STETSON-LETTER
Vol. 10, No. 3
Stetson University, DeLand and St. Petersburg, Florida
Spring, 1962
President Explains Charter to Parents
"THE SAME CHARTER which prevents the
Trustees of Stetson University from transferring ownership and control of the school to the Florida Baptist State Convention also establishes it forever as a
Baptist institution," President J. Ollie Edmunds told
nearly 600 parents during the third annual Parents
weekend in DeLand.
"The messengers from the churches at Orlando
who asked the Stetson Trustees to turn over the property of the University to the Florida Baptist State
Convention for operation, undoubtedly believed that
they were making a proposal that would result in a
stronger Baptist college," Edmunds said. "They could
not have intended to suggest that the Trustees break
faith with men and women and churches of earlier
days who had made their gifts to the University in reliance upon a legislative charter that could not be
amended. They wanted to strengthen—not weaken—
this institution," he said, "even though they made an
impossible request.'
"Other well-meaning friends of Stetson, misunderstanding the purpose of the request of the Convention, who have called upon the University to sever all
Convention connections and become an institution unrelated to any church group, do not understand that
this must forever remain a Baptist college. These
friends do not really want a break in church alliance;
they do want to be certain that the institution continue
its long tradition of excellence. Fortunately, this does
not present any dilemma.
"These divergent requests have tested, however,
the very foundations of the University. With change
and insecurity on every side, it is not difficult to conceive of Trustees who might have been tempted to
overlook a sacred trust in exchange for promises of
(Continued on next page)
Sid Singleton '35 presents the gavel to the 1962 president of the Stetson Alumni
Association, Judge Boyce Ezell Jr. '36, at the Homecoming Banquet. Homecoming
stories and pictures are on pages 2, 3, 7, 8, and 9.
Mark Your Calendar Now:
80TH ANNIVERSARY HOMECOMING, FEBRUARY 15-17, 1963!
