Calendar: 1962-1963 Page 39

HISTORICAL SKETCH 37 the movement for the creation of Teaching University in London and jointly with University College presented petition for the Charter of Gresham University The result of this movement was the re- constitution of the University in 1900 which had at once an appreciable effect on the number of the students the character of the teaching and the life of the whole College and necessarily also led to further changes Abolition of Religious Tests On July 21st 1903 the King's College London Act 1903 was passed amending the King's College London Act 1882 The chief feature of this Act was the abolition-except in the case of Professors and Lecturers in the Faculty of Theology-of the declaration of membership of the Church of England which up to that date had been required in respect of membership of the Council and of all offices under the Council except the Professorships of Oriental and Modern Languages Incorporation in the University University College had proposed to the University Commissioners the incorporation of that College into the University This proposal was now made to the Senate of the University and after considerable negotiations conditions of incorporation were agreed upon and embodied in an Act of Parliament which received the Royal Assent in 1905 and the transfer took efiect on January lst 1907 The situation thus created demanded the serious attention of the Council of King's College Equally with University College the Council desired to strengthen the University and to secure unity of aim and interest in all that relates to advanced education and the promotion of original research They felt also that if University College were incorporated and enjoyed different status from that of King's College which would remain only School of the University it would place the teachers of the College in an inferior position Moreover the growth and develop ment of the College required careful consideration of the best method of organizing its work especially in view of the large increase in the demands upon the Council and on the Officers of the College resulting from the rapid development of the University For all these reasons the University was approached and after protracted negotiations scheme of incorporation was arranged which was embodied in the King's College London Transfer Act 1908 which received the Royal Assent on August lst 1908 Commissioners appointed under the Act prepared Statutes which were sealed on June 26th 1909 By the Act of 1908 the Constitution of the Corporation and the Council was amended The Council retained all its powers in relation to the Faculty of Theology but Theological Committee was instituted to advise the Council and to superintend under its direction the work carried on in the Theological Department of the College which was henceforth to be School of the University in the Faculty of Theology