Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1894 [PAGE 201]

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202

UNIVEESITY OF ILLINOIS.

On motion of Mr. Armstrong, t h e several matters presented in t h e regent's report were taken up for consideration. On motion of Mr. Armstrong, t h e request for t h e appointment of additional instructors was referred to t h e finance committee. On motion of Mr. McLean, t h e subject of t h e freshman sociable was referred to a special committee. The president appointed as members of this committee Messrs. McLean, Raab and McKay. The special committee, appointed at t h e October meeting, to consider t h e leasing of ground to t h e Christian associations of t h e University, made t h e following r e p o r t :

URBANA, I I I . , December 12, 1893.

To the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. GENTLEMEN : Your committee, appointed at t h e October meeting, to investigate t h e legality of leasing grounds to t h e Christian associations of t h e University, begs leave to submit the following opinion from Judge J . O. Cunningham, of Urbana :

U R B A N A, I I I . , November 25, 1893,

Br. T. J. Burrill, Acting Regent, M Y D E A R SIR : Your letter of yesterday, asking for my written opinion upon t h e proposition to lease certain grounds of t h e University to the young people's Christian associations, has reached me. I see nothing in this proposition to change the rule cited by me in answer to a former letter by you. Leasing land is but parting with t h e use and control for a term of years, instead of perpetually. The associations, while as to so-called evangelical churches they are non-sectarian, yet as to Hebrews, Catholics, Mohammedans, Parsees, and Universalists, are sectarian. To donate land as proposed would, as it seems to me, be a direct violation of t h e mandate contained in section 3, article V I I I , of t h e constitution of 1870, which every trustee is sworn to obey. Yours, etc.,

J. O. CUNNINGHAM.

I n view of t h e conclusion stated in Judge Cunningham's opinion, your committee is compelled to advise t h a t grounds should not be leased to the Christian associations. Eespectfully submitted,

T. J. BURRILL, ) Committee ALEX. MCLEAN, f ^ommiuee-

The report of t h e committee was adopted. On motion of Mr. Armstrong, t h e board adjourned to meet at 8 o'clock p. m., at t h e Doane House, Champaign.

EVENING

SESSION.

Th3 board met pursuant to adjournment, t h e sam3 members being present as in t h e afternoon. Professor Breckenridge sent in t h e following report with regard to tools and machinery which had been borrowed for t h e mechanical engineering department at t h e World's Fair: To the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. GENTLEMEN: Allow me to submit to you t h e following statement: I have returned to t h e Lodge & Davis Machine Tool Company t h e three tools loaned to t h e mechanical engineering department during t h e