It was resolved that a committee be appointed to mature a plan for the further prosecution of this work, and report to an adjourned meeting at Ashland in June, 1874. It was resolved that any contributor of $20,000 shall have the privilege of naming a professorship in the College. It does not appear on the record that any direct and decided benefit resulted from this convention, but it kept the subject before the people, and doubtless bore good fruit in after times. [Illustration: JOHN T. MOORE, _Of the Virginia Conference; Sutherlin Medalist, 1874._] At the annual meeting, June, 1874, it was found that, by inadvertence, the amendment to the charter approved April 9, 1874, contained a clause which read as follows: "[Section] 14. That the said Board of Trustees shall never be less than twenty-four nor more than forty-four, one of whom shall be elected by the Board president thereof; provided, also, that no member of the Faculty or Board of Instruction in the College shall be a member of the Board of Trustees." This vacated the office of the president of the Board, inasmuch as Dr. Duncan was a member of the Faculty. Steps were taken to have the above clause stricken out by the Legislature. [Illustration: [Portrait of Thomas Branch, inscribed "Tho. Branch", and captioned "_Trustee 1846 President Board of Trustees 1877._"]] To the office thus vacated Thomas Branch, Esq., of Richmond, Va., was elected. He was the only layman ever elected to that office. Mr. Branch had been a trustee for thirty years. He was one of the most zealous and constant friends the College had. His donations to the College had been frequent and liberal. He had been largely instrumental in having the College moved to Ashland. Recognizing the faithful service and devotion of Mr. Branch to the College, the Board thus unanimously elected him president. At the same time Rev. Alpheus W. Wilson, of the Baltimore Conference, was unanimously elected vice-president. [Illustration: GEORGE MERRITT NOLLEY, A. M.] The attendance of students for the closing year had been 235, one in excess of the previous year's number. In the record of this year the regular report of the President and Faculty is not found, though doubtless one was made. On the recommendation of the Faculty, the following degrees were conferred: A. M.--George Merritt Nolley, of Virginia; Robert Emory Blackwell, of Virginia. D. D.--Rev. C. Green Andrews, of Mississippi; Rev. William A. Harris, President of the Wesleyan Female Institute, Staunton, Va. On motion of Rev. J. C. Granbery, the following was adopted: "Whereas, since the last annual meeting of the Board the venerated Bishop John Early, for many years the president of the Board, has been taken from us by death: therefore, "_Resolved_, That in the death of Bishop John Early the College has lost one of its most zealous, faithful and useful friends, and the Board of Trustees one of its most honored and efficient members."