Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/108

 82 A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO It remains to tell the story of the appeal to the general public of the city. A hundred thousand dollars was needed from the business men of Chicago. They were, of course, abundantly able to give it. But would the cause appeal to them ? Would they be interested in giving that sum to assist in founding an institution of learning in Chicago under Baptist auspices ? And how could two men quite unknown to them reach them and awaken their interest and secure from them so great a sum ? Nothing attempted by the secretaries during the year so tested their courage as the facing of this task. Nothing but sheer necessity could have driven them to it. They were sure to meet prejudice against Baptists as guardians and pro- moters of education because of their very recent failure with the Old University. Moreover the men of wealth of other denomi- nations were having large demands made on them by their own institutions. The Presbyterians were undertaking to add several hundred thousand dollars to the resources of Lake Forest Uni- versity. The Methodists were caring liberally for Northwestern University at Evanston. Five theological seminaries of as many denominations made large drafts on the benevolence of men of wealth. Hospitals, church edifices, homes of many kinds for the dependent, missions, all kinds of charities made incessant demands on givers. The World's Fair of 1893 was just at this time calling for the raising of a subscription of ten million dollars. With all these multifarious and extraordinary demands on the Chicago men of wealth what chance had these secretaries to get a favorable hearing for their appeal? A pessimist would have decided that they had no chance whatever. The most optimistic could fore- see nothing better than a forlorn hope with a possible fighting chance. With much hesitation the secretaries took this chance. Feeling that in trying to see men of wealth they must be introduced by someone better known than themselves, they secured for this purpose the assistance of Dr. G. C. Lorimer and Dr. P. S. Henson, well-known pastors. But these men, while ready to do all they could, were very busy pastors. They did what was possible, but it was soon found that if the secretaries were to make good use of their time they must work together, depending on no outside assistance.