personnel problem in light of the fact that the Board meeting was being held at the First Baptist Church in Elyria, Ohio. Though the college had moved, most Board members still resided in the Cleveland area. It seemed easier for those in Cedarville to travel north than to ship the vast majority of the trustees south to the campus. It became obvious that the questions raised demanded immediate on-the– scene investigation. Therefore, it was unanimously determined: that a committee of four, plus the chairman, be appointed to meet with the faculty individ– ually and then collectively and then meet with the students as a whole if desirable and that the committee be empowered to make any neces– sary changes in duties, in operation, and in definition of duties that seemed to be required by the present emergency.20 In addition, the committee was to bring back recommendations for permanent changes to the total Board. Four days later, on Tuesday, December 15, the committee arrived in Cedarville. They spent three days investigating the situation in detail, and discovered Webster was living in a college residence which he had remodeled and repaired at college expense. He had been given permission to live in the house only temporarily while finding another abode. His contract did not call for a home to be provided, yet he continued to live in the college house, paying neither rent nor utilities. This was only one of the several financial issues that were raised. Further, they discovered the president's relationship to the faculty and student body had deteriorated to the point that he had virtually no support in the college community. The trustees had named Webster president of the college when he had been with B.B.I. less than a year. The trustee committee became painfully aware of how little they knew about the man. They concluded they had made a poor choice, and relieved Webster of his responsibilities immediately. The committee met with Webster and explained their decision to him. The next day committeeman Gerald Smelser, who was speaking in the college chapel that week, announced the decision to the student body and faculty. On January 8 another meeting of the Board of Trustees was held in Cleveland. George Milner, who had chaired the committee that went to Cedarville and was also chairman of the Board, presented the following recommendation: In view of the fact which has been established lOO/Chapler XII through interviews during December 15, 16, and 17 when members of the full-time faculty were interviewed, both individually and collec– tively, and then members of the student body were interviewed both individually and collec– tively, it became apparent thafboth faculty and student body have lost confidence in and re– spect for Dr. Webster. Therefore, the only pos– sible solution which would make possible the continuance of the school through the remain– der of this year would be for him to give up his administrative duties. We therefore recommend that Dr. Webster retain the title of president and that he devote all his time and energy to the promotional work of the college, including the raising of funds which we recognize as our greatest present need, this to be conditional upon assurance from Dr. Webster that he ac– cepts these new duties without reservation. 22 Due to the nature of the business to be discussed, the trustees had convened their meeting at 6:30 in the evening. Following the committee recommendation, Webster and the trustees entered into a lengthy discussion. Hour after hour the trustees raised questions and Webster responded in his own defense. Finally, he was excused from the meeting, and the Board determined to send still another committee to Cedarville to try to bring about an adequate reconciliation which would enable Webster to maintain some relationship to the college. The meeting finally adjourned at 2 a.m. with virtually nothing settled. The second committee of trustees went to Cedarville to meet with the faculty and Webster, and found conditions steadily deteriorating. They urged Webster to make a financial settlement with them, offering him four months salary with immediate termination; but he resisted.23 By their January 30 meeting, the trustees had sought legal counsel. They were convinced that Webster was in violation of his contract, but even if they had to pay the remaining 30 months of the contract, they felt his resignation and complete withdrawal were absolutely essential. They believed they were "faced with the complete collapse of Cedarville College with irreparable damage to our entire Baptist constituency and the involvement of many young lives." Therefore the Board demanded that Webster submit his resignation "effective June 30, 1954, the intervening time to be considered as leave of absence, including vacation."24 Webster finally agreed. The trustees then commissioned Vice President Jeremiah, who had been assuming increasing responsibility during the conflict, to read a statement to the student body. Jeremiah agreed to perform
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