be deemed
advisable, hold conference with the Faculty in regard to the
interests of the institution.
19. Art. 16. The Board shall make all rules and regulations,
and generally do whatever it deems best for the welfare of the
Seminary, provided the same shall not be repugnant to this
Plan of Government, the orders of the Synods, or the Consti-
tution of the Presbyterian Church.
20. Art. 17. The Board shall open and close all its sessions
with prayer.
21. Art. 18. Every Director, previously to taking his seat
as a member of the Board, shall solemnly subscribe the fol-
lowing formula : "Approving the Plan of Government of 'The
Theological Seminary of the Synods of South Carolina, Geor-
gia, Alabama, and Florida of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States,' I solemnly declare and promise, in the presence
of God and the Board, that I will faithfully endeavor to carry
into effect all the articles and provisions of said Plan of Gov-
ernment, and to promote the great design of the Seminary."
SECTION III.
Professors and Faculty.
22. Article i. The Professorships in this Seminary shall
be those of Old Testament Literature and Exegesis of Scrip-
ture, New Testament Literature and Exegesis of Scripture,
Didactic and Polemic Theology, Church Government and His-
tory, Pastoral Theology and Sacred Rhetoric, and Natural
Science in connection with Revelation and Christian Apolo-
getics, and such others as the Synods may, from time to time,
establish. There may be also a tutor of the Hebrew Language,
to be appointed by the Faculty, and his salary to be fixed by
the Board. The Board of Directors shall elect one member
of the Faculty as President of the Seminary, who, in addition
to his duties as Professor shall also exercise a supervisory
jurisdiction over the management of the Seminary, and shall
be especially charged with the duty of presenting the claims
and interest of the Seminary to the churches of the controlling
Synods.
23. Art. 2. The Professors of Didactic and Polemic Theol-
ogy of Church Government and History, and of Pastoral
Theology and Sacred Rhetoric, shall be ordained ministers of
the gospel, and shall have been engaged in the discharge of
pastoral duties for at least five years. The other chairs may
be filled by ordained ministers without such experience.
24. Art. 3. The election of Professors shall be by ballot, it
having been previously made the order of the day, and a sea-
son of special prayer having been observed for the Divine
8
direction in the choice, immediately before the time of the
nomination.
25. Art. 4. Each Professor shall lay before the Faculty and
the Board, as soon as practicable after his appointment, a
detailed exhibition of the system and method which he pro-
poses to pursue, as well as of the subjects he proposes to dis-
cuss in conducting the studies of his classes, and he shall be
entitled to their assistance and advice in the conduct of his de-
partment.
26. Art. 5. Every Professor, when inaugurated, shall pub-
licly subscribe the Confession of Faith and the other standards,
agreeably to the following formula : "In the presence of God
and these witnesses, I do solemnly subscribe the Con-
fession of Faith, Catechisms and other standards of govern-
ment, discipline, and worship of the Presbyterian Church in
the United States, as a just summary of the doctrines con-
tained in the Bible, and promise and engage not to teach,
directly or indirectly, any doctrine contrary to the Scriptures
as interpreted in those standards while I continue a Professor
in this Seminary."
27. Art. 6. The method of instruction in this Seminary
shall be that of private recitation, and of private and public
lectures ; and every exercise shall be opened with prayer.
28. Art. 7. In case of a vacancy in any Professorship the
duties of such chair shall be divided amongst the Faculty, as
far as may be practicable, until the next meeting of the Board.
29. Art. 8. The Professors, when it shall be deemed desira-
ble, shall, under the direction of the Board, supply the stu-
dents with the preaching of the gospel and the administration
of its ordinances.
30. Art. 9. Any Professor proposing to resign his office,
unless relieved from giving such notice by the Board, shall
give six months' notice of his intention to the Board.
31. Art. 10. The President and other Professors shall con-
stitute the Faculty, who shall meet at least monthly, on a
given day; and at all meetings the President, and in his ab-
sence the Senior Professor, shall preside, and all questions
before them shall be decided by a majority vote.
9
32. Art. ii. The Faculty shall appoint a clerk, and keep
a fair record of its proceedings, which shall be annually sub-
mitted to the inspection of the Board. It shall also, in accord-
ance with this Plan of Government, receive and act upon all
applications for admission to the Seminary and for charitable
assistance ; give certificates to students applying to Presby-
teries for license, and to those leaving the Seminary after com-
pleting their regular course of studies. It shall fix the time
for social worship, morning and evening (and for public
worship, if such is instituted), the hours for private recitations,
and the days for public lectures. It shall decide all questions
of order and cases of discipline ; suspend or dismiss any stu-
dent who, in its opinion is unworthy the privileges of the
Seminary, whether by reason of indolence, neglect of duty, or
other causes, or whose connection with the institution would
be injurious to its interests. In all cases where discipline in-
volves such separation from the Seminary, the student shall
have the right of appeal to the Board of Directors. It shall
do generally whatever is deemed necessary for the successful
regulation of the internal concerns of the Seminary; and
shall report in writing the state of the Seminary to the Board.
And it may suggest or recommend subjects for the consider-
ation of the Board.
SECTION IV.
Admission and Duties of Students.
34. Article 1. Students, to be admitted, must furnish the
Faculty with satisfactory testimonials of being in full com-
munion with some Christian Church; of having been regu-
larly educated at some college or university, or in the absence
of such testimonials, must satisfy the Faculty, by examination,
that they have made attainments necessary for the founda-
tion of a course of Theology.
35. Art. 2. These testimonials being satisfactory, they
shall be admitted to full standing in the Seminary by sub-
scribing the following declaration, viz : "Deeply impressed
with a sense of the importance of improving in knowledge,
prudence, and piety, preparatory to the gospel ministry, I sol-
10
emnly promise, in reliance on Divine grace, that I will faith-
fully and diligently attend all the mstructions of this Semi-
nary, and that I will conscientiously and vigilantly observe
all the rules and regulations specified in the Plan of Govern-
ment, and also obey all the lawful requisitions, and readily
yield to all the wholesome admonitions of the Professors of
the Seminary while I continue a member of it."
36. Art. 3. The students thus admitted to the Seminary
shall be divided into three classes, to be called Senior, Middle,
and Junior. The Junior shall embrace those of the first year;
the Middle those of the second ; and the Senior those of the
third.
37. Art. 4. The students of the several classes shall, unless
permission otherwise is granted by the Faculty, reside at the
Seminary during the whole of each term, and be under the par-
ticular charge of their respective Professors. Nor shall any
student leave town, or be absent from any regular exercise of
the Seminary, without permission. And for each absence he
shall render a satisfactory excuse to the Professor of his class,
or, in case of his absence, to the President or the Senior Pro-
fessor present.
38. Art. 5. The students shall sustain good, moral and
religious characters ; manifest a due regard for the Directors,
Professors, and each other; pursue the course of studies
marked out by the Faculty; observe its regulations respecting
the hours of study, private recitations, public lectures, and
social devotions ; and obey the requisitions of their several in-
structors.
39. Art. 6. The students of the Junior and Middle classes
shall write compositions on such subjects, and at such times,
as their Professors may direct, and shall submit the same to
them for criticism. The students of the Senior class shall
write during the year at least two sermons, which shall be
submitted to the appropriate Professor for private criticism
and approval, and they shall alter and transcribe them until
approved by his signature. And the students of all the classes
shall, if practicable, deliver a piece of their own composition
before the students and Professors once in each month.
11
40. Art. 7. Any student who neglects his regular studies,
or is guilty of an indiscretion, or exhibits an indifference to
practical religion, or otherwise violates this Plan of Govern-
ment, shall be faithfully admonished in private, or before his
class, as the Professor may deem expedient ; if the student per-
severes in the same course he shall be publicly admonished,
suspended, or dismissed from the Seminary by the Faculty.
41. Art. 8. Every student having completed a regular
course of three years' studies in this Seminary, and returned
and replaced all the books taken from the library, shall receive
a certificate from the Faculty, specifying the time he has been
connected with the Seminary, the diligence he has manifested
in his studies, and the moral and religious character he has
sustained.
42. Art. 9. The Faculty may, at its discretion, admit to the
exercises of the institution such persons besides students as
may desire to profit by its instructions.
43. Art. 10. Students who desire to take only a part of the
course taught in the Seminary shall not be matriculated but
admitted as special students, subject, however, to the disci-
pline of the institution.
SECTION V.
Course of Studies.
44. Article 1. The course of studies pursued in this Semi-
nary shall embrace a period of three years. It shall cover, in
general, the ground of Biblical Literature, Systematic Theol-
ogy, Church History and Polity, Pastoral Duties, Sacred
Rhetoric, and the Evidences and Apologetics ; and none who
do not complete this course shall be entitled to a regular cer-
tificate of the Faculty.
45. Art. 2. The course of studies shall be varied or ex-
tended, as the improvements of the age may require : Provided,
It never deviates from the Word of God and the standards of
the Presbvterian Church.
12
SECTION VI.
Resident Licentiates.
46. Article 1. Licentiates, or students who have honorably
completed a course of Theological studies, may reside at this
institution, and enjoy the privilege of the library, and also the
public lectures and private recitations of the Professors.
47. Art. 2. Persons thus residing at the Seminary shall
be under the inspection of the Faculty, and be required to
attend the devotional exercises of the institution.
SECTION VII.
Devotional and Personal Piety.
48. Article 1. Religious services shall be held in the
chapel every morning and evening, during each term, as the
Faculty may direct, and in the following order, viz : The ser-
vice shall commence with a short prayer, imploring the Divine
aid and blessing; a portion of the Scriptures shall then be read,
and accompanied by such remarks or written exposition as the
presiding officer may think proper; after which a psalm or
hymn shall be sung, and the whole concluded with an appro-
priate prayer. These services shall be under the direction of
one of the Professors, though a senior student may officiate.
49. Art. 2. There shall be at least one weekly Conference,
appointed by the Faculty, with a design to promote the per-
sonal piety of the students, and qualify them for practical
duties of the ministry. And, if deemed expedient, the Faculty
may occasionally set apart a day for fasting, humiliation and
prayer, which shall be strictly observed by all members of the
institution.
50. Art. 3. Every member of the Seminary shall regularly,
conscientiously and devoutly, attend all these religious ser-
vices, and such others as the Faculty may appoint.
SECTION VIII.
Examinations.
51. Article 1. There shall be at the close of every term, an
examination upon all the studies of the year.
13
52. Art. 2. All examinations shall be conducted at such
times and in such manner as the Board of Directors shall pre-
scribe.
53. Art. 3. No member of the Seminary shall be absent
from the examination of his class ; and in case of the absence
of any student, he shall be examined by the Faculty at the
commencement of the next term ; and if his examination be
not satisfactory he shall be required to make up the deficiency ;
otherwise he may not proceed with the class.
SECTION IX.
Vacations.
54. Article 1. There shall be one or more vacations in
each year, at such times and of such length as the Board may
direct.
55. Art. 2. During each vacation the students shall be
responsible to the Faculty of the Seminary for their conduct ;
and for any unworthy course that may injure the institution
they shall be admonished, suspended, or dismissed, as the
case may require.
56. Art. 3. At the close of every vacation the students
shall immediately return to the Seminary; and no excuse for
absence, after the term commences, shall be deemed satisfac-
tory, except sickness or unavoidable necessity.
SECTION X.
Library.
57. Article I. The Library shall be deposited in suitable
rooms provided for the purpose, and committed to the care of a
Librarian appointed by the Board.
58. Art. 2. The Librarian shall give bond, when required
by the Board, for the faithful management of the Library,
in such sum and with such sureties as the Board may direct;
and he shall, at the discretion of the Board, be allowed a suit-
able sum for his services. He may also appoint an assistant
Librarian.
59. Art. 3. The books of the Library shall be regularly
numbered and arranged by a Committee of the Board and
14
the Librarian, who shall also furnish an alphabetical cata-
logue for the use of the Librarian. And a fair record of all
the books given, and of the names of the donors, shall be kept
by the Librarian for the inspection of all men.
60. Art. 4. Any book or books which the Committee of
the Board and the Librarian may deem too valuable to be lent
from the Library, shall be marked and kept there for occa-
sional reference ; and they shall never be loaned by the Libra-
rian without a special order from the Board.
61. Art. 5. The Directors, Professors, and Instructors,
Resident Licentiates, Students of the Seminary, and others to
whom the Board by a special order shall grant the privilege,
may take books from the Library.
62. Art. 6. Xo person shall ever borrow or return a book
without the knowledge of the Librarian or his assistant, who
shall examine the state of the book and keep a record of its
title, also of the person borrowing or returning, and of the
time when borrowed or returned. This record shall be signed
by the person borrowing or returning the book, unless he be a
Director, Professor, or Instructor, who may obtain books by a
written order. They may also have access to the Library on
all occasions, whether to return or receive books, or to con-
sult them in the Library.
63. Art. 7. The Library shall be opened for lending and
returning books, during term time, one hour a day four days
in a week. And no books shall be lent or returned at any
other time, except as specified in the preceding Article, or by
the special order of a Professor. And no student or resident
licentiate shall ever have more than five books at the same
time, in addition to the classics received upon the written
order of an Instructor; nor shall he retain any book from the
Library more than four weeks ; nor shall he carry any such
book out of town. The Library shall be opened for consulta-
tion every day except Sabbaths and other special days, at such
hours as the Faculty may appoint.
64. Art. 8. Any person injuring or defacing a book taken
from the Library shall make due satisfaction to the Librarian ;
any person detaining a book beyond the specified time shall
15
have no other till that be returned; any person losing or de-
stroying a book shall replace it, or pay its value ; and if it
belong to a set he shall take the remaining volumes and fur-
nish a new set, or pay for the whole. The Librarian may
require that any book shall be covered by the person borrow-
ing it.
65. Art. 9. The Library shall be aired every week, and
oftener if necessary, swept and dusted every month ; and at the
close of each term, before the examination, the books shall be
removed from the shelves and each shelf brushed ; and at the
end of every year all the books shall be returned to the Library
and the whole prepared for the inspection of the Board, to
whom the Librarian shall make a full and written report of the
state of the Library at each annual meeting.
66. Art. 10. The moneys received by the Faculty for the
benefit of the Library shall constitute a fund, to be known
as the Library Fund, unless given for the immediate pur-
chase or repair of books. These funds shall be invested by the
Treasurer, with the advice and consent of the Investing Com-
mittee ; and the interest of the same shall be controlled by the
Faculty, and appropriated by them to the increase and preser-
vation of the Library.
SECTION XL
Funds and Charitable Assistance.
67. Article I. The funds of this Seminary shall ever be
kept distinct and entirely separate from all others, and they
shall be deposited in the hands of the Treasurer to be man-
aged as required by this Constitution.
68. Art. 2. All funds invested for the benefit of the insti-
tution shall be invested in the name of "The Board of Direc-
tors of the Theological Seminary of the Synods of South
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States," or as it may otherwise direct;
and no part of the funds or their income shall ever be appro-
priated, except by an order of the Board, subject at all times
to direction and control of the Synods. And moneys thus
appropriated by the Board shall be paid by the Treasurer only
16
at the order of the President, or in case of his absence, death
or inability to act, the Vice-President, countersigned by the
Secretary.
69. Art. 3. A sacred regard shall ever be paid to the wishes
and directions of all Testators or Donors who may bequeath
or give anything to the funds of the institution. Any individ-
ual or individuals, or bodies, who shall, by will or otherwise,
found or endow a Professorship with $25,000, or a scholarship
with $2,000 or more, or a fund of sufficient amount for any
specific purpose connected with the Seminary, may designate
the name by which it shall ever be called.
70. Art. 4. All funds or their incomes, specially designated
for charitable assistance, shall be sacredly appropriated to
defray or diminish the expenses of worthy students in need
of pecuniary aid, or to lessen generally the expenses of a resi-
dent at the Seminary.
71. Art. 5. The scholarship funds shall all be dispensed
by the Faculty, and they shall make an annual report of the
same to the Board, with the names of the beneficiaries and the
amount received.
"J2.. Art. 6. The regular account of all the funds and ex-
penditures of the institution, and also of the number of the
students receiving charitable assistance, shall annually be
laid before the Board by the Treasurer.
73. Art. 7. To insure full meetings of the Board a sum
may be annually appropriated to defray the actual traveling
expenses of the members, not to exceed ten cents a mile.
17
BY-LAWS.
I. The officers of the Board, consisting of President, Vice-
President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected by ballot
at its annual meeting at the close of the session, and they
shall hold office for one year from the time of their election,
and until their successors shall have been appointed.
2. The Committee of Investment and the Librarian shall be
chosen by ballot, annually, at the same meeting which elects
the officers above named, and they shall annually report to the
Board.
3. No discussion shall take place without a regular mo-
tion.
4. At every annual meeting of the Board, as soon as practi-
cable after the organization of the Board, the following Com-
mittees shall be appointed, viz. :
An Executive Committee, as provided by the Constitution.
A Committee of Ways and Means : To take a general view of
the state of the Seminary, and to devise and recommend
measures necessary to its success.
A Building Committee : To examine the buildings belonging
to the Seminary and recommend any repairs, alterations, or
additions that may be necessary.
A Committee on the Library: To consider whatever relates
to that subject and recommend measures accordingly.
A Committee of Laws and Regulations : To investigate the
whole internal management of the institution, and suggest
necessary alterations.
A Committee of Audits : To audit all accounts submitted to
the Board.
A Committee of three members of the Board, as provided
in the Constitution before whom all the bonds, notes, and
assets of the Seminary shall be exhibited by the Treasurer.
This examination of bonds, notes, and assets of the Seminary
shall be made by this Committee semi-annually, to wit, in May
and November.
18
5- In the absence of the President the Vice-President shall
preside, and in the absence of both the Board shall choose a
temporary President. In the absence of the Secretary the
Board shall choose a temporary Secretary. The Board shall
also appoint at each meeting an assistant Secretary.
6. The Board shall annually appoint at least two persons
from its own number, or from the Faculty, whose duty it shall
be to preserve from damage and keep in good order the
material property of the Seminary ; who shall be authorized to
expend for these purposes a sum not exceeding $500 a year,
and who shall annually report to the Board.
7. The necessary expenses of the Board for traveling, for
stationery, etc., shall be paid by the Treasurer upon the order
of the President, countersigned by the Secretary.
8. The President of this Board shall be the organ of com-
munication between it and the Synods.
19
APPENDIX.
The following form for renewal of the Charter was adopted
by the Board of Directors May 19, 1895, an d transmitted to
the controlling Synods and Legislature of South Carolina for
action. The controlling Synods approved, and the Legislature
renewed the Charter in this form :
An Act to extend the Charter of "The Board of Directors of
the Theological Seminary of the Synod of South Carolina and
Georgia," to change the name of the incorporated body, and
better define and limit the powers thereof.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the
State of South Carolina that the Charter heretofore granted
in the name of "The Board of Directors of the Theological
Seminary of the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia" be
and the same is hereby renewed and extended in the name of
"The Board of Directors of the Theological Seminary of the
Synods of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida,
of the Presbyterian Church in the United States," with all
the powers, privileges and conditions granted and conferred
upon said corporate body by the Act chartering the same
and the past Acts amending the same.
Sec. 2. This corporation is under the direction and control
of the Synods of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Flor-
ida, of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, through
directors to be chosen by said Synods in such way, manner
and number as they may agree upon and determine, and under
such agreement and plan of government as the said Associated
Synods shall adopt for said Theological Seminary.
Sec. 3. This corporation is empowered to retain, hold, pos-
sess and enjoy all such property, rights and effects as are now
held and possessed in the name of "The Board of Directors of
the Theological Seminary of the Synod of South Carolina and
Georgia," or which may be hereafter given, bequeathed or
devised to it, or in any manner lawfully acquired ; and it is
empowered and directed to sell, alien, convey and transfer the
same or any part thereof in the management, control, con-
duct and support of said Theological Seminary, according to
20
such By-Laws, Constitution and Plan of Government as have
heretofore been or may hereafter be prescribed by said Asso-
ciated Synods.
Sec. 4. That the Charter of the said corporation in the name
as hereby amended, with such powers as hereby confirmed and
conferred, be, and is hereby, extended for a period of fifty
years from the approval of this Act.
Sec. 5. That all Acts, or parts of Acts, in conflict with this
Act are hereby repealed.
Approved the 9th day of March, A. D. 1896.
For the perfecting of the Charter, the following resolution,
presented by Mr. W. A. Clark, was unanimously adopted May
12, 1898:
Whereas, the Charter of this corporation under Act of Feb-
ruary 23, 1875 ( J 5 Stat., 855), expired February 23, 1896; and
Whereas, said Charter was extended for fifty years and the
name of this corporation was changed from "The Board of
Directors of the Theological Seminary of the Synod of South
Carolina and Georgia" to "The Board of Directors of the
Theological Seminary of the Synods of South Carolina, Geor-
gia, Alabama and Florida of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States," by the Act of March 9, 1896 (22 Stat., 328) ;
and
Whereas, some question has arisen as to the validity of this
Act ; and
Whereas, the General Incorporation Act of March 9, 1896
{22 Stat., 92), as amended by Act of March 5, 1897 {22 Stat,
522), and Acts of February 19 and 21, 1898 (22 Stat., 769,
771), provides for the renewal of Charters and change of
names of corporations by application to the Secretary of
State in the manner therein provided :
Resolved, That Russell Cecil, D. D., President, W. W.
Mills, Secretary, and W. J. Duffie, Treasurer of this corpora-
tion, be, and they are hereby, authorized and instructed to
file a petition with the Secretary of State and to take all other
legal steps necessary to secure and perfect the renewal of the
Charter of this corporation and the change of its name as
provided for by said Act of March 9, 1896.
21
THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
It is ordered for convenience, that in making reference,
the minutes of the Board prior to 1845 shall be known as
Volume I ; from 1845 to T ^ 2 ( tne missing volume, but re-
corded in printed minutes of Synod of South Carolina), as
Volume II; from 1862 to 1889, as Volume III; from 1889 to
1909, as Volume IV ; and the present volume as Volume V.
STANDING RULES ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS.
1. That hereafter the session of the Seminary shall open on
Wednesday after the third Monday of September of each
year. (Minutes, 1891, page 94.)
2. That students with families are excluded from the dorm-
itories. (Minutes, 1893, P a " e T 7& an d page 159.)
3. That the Faculty be, and hereby is, directed to pay stu-
dents what money may be left of the appropriation to each
after the Seminary bills have been met, and when a student
is two weeks or more late in reaching the Seminary, or shall
be absent for two weeks or more during the session without
permission, an amount proportionate to the time so lost shall
be deducted from his appropriation. (Minutes, 1893, P a & e
178.)
4. To whom Certificates and Diplomas are to be given.
(Minutes, 1894, page 181.)
5. That the Secretary notify each member of the Board of
Directors of the time of the regular meeting at least ten
days beforehand. (Minutes, 1894, page 184.)
6. That the annual examination papers of the students hav-
ing been first submitted by the Faculty to the Board, the
same shall then be properly distributed by the chairman of the
Faculty to the Presbyteries concerned that each Presbytery
may be informed of the progress of such students as may be
under its care. (Minutes. 1895, P a " e l 9 2 -)
22
7. That as the Library Fund is intrusted to the Faculty as
per Plan of Government (Section 10, Art. 10), the Faculty be,
and hereby is, requested to make an annual statement to the
Board of the status, the receipts and expenses, of this fund for
its information. (Minutes, 1895, page 197.)
8. That the annual conference with the Faculty be held the
second day of each annual meeting at 11 a. m., (Minutes,
1 901, page 336.)
See Minutes, 1906, page 457, where the Board ordered that
the conference with the Faculty come in connection with their
written reports.
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John Bulow Campbell Library
Columbia Theological Seminary
Decatur, Ga. 30031
85-0iy;)s
For Reference
Not to be taken from this room
JOHN BULOW CAMPBELL LIBRARY
BV4070 .C79415 1873 GCLR
Columbia Theologica/Constitution of the
1828 0022773 4