The enterprise of establishing a college in the Virginia Conference took definite direction, and resulted in practical action at the session of the Virginia Conference held at Oxford, N. C., March 2, 1825. In the minutes is this entry: "After some discussion on the recommendation of the General Conference (of 1824), 'That each Annual Conference establish a Seminary of Learning, under its own regulations and patronage,' the whole question was referred to a committee of twelve--six ministers and six laymen--to consider and report the best method of establishing such a Seminary with suitable constitutional principles." The following constituted the committee ordered: John Early, Hezekiah G. Leigh, Caleb Leach, Charles A. Cooley, William Compton and George M. Anderson, of the Conference; and Gabriel P. Disosway, Joseph B. Littlejohn, John Nutall, Lewis Taylor, Joseph Taylor and Jesse H. Cobb, of the laity.... "The College bill, which was laid on the table, was taken up, and, after some amendment, was adopted." It would appear from the constitution of the committee, that John Early made the motion to appoint the committee, and this was probably the case, because he was then, and for many years afterwards, a leader in the business of the Conference, and, therefore, the prime mover in the enterprise, had enlisted his active interest in the matter. We shall see that this prominent position was held by him for many years afterwards. This was all that was done at this Conference. At the next Conference, held in Portsmouth, Va., February, 1826, the committee was increased by adding George W. Charlton and James Smith, ministers, and Robert A. Armistead, Arthur Cooper, Jesse Nicholson, local preachers, and J. C. Pegram, Cary Jennings, laymen. On the 20th the committee made a report, and the report Was laid on the table. On the 22nd the College bill, which was laid on the table, was taken up, and after some amendments it was adopted. On the 23rd the "Select Committee," recommended in the bill adopted on the days previous, was appointed, viz.: Hezekiah G. Leigh, George W. Charlton, James Smith, John Early, Thomas Crowder, Ethelbert Drake, ministers, and Gabriel P. Disosway, Robert A. Armistead, William Clarke, John C. Pegram, laymen. This committee reported at the succeeding Conference (1827) a "Constitution" for the College, which, after some amendments, was adopted; and it was further "_Resolved_, that every member take a subscription paper and use his influence and best exertions to obtain subscriptions for the benefit of the College contemplated to be founded within the bounds of this Conference."