Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/333

 THE UNIVERSITY AND ITS BENEFACTORS 293 so that building which represents religion ought to be the central and dominant feature of the University group. The Chapel may appropriately embody those architectural ideals from which the other buildings, now so beautifully harmoni- ous, have taken their spirit, so that all the other buildings on the campus will seem 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 Apart from what may be required for the Chapel, the remainder of the fund may be used, in the discretion of the Trustees, for land, buildings, or endowment, but no part of the principal sum shall be used for current expenses. No doubt other donors will offer the University many, if not all, of its needed buildings. Legacies now written in wills, or to be written, will become avail- able from time to time for these and other purposes. I hope, therefore, that this final gift from me may be used for endowment as far as practicable. At the meeting of the Trustees at which these letters were read, the following minute was adopted: The Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago accepts the gift made by Mr. Rockefeller in his letter of December 13, 1910, and pledges itself to carry out in the spirit as well as in the letter the conditions accompanying it. It is now twenty-one years since in May, 1889, Mr. 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 through- out which he has co-operated 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 the Founder approximately thirty- five million dollars ($35,000,000). We know of no parallel in the history of educational benefaction to gifts so munificent 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 removal of any professor. Whatever views may have been expressed by members of the 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.