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Volume 6 Relation of U.B/EUB Virginia Conferences to Shenandoah University Dec. 26, 2013
express our appreciation of his labor and faithful service during his connection with the
School. 2nd, that as he goes from us to his new field of labor, he carries with him the best
wishes of the Board, and they will ever be glad to hear of his success and prosperity. 3rd, That
we cause these resolutions to be spread on our Journal.
The position of head of the Music Department was taken in 1894 by Prof. E. C. Miller and Prof.
E. T. Hildebrand. The number of pupils in the Department fell from 110 to 73 that year, and the total
enrollment of the Institute dropped from its peak of 140 to 92. Prof. Hott asked for a position of less
responsibility for the coming year because of his impaired health and other responsibilities. He was,
nevertheless, reelected to the Office of Principal and continued to serve as President of the Board of
Trustees.
The following recommendation was sent to the 1894 Annual Conference, which met in Staunton,
Va.: “That we respectfully ask the Virginia Annual Conference to assess $1,000 the several fields of
labor for the liquidation of the indebtedness of Shenandoah Institute” [1894 Minutes, p. 17]. The
recommendation was accepted, but of this $1,000 only $99.55 was realized. The only income the Board
of Trustees had was 10 percent of the total receipts, which in 1894 amount only to $212. From this
small amount the Board was to pay for the upkeep of the buildings and grounds, tuning of pianos,
insurance, printing of catalogs, advertising, new furniture, etc. All money coming from notes held by
the Institute was used to pay off the $2,000 indebtedness. Usually, the money collected from notes was
barely enough to pay the annual interest on the loans. The men who held notes on the School were
usually elected to the Board of Trustees (probably with the hope that they would see the financial
condition of the School and not press their claims). In 1894 the Institute was indebted to Prof. G. P.
Hott to the amount of $480, with smaller amounts owed to five of the other nine members of the Board.
Usually, the scholastic year ended with a balance of less than a dollar; indeed, the balance in 1893 was
nothing, and in 1894 it was 16 cents.
In June 1894 another plan for liquidating the debt was introduced by Trustee
J. W. Howe (pictured at the right), who was then Presiding Elder of Shenandoah
District, Virginia Conference, and a staunch friend of the Institute. The seven
Board members who were present at the June Board of Trustees meeting subscribed
a total of $600 on condition that the whole indebtedness be secured. Of this
amount, Prof. Hott and Prof. Fries each subscribed $200, J. W. Howe subscribed
$100, and the other four trustees each promised $25. However, this campaign, like
all the previous, ended in failure—no additional subscriptions were taken. Then the Board suggested
that Rev. Howe request Bishop J. W. Hott to assist in erasing this debt, but nothing ever came of that
proposal.
At the 1895 Annual Conference, Principal Hott repeated his request that the Conference assess
the various churches enough that the indebtedness could be lifted [1895 Minutes, p. 19]:
Eleven years ago the Conference purchased this School and has since operated it. On an
average, over 100 students have attended annually. Though there has been no endowment or
other funds outside of the proceeds and the amounts collected on the charges, it has run
without an increase of debt. The interest on the small debt made in the purchase of the
property has been paid annually. The principle should be provided for…. In conclusion, I
commend to your consideration…the propriety of raising $2,000 on the Conference floor for
the Institute at such time as may be thought best.
Miller, et al., on History of S.C., 1875-1950 16
express our appreciation of his labor and faithful service during his connection with the
School. 2nd, that as he goes from us to his new field of labor, he carries with him the best
wishes of the Board, and they will ever be glad to hear of his success and prosperity. 3rd, That
we cause these resolutions to be spread on our Journal.
The position of head of the Music Department was taken in 1894 by Prof. E. C. Miller and Prof.
E. T. Hildebrand. The number of pupils in the Department fell from 110 to 73 that year, and the total
enrollment of the Institute dropped from its peak of 140 to 92. Prof. Hott asked for a position of less
responsibility for the coming year because of his impaired health and other responsibilities. He was,
nevertheless, reelected to the Office of Principal and continued to serve as President of the Board of
Trustees.
The following recommendation was sent to the 1894 Annual Conference, which met in Staunton,
Va.: “That we respectfully ask the Virginia Annual Conference to assess $1,000 the several fields of
labor for the liquidation of the indebtedness of Shenandoah Institute” [1894 Minutes, p. 17]. The
recommendation was accepted, but of this $1,000 only $99.55 was realized. The only income the Board
of Trustees had was 10 percent of the total receipts, which in 1894 amount only to $212. From this
small amount the Board was to pay for the upkeep of the buildings and grounds, tuning of pianos,
insurance, printing of catalogs, advertising, new furniture, etc. All money coming from notes held by
the Institute was used to pay off the $2,000 indebtedness. Usually, the money collected from notes was
barely enough to pay the annual interest on the loans. The men who held notes on the School were
usually elected to the Board of Trustees (probably with the hope that they would see the financial
condition of the School and not press their claims). In 1894 the Institute was indebted to Prof. G. P.
Hott to the amount of $480, with smaller amounts owed to five of the other nine members of the Board.
Usually, the scholastic year ended with a balance of less than a dollar; indeed, the balance in 1893 was
nothing, and in 1894 it was 16 cents.
In June 1894 another plan for liquidating the debt was introduced by Trustee
J. W. Howe (pictured at the right), who was then Presiding Elder of Shenandoah
District, Virginia Conference, and a staunch friend of the Institute. The seven
Board members who were present at the June Board of Trustees meeting subscribed
a total of $600 on condition that the whole indebtedness be secured. Of this
amount, Prof. Hott and Prof. Fries each subscribed $200, J. W. Howe subscribed
$100, and the other four trustees each promised $25. However, this campaign, like
all the previous, ended in failure—no additional subscriptions were taken. Then the Board suggested
that Rev. Howe request Bishop J. W. Hott to assist in erasing this debt, but nothing ever came of that
proposal.
At the 1895 Annual Conference, Principal Hott repeated his request that the Conference assess
the various churches enough that the indebtedness could be lifted [1895 Minutes, p. 19]:
Eleven years ago the Conference purchased this School and has since operated it. On an
average, over 100 students have attended annually. Though there has been no endowment or
other funds outside of the proceeds and the amounts collected on the charges, it has run
without an increase of debt. The interest on the small debt made in the purchase of the
property has been paid annually. The principle should be provided for…. In conclusion, I
commend to your consideration…the propriety of raising $2,000 on the Conference floor for
the Institute at such time as may be thought best.
Miller, et al., on History of S.C., 1875-1950 16
