Plan of Union - 1873
The “Plan of Union” was a series of resolutions formulated in 1873 and adopted by the Synods of Nashville, Memphis, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas as a basis of cooperation in the reorganization of Stewart College after the Reconstruction Era as the single Presbyterian college for these six Synods. The Synods of Arkansas and Texas subsequently withdrew to maintain colleges within their own boundaries.
The Commissioners of the Synods of Nashville, Memphis, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama (all of them being represented) appointed to confer with reference to their mutual wants in the matter of education, and to mature, if possible, a plan for their cooperation, met in Memphis, on May 8, 1873, and after a harmonious conference, unanimously resolved to present to their respective Synods the following plan for their consideration and adoption:
Resolved 1. That the proposed union of Synods for the furtherance of our educational interests is in every way desirable, and that it is practicable to unite in the founding, endowment, support and government of an institution common to them all.
Resolved 2. The object and scope of the institution shall be not only to train our youth to enter upon one of the learned professions, but also to fit them for the ordinary vocations of life.
To this end it shall be a university in two senses. First. It shall offer the largest facilities for thorough culture and for a high standard of graduation; and Second. The organization shall be made on the plan of separate and coordinate schools, and elective courses.
In connection with every course there shall be a faithful and comprehensive Biblical training, so as to make an intelligent, Scriptural faith the controlling principle in the institution.
Resolved 3. In realizing the proposed object and scope of the institution, the order of development shall be: First, the various liberal studies usually embraced in a college curriculum, and then the special scientific and polytechnic schools necessary.
Resolved 4. The sole government of the institution shall be in the hands of a directory, consisting of two members from each Synod, one elected each year after the first, of whom one-half shall constitute a quorum.
With a view to securing the necessary confidential relations between the directory and the faculty, the presiding officer of the institution shall be ex-officio, the presiding officer of the Board of Directors.
Resolved 5. This directory shall, with other duties, have power to elect all members of the faculty or remove for cause, and shall have in charge the raising, preservation and administration of all monies, either directly or by such executive agency as may seem to them best, and shall be incorporated in the State in which the institution may be located.
Resolved 6. The Board shall proceed at once to secure subscriptions to the amount of $500,000 payable one-fifth down when subscribed, and the remainder in four annual installments; and shall locate, organize and develop the institution as soon as in their judgment it can be done with safety, and to such extent as the means in hand will justify without incurring debt.
Resolved 7. The Synods agreeing to this plan shall at once elect directors as herein provided, who shall hold their first meeting in the city of Memphis, on the second Tuesday of January, 1874, at 7 o’clock p.m., and take in hand the matters committed to their charge.
(signed)
C.A. Stillman, Chair
J.B. Shearer,
B.M. Palmer,
D.N. Kennedy,
T.R. Welch,
D.H. Cummins,
J.L. Witherspoon,
B.M. Estes,
Commissioners.
(The Reverend A.P. Smith, D.D., and the Reverend E. McNair, Commissioners from Mississippi and Arkansas, not being present, subsequently approved the plan.)
W.E. Boggs, Clerk
In 1875, after the Legislature of Tennessee passed “An Act to Provide for the Organization of Corporations,” Stewart College secured a charter under the new name of Southwestern Presbyterian University.
Amendments to this information requires approval of the Rhodes Board of Trustees.
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