314 Amendments to Rules for Professorship of Divinity

    [January 13 1724/25]

    Whereas it has been represented to me by the Honorable and Reverend Overseers and the Fellows of Harvard College in Cambridg New England that some clauses in my Rules and Orders relating to a Professor of Divinity appointed by me in the said College need some Explication or amendments, for the future benefit thereof. I do therefore by the advises aforesaid according to the Power reserved to my self therein make and appoint the following alterations under my hand and seale that they may be of equal Authority as if the Original rules had been so worded.

    I apoint the second rule of my general Orders to be thus understood. I order and apoint the yearly sum of eighty pounds to be paid by the Treasurer of the said College for the time being to one Professor of Divinity, who shal be nominated and chosen by the President and Fellows of Harvard College or the major part of them, (and then presented unto me for my aprobation during my life) to read Lectures in the Hall of the said College, and otherwise to instruct the Students, according to the Scheme aproved by the honorable Bord of Overseers and annexed thereunto.

    I also apoint that the Ninth Article of the Rules relating to the Professor be thus worded and understood. That the said Professor be chosen by the Reverend President and Fellows of the College or the Major part of them for the time being and be presented by them when chosen to the Honorable and Reverend Overseers to be by them aproved and confirmed in his Place.

    I also apoint that the Tenth Article of the Rules relating to the Professor be thus worded That the said Professor be at all times under the Inspection of the Reverend President and Fellows, and of the Honorable and Reverend Overseers for the time being, to be by the said President and Fellows or the Major part of them displaced for any just and valluable Cause the Honorable and Reverend Overseers also or the major part of them, consenting thereunto, but not Else.

    The design of these alterations being cheifly with reference unto the first projected Quinquenial Election of the Professor which is now hereby Revoked. Signed and sealed this thirteenth day of January One thousand seven hundred and twenty four.

    Witnes

    Thomas Hollis

    Jos. Hunt

    Jno. Osborne

    Edw. Wallin

    Dan. Neal

    Hollis Letters and Papers, p. 43. Concerned about the quinquennial election of the Hollis Professor of Divinity, the Corporation asked the Overseers to recommend a change; these revisions to the Hollis Orders and Rules are the result. The chief change is the dropping of the five-year limitation. See CSM Publications, xvi. 512, 521.