1886 Conference Minutes
September 23, 1886
Morgantown, West Virginia
Your committee deem it imperative on them to place prominently before you the subject of a Conference Seminary. For years the Committee on Education has kept this enterprise in view, but all action hitherto has been tentative. The time has come when this Conference ought to take definite steps toward this work. Is there not among us some who are public-spirited enough, and financially able to aid in the establishment of a Conference Seminary? The money spent in securing educational advantages outside of our state every year, in the one item of transportation of 100 pupils would amount to $2,000. This sum would pay the tuition of the same number of pupils for one year. We have been waiting a long time for this school in vain. There are two ways of waiting, however; one, the Bible way — waiting in the use of the means — the other; that of a hero of fiction — waiting for something to turn up. That has failed hopelessly, let us try the other.
It has occurred to us that a special day be assigned to the interests of our proposed school, and that the second Sunday of January be observed to present this enterprise to our congregations, and collections and subscriptions taken for this purpose. We recommend the appointment of the Rev. J.W. Reger and J.A. Barnes, Esq. to fill the vacancies caused by the death of the Rev. S. Steele and the Hon. N. Goff, and that the Rev. W.R. White be substituted for the Rev. H. P. Boatman in the Board of Trustees of the West Virginia Conference Seminary. We recommend that the Board secure a charter of incorporation as speedily as possible, and that they are hereby authorized to locate this school and give publicity to its location at the earliest date, and to employ an agent, if in their judgment they should deem it advisable. We recommend further, that the money in the hands of the treasurer of the educational fund, and that also in the hands of the Board of Control of the Centennial Educational Fund be handed over to the Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of said West Virginia Conference Seminary, as soon as it is incorporated and organized.