Berea College: An Illustrated History

Appendix Two

(Adopted July 15–18, 1859) In order to promote the cause of Christ, we, Jno. G. Fee, Jno. Smith, Thos. J. Renfro, Wm. Stapp, Geo. Candee, Jas. S. Davis, Jno. A. R. Rogers, Jno. G. Hanson, do voluntarily unite ourselves together to establish and maintain an Institution of Learning, under the following articles of agreement: Article I.—This Institution shall be called Berea College. Article II.—This College shall be under the care of a Board of Trustees, who shall receive and hold in trust, all lands, legacies, moneys, and other property committed to them for said Institution, and exercise their trust in the use and disposal of the same in such manner, as shall, in their judgment, promote the highest interests of said College. Article III.—The Board of Trustees shall elect a President, Vice-President, and Secretary, of said Board, from their own number. Article IV.—It shall be the duty of the Board of Trustees to appoint the President and Teachers of the College, also, a Secretary and Treasurer of the same, fix their salaries, prescribe the course of study, confer degrees, receive and disburse moneys, make contracts, and enforce the same, audit accounts, appoint examiners, and transact all other business for the interests of the Institution. Article V.—The Board of Trustees may make such By-Laws as it may deem necessary to promote the interests of the Institution. Article VI.—The persons named in the Preamble of these Articles of Agreement, shall constitute its original Board of Trustees, and new members may be added to said Board, or vacancies therein filled by the addition of such persons as shall be elected members thereof by the Board and sign these articles of agreement. To these six Articles, two others were added, when the Constitution was recorded in the office of the County Clerk, Richmond, Ky., April 5th, 1866. These are as follows: Article VII.—In case of the dissolution of this Institution, all its funds, real estate and property shall be given to the American Missionary Association of New York City, to be applied under the direction of the Executive Committee of that Association, to its charitable uses and purposes . Article VIII.—This Constitution may be amended by a vote of three-fourths of the Trustees at any annual meeting, providing a written notice of amendment shall have been sent to each trustee as much as three months previous to said meeting. BYLAWS 1.—The object of this College shall be to furnish the facilities for a thorough education to all persons of good moral character, and at the least possible expense to the same. To promote this end all the facilities and inducements for manual labor, which can reasonably be supplied by the Board, shall be offered to its students. 2.—This College shall be under an influence strictly Christian , and as such, opposed to Sectarianism, Slaveholding, Caste, and every other wrong institution or practice. Definition:—To be anti-sectarian is to oppose everything that causes schism in the body of Christ, or among those who are Christians,—those who have a righteous practice and Christian experience. 3.—In the election of future members of the Board, of a President and Professors, or the employment of Teachers, no sectarian test shall be applied; but it shall be required only that the candidate be competent to fill the office, and have Christian experience with a righteous practice. Definition:—By prohibiting the application of sectarian tests, we mean to say that in the selection of the members and officers named, we will give no weight in our decision, nor select in view of the fact, that the candidate is in favor of sprinkling or immersion; or demand that 222 Appendix Two Constitution, Charter, and Bylaws of Berea College he agree or disagree with us, in regard to other theological tenets on which Christians differ. 4.—Any Trustee who shall be guilty of a gross immorality, may be expelled from the Board by a vote of a majority of the Trustees. 5.—The Board of Trustees may appoint a Prudential Committee of five or more persons, who shall transact all business committed to them by the Trustees. 6.—The Trustees shall hold an annual meeting at such time and place as they may designate. 7.—The officers of the Board shall be elected at the annual meeting, and hold their offices for one year, or until new ones are elected...