Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/339

 THE SECOND ERA OF BUILDING 299 and the cornerstone that is laid today is a milestone in human progress. All honor, then, to those who have so wisely planned and skilfully guided the development of this University! All blessings on the generous benefactress whose gracious hand lifts this splendid structure toward the sky! All hail to the glorious and imperial future, rich with the increasing spoils of learning and the multiplied triumphs of faith of which the Oriental Museum is a sure and golden prophecy. From this time the work of construction went forward without interruption. One year after the laying of the cornerstone, the building was dedicated. The ceremonies of dedication occupied a large part of July 2, 1896, and formed an interesting part of the regular Convocation exercises. During the earlier part of the day there were three conferences, Archaeological, Comparative Reli- gion and Biblical, at which eminent visiting scholars spoke. At three o'clock the procession of Trustees, faculties, and guests moved from the Museum to the Convocation tent, pitched in the central quadrangle, in which the dedicatory exercises were held. The presence of the Founder of the University, Mr. Rockefeller, was one of the interesting features of the occasion. The fact that the exercises formed a part of the Quinquennial Celebration added to the interest. The building was formally presented to the Uni- versity, on behalf of Mrs. Haskell, the donor, by Professor George S. Goodspeed, of the Department of Comparative Religion, who said: It is two years ago today since the President of the University made the first announcement, in his quarterly statement, of the gift of one hundred thousand dollars by Mrs. Caroline E. Haskell for the building which we dedi- cate today. Last year at this time the cornerstone was laid with appro- priate ceremony Mrs. Haskell presents this building to the University of Chicago in honor and in memory of her husband, Frederick Haskell, in token of which it is to bear the name, the Haskell Oriental Museum. Mr. Haskell was for years a resident of Chicago and was identified with its business interests. It is appropriate, therefore, that the University of the city in which he lived should preserve a memorial of his useful life I have the honor, Mr. President, to add that Mrs. Haskell has felt a constantly growing enjoy- ment in the contemplation of this gift, as she has realized the care, the liber- ality, the ability, and the success which have characterized the University in the administration of the trust which she has committed to it; and I, therefore, in her name, present to you at this time the keys of the Haskell Oriental Museum, expressing the earnest and sincere expectation of the giver that there