The Domesday Book of Queen's University (Volume 2) 1900-1924

SAPIENTIA ET DOCTRINA STABILITAS

1900-01

(8) How should the Benefactors be elected? Ans: By co-operation (not exceeding one-third). (9) Who should be ex-officio members of the Board? Ans.: The Chancellor and Vice Chancellor.

In the course of the year, 15th, July, the Rev. Professor Mowat, D.D., was taken away by death. A distinguished graduate of the University, and afterwards, for 43 years, Professor of Hebrew Language and Literature, and some-time Professor of New Testament and Church History, and also Registrar, his loss was much felt and regretted.

This minute was adopted by the Board of Trustees: "The University mourns the loss of Professor Mowat, the oldest member of the teaching staff, he having served the institution faithfully and long. By his good judgment, modest bearing, and unfailing courtesy, he earned the high regard of his colleagues in the Senate. By his ripe scholarship, painstaking fidelity and enthusiasm for Oriental studies, he begot in his students a taste for the language of the Old Testament, while by the devotedness of his spirit he set before them a highly impressive Christian ideal. By the lofty character he displayed among men generally he bore witness to whatever was just and lovely and of good report, and prepossessed them in favour of the religion which he taught. His memory will be long cherished warmly by all who were brought in contact with him."

The city of Kingston, in consideration of the value of the

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SAPIENTIA ET DOCTRINA STABILITAS

1900-01

University to the place, and also to the Province and the Dominion, made a gift of $50,000.00 to be used in the erection of an additional building which was much needed, and which was, later, named the Kingston Hall. This valuable gift was duly and gratefully acknowledged by the Board, and cordial thanks given to the city, and to all the friends who had helped in the undertaking. Steps were, at once, taken by the Board to proceed to the erection of the building, which, when completed, would be the home of the Faculty of Arts.

The School of Mining, successful from the first, having out-grown its quarters, the Board of Governors submitted the following proposition to the Trustees:

(1) That if Queen's University would erect a building suitable for the use of the School, to be erected from plans satisfactory to the University, the School of Mining, and the Lieutenant Governor in Council, said building to cost, exclusive of the site $30,000 to $40,000, the Board of Governors, of the School, would agree to lease said building for the space of ninety-nine years, paying therefor as rental 6% on the cost of construction, the Lessors to keep said building in repair. (2) In the event of a Power House and Plant being erected as contemplated by the University, the Governors of the School of Mining will be prepared to pay the cost of supplying power, heat and light to the Mining School Buildings, the amount to be equitably adjusted by agreement between the parties.

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SAPIENTIA ET DOCTRINA STABILITAS

1900-01

The government of the Province had granted the annual rental of the new building asked for.

The Board of the University, by resolution, agreed to consider carefully the proposal of the School of Mining, as set forth in the resolution of its Governors and the Building Committee, with the addition of the Chairman, was to take such action as might be deemed advisable.

The pressure for more room was becoming general. The next call came from the Medical Department, asking that the building occupied by it be enlarged at a cost of about $10,000, building arrangements and management to be mutually agreed upon by the University and the Medical Faculty. Terms were accepted.

After careful consideration of the proposal of the School of Mining, as to the building required, the Board instructed the Finance Committee, with the addition of Professor Dupuis and Goodwin, to proceed with the enlargement of said building, on the terms set forth in their resolutions.

Next, comes the weighty question of the suggested change in the Constitution of the University.

A Convention of the Trustees, Senate, Council, Graduates, Alumni and Benefactors of the University, was held Nov. 12, 1900, to consider the proposed changes in the Charter which were submitted by the Trustees at the last General Assembly; and it was resolved as follows:

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SAPIENTIA ET DOCTRINA STABILITAS

1900-01

Whereas the Constitution of the Board of Trustees of Queen's University, has been modified both in 1874 and 1888, with the view of giving a larger representation to all classes of the friends and graduates of Queen's; and whereas, in the general practice of the University, other changes have been introduced, rendering the University more national in its arms and character; and whereas, since 1888, the growth of the University has been marked especially in the following particulars:

1. Its cordial support and encouragement by the public men of all shades of religious opinion. 2. The increase of the number of students and graduates who are not Presbyterians. 3. The growth of the connection of the University with the general education of the Province, and 4. The widening acceptance of Queen's as the University of this part of Canada, evinced by the recent donation of $50,000.00 to the University by the City of Kingston, and by the interest shown in Queen's throughout the adjoining municipalities. "And whereas, the General Assembly in the meeting at Halifax, last June, expressed its approval of any wellconsidered change in the Constitution of the University, which would still further increase its usefulness by making the body of Trustees more completely representation

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SAPIENTIA ET DOCTRINA STABILITAS

1900-01

of the undenominational character of the work which it is at present doing; and whereas the Church has taken a deepening interest in the welfare of the University, evidenced more particularly by the Assembly's distribution of the Century Fund to be applied to the Theological Colleges, and whereas the General Assembly in its last meeting at Halifax expressed its gratifiction with the proposal to have the Theological Faculty under the care of a special Board to be appointed by the Assembly - Be it resolved: 1. That in the judgment of this Convention, the Governing Board of Queen's University should be undenominational, and should be in a larger degree than at present directly representative of the graduates and friends of the University. 2. That the Faculty of Theology should be under the management of a Board distinct from the Governing Board of the University. 3. It was further resolved - That as regards the other changes referred to in the Principal's article in Queen's Quarterly, last issue, this convention expresses a general agreement, especially on the following points, viz., That the matriculated students as well as the Graduates and Benefactors should be part of the Corporation and represented on the Governing Board: That the Graduates and Benefactors, respectively, be represented on the Board

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