University of Chicago - Cap and Gown Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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carter IQII HD ann ooannd- Mr. Rockefeller's Gift to the University of Chicago TREVOR ARNETT N a letter dated December 13, 1910, addressed to the President and Trustees of the University of Chicago, Mr. John D. Rockefeller in- formed them that he had caused to be set aside for the University of 1 Chicago, from the funds of the General Education Board, income bear- pgh ,.1l' ing securities ofthe present market value of approximately SI0,000,000, Eak-QOL A the same to be delivered to the UI1lV6fSIIy'.lD ten equal annual ,install- 'f7 U ments beginning January 1, 1911, each installment to bear income to the University from the date of such delivery only. In making this great gift Mr. Rockefeller closed in a single and final gift his contri- butions to the University. He states in his letter as follows: The sum I now give is intended to make provision, with such gifts as may reasonably be expected from others, for such added buildings, equipment and endowment as the depart- ments thus far established will need. This gift completes the task which I have set before my- self. The founding and support of new departments or the development of the varied and alluring fields of applied science, including medicine, I leave to the wisdom of the Trustees as funds may be furnished for these purposes by other friends of the University. In making an end to my gifts to the University, as I now do, and in withdrawing from the Board of Trustees my personal representatives, whose resignations I enclose, I am acting on an early and permanent conviction that this great institution being the property of the people should be controlled, conducted and supported by the people, in whose generous efforts for its upbuilding I have been permittedsimply to cooperate, and I could wish to consecrate anew to the great cause of education the funds which I have given, if that were possible, to present the institution a second time, in so far as I have aided in founding it, to the people of Chicago and the Westg and to express my hope that under their management and with their generous support the University may be an increasing blessing to them, to their children and to future generations. The record of donations made to the University by Mr. Rockefeller brought to an end by this gift is a notable one. On May 15, 1889, he made his lirst gift of ,7lC6oo,ooo to the American Baptist Education Society to be used for an endowment fund for a college to be established in Chicago, the income only of which was to be used for current expenses on condition that ,8400,000 more be given by good and responsible parties to be used for the purpose of purchasing land and erecting buildings. From that date to December 13, 1910, when he made the gift of81o,ooo,ooo, he has donated to the University sums aggregating approximately 83-S,OO0,000. The gifts were for a variety of purposes. The greater portion has been for endowment, While some were for purchasing land adjacent to the University on each side of the Midway to assure to the University a sufiicient amount of land contiguous to the original campus for all possible expansion for generations to come, some, though small in amount compared with the total gifts, were for buildings, and the remainder was given for current expenses and such special needs as arose from time to time. In making the gift of81o,ooo,ooo Mr. Rockefeller stated that it was his desire that at least the sum of8I,5oO,oOO be used for the erection and furnishing of the University Chapel. I-Iis idea of the relation the chapel should hold to the University' is expressed as follows: It is my desire that at least the sum of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars fSI,SO0,000D be used for the erection and furnishing of a University Chapel. As the spirit of religion should penetrate and control the University, so that building which represents religion ought to be the central and dominant feature of the University group. The Chapel may ap- propriately embody those architectural ideals from which the other buildings, now so beauti- fully harmonious, ihave taken their spirit, so that all the other buildings on the campus will ., Q ai f ' I 15.91 tv,-,ge-L, ,'.j,ss 14

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G 301911 GP emo Gowns' the crowds running from 6,000 to 13,000 people. As rooters the Japanese were wonderful,and even after we had left the field they would remain standing in their seats, singing their inspiring songs and waving their flags in the face of defeat. Enough cannot be said ofthe way in which the games were conducted, and especially of the way in which they were umpired. Baron Mishima acted as umpire and his decisions in all cases were unquestionable. After we had passed a most enjoyable month in Tokyo, we left for a tour of western Japan as guests of the Osaka Mainichi Shimbun, the largest newspaper of Osaka. We played three games for them in Osaka against Waseda University, winning all three by the scores of 8 to 4, 20 to 0, and I2 to 2. These games were well attended, as ours was the first foreign team to play in that city. In the week we saw the cities of Naru and Kyoto with their wonderful temples, and on October 31 sailed from Kobe through the beautiful Inland Sea and across to Shanghai in China. We spent two days in this Gay City of the East and then sailed south to Hong- kong. It was at this point that we boarded the good ship Kaifong, 987 tons, and started across the rough China sea for Manila. The captain said we had a good voyage. The day following we found ourselves on the ball Held facing the Marines, the champions of Manila. There, in the midst of rain and mud, we met our hrst defeat in the Orient. A few days later, however, we turned the tables on them, and then won a double header from an All- Filipino team and the 12th Infantry team. This ended our baseball schedule. It was with lagging steps that we left the Americans who had entertained us so royally for a week, and got into the launch which was to take us out to the ship. In fact, Ehrhorn, Boyle, and Steinbrecher yielded to the situation, and remained in Manila for a few months in order to see more of the islands. Professor Bliss, Captain Pegues, and Ralph Cleary left us on the return trip at Hongkong to go westward around the world, while we came eastward. Thus, there were only seven of the party, Manager Page, Sunderland, Paul, Collings,Glen,and Orno Roberts, and Baird,who landed at Seattle on December 23 after a trip across the wintry Pacihc. Glen and Orno Roberts spent Christmas with relatives in Tacoma, Baird stopped in Montana, and the remaining four arrived in Chicago on the night of December 26 to be met by an enthusiastic crowd of rooters. Thus ended the 10,000 mile journey. Before I close I wish to express to the University and to President Judson the team's deepest appreciation for the wonderful opportunity given them of seeing the Ear East. l 13

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1.911 ep aw GGCQIIL' SECIU to have caught their inspiration from the Chapel and in turn will seem to be contributing of their worthiest to the Chapel. In this way the group of University buildings, with the Chapel centrally located and dominant in its architecture, may proclaim that the University in its ideal, is dominated by the spirit of religion, all its departments are inspired by the religious feeling, and all its work is directed to the highest ends. ivith the exception of the sum required for the chapel the rest of the fund may he used at the discretion of the Trustees for land, buildings, or endowment, but no part of the principal sum shall be used for current expenses. It is hoped, however, with the exception ofthat desig- nated for the Chapel, it will be possible to set aside practically all, if not all, of the gift for en- dowment purposes and that in the future as in the past the citizens of Chicago and the Wlest will provide funds for the various buildings as they are needed. The Trustees of the University of Chicago in accepting the generous gift of Mr. Rocke- feller passed the following resolutions: lt is now twenty-one years since in Nlay, 1380, hlr. Rockefeller made his first gift to the University of Chicago. The present gift marks, therefore, the completion of a significant period in the history of the University throughout which he has cooperated with other friends of the institution, to place it on a permanent foundation. This final gift will make the total amount which the University will have received from its Founder approximately Thirty-live Million Dollars QB35,ooo,ooo.j i We know of no parallel in the history of educational benefaction to gifts so munihcent bestowed upon a single institution of learning. But unique as they are in amount, they are still more remarkable for the spirit in which they have been bestowed. Mr. Rockefeller has never permitted the University to bear his name, and consented to be called its Founder only at the urgent request of the Board of Trustees. He has never suggested the appointment or the re- moval of any professor. Wliatever views may have been expressed by members ofthe faculty, he has never indicated either assent or dissent. He has never interfered directly or indirectly, with that freedom of opinion and expression which is the vital breath of a university, but has adhered without deviation to the principle that while it is important that university professors in their conclusions be correct, it is more important that in their teaching they be free. More significant still: this principle has been maintained even in his attitude toward the teaching of a subject so intimate as religion, wherein the mind is keenly sensitive to differences of opinion. Although at times doctrines have been voiced in the University which traverse those the Founder is known to hold, he has never shown a desire to restrain that freedom which is quite as precious in theology as in other fields of thought. Such a relationship between a great benefactor and the institution which he has founded affords a model for educa- tional benefaction through all time to come. In contemplating the severance ofthis long continued re- lationship, so gracious on his part and rendered delightful by so many acts of personal courtesy, the Trustees are unable to express their appreciation of munilicence so vast exercised in a spirit so line. It is the conjunction of the act and the spirit of the act which has made it possible to create and maintain the University, and the Trustees hope that th rough the ages to come the Univer- sity of Chicago, by training youth in character and in exact learning, and by extending the lield of human knowledge, may justify all that has been done by its Founder. Frederick Taylor Gates 15