Knox College - Gale Yearbook (Galesburg, IL)

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THE GALE NINETEEN-TEN .PROFESSOR 1 l1Lu1,uf:1z'l' E. il1u1fF1'r11 K N OX COLLEGE ,li- 13 E N D O W M E N T

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K N OX comms 12 E N D O W M E N T THE GALE NINETEEN-TEN A CHICAGO VIEWPGINT By Ciiixurmzs L. jonNsoN President of the Chicago Alumni Association I l HERE were nearly two thousand con- tributors in all. What wonderful promise in that! VVhat breadth, what life, what hope. A great tree is strong in storm and crisis as it has roots broadly extended which 2l1'C alive and in service-emphasis on the last words. Knox College for Lin- coln was not merely a banner on the east wall of Old Main. lt was at once the dec- laration and the definition of her standard. lt was the collective voice of her founders out of the past, and of her defenders, and of her loyal sons and daughters who were everywhere, and it was potent in a crisis. Again this collective voice from every- where has spoken in the new quarter of a million saying that the material foundation of the college shall be strengthened, and in this great breadth of contribution and co- operation and intelligent, self-sacrificing interest resides peculiar assurance and hope of the future. Everyone rejoices. and be- lieves that the event is more than an inci- dent in the life of the college-rather that it founds an era, that Old Knox is now safe and that accretions to her endowment of which this one is only a prophecy, will surely follow. Assuredly in an event so full of benefit that which was good also in the individual making. And the way of this is not far to testimony that it had rarely enjoyed such an a membership of close to two hundred and and blessing to the college there was sense for all who participated in its seek. The Chicago Association bears awakening. It discovered that it had fifty graduates and former students, that few other colleges have so many here or such a number of eminent ones and that there is great strength and opportunity for usefulness, and self-help as well, in this enviable position. And it rejoiced in the opportunity of service. With gladsome promptitude it organized and parceled out the work. Everybody had an opportunity to give. And there were gifts that were hard for the givers and sacrifices of time and comfort for the workers, but all rejoiced in a great reward --that reward which follows upon the glad subordination of the minor to the major and expands as the altruistic promptings of mind and heart are zealously pursued. The channel was a rare one through which to register in that service which ennobles and nplifts and inspires. And it was a convincing illustration in- deed of both the fact and the power of such an inspiration to see committees self- constituted and for the love alone of their high purpose earnestly facing the blasts of that stormiest day and night of February at the last that they might roll up another thousand before the expiration of the time limit. This took some courage. No matter whether they succeeded or how well. Such fidelity of endeavor always succeeds, and has in its own increase its own reward. ln manifold ways it did us good and this may be recorded as a Chicago viewpoint.

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K N O X COLLEGE 14 E N D O W M E N T THE GALE NINETEEN-TEN THE GALESBURG CAMPAIGN By Rev. J. PERCIVAL I'IUGE'1' most inspiring and enheartening part of the Endowment Campaign was that which had as its object the enlisting of the support of the citizens of Galesburg. This was most successfully accomplishedg so successfully that the whole city was stirred, genuine interest and enthusiasm aroused, many contribu- tions received, and the college entrenched more firmly than ever in the confidence and affection of the people. From the first it was certain that there would be large gifts from the mem- bers of the Board of Trustees residing in Galesburg. But it was doubly important that the general public should be enlisted. In the first place, it was certain that without liberal contribution by the city of Galesburg the total amount would not be raised. This was due, in part, to the fact that all contributions from every available source were imperatively needed if the whole amount were to be raised within the time limit, equally due to the further fact that it was known that many large gifts from non-residents would not be forthcoming if it should seem that the people of the home city were not deeply and genuinely interested in the cola lege and its future. In the second place, the financial campaign, important as it was, could not then be considered the largest issueg nor can its success be counted as the greatest gain. The real issue was that of the continued loyalty of this community to its historic college, and the greatest gain the manifestation in such unmistakable terms of an undiminished regard and an ever increasing determination to sustain and support the college as it faces the larger problems of its constantly expanding field and ever enlarging opportunity. For the most exacting could not ask greater manifestation of loyalty or more substantial support than that which was given. At a dinner tendered to the busi- ness men of the city by Mr. Geo. A. Lawrence the local campaign was launched. A business men's committee was appointed consisting of sixteen members. This committee innnediately organized and pushed the local canvass until the day of final success, receiving constant advice and co-operation from President Mc- Clelland, and assisted very greatly by the systematic plans and accurate records provided and kept by Prof. Griffith and Kellogg McClelland. It is impossible within the limits of this article to do justice to the large part contributed by these gentlemen to the success of the work of the committee. The work of this committee was ably seconded and forwarded by a larg: munber of volunteer workers. The loyalty to and love for the college on the part of the people of the city was so constantly and so warmly manifested that solicitation in most cases met with a most ready and willing response. In all, one thousand one hundred and eighty-two contributions were made by residents of Galesburg, ranging in amount from 350.10 to S25,000, and aggregat- ing 588,024.81