Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/93

 THE INCEPTION OF THE PLAN 67 The account here given of what followed this address is taken from the published report of the first annual meeting of the Ameri- can Baptist Education Society. At the conclusion of the address of the Corresponding Secretary, Dr. Alvah Hovey, president of Newton Theological Institution, who had been a member of the Committee of Nine, said: After listening to this very able and interesting address by our Secretary, I desire to offer the following resolution: Resolved, That we, the Society mem- bers, heartily indorse the action taken by our Board in reference to the pro- posed College in Chicago. Dr. Lawrence of Chicago: I rise, sir, to second the resolution which has just been read. The President: You hear the resolution which has been offered and seconded. I think the Corresponding Secretary, at this moment, has a com- munication to make which may, possibly, have some bearing on the question. Secretary Gates: Mr. President and brethren of the Society, I have the unspeakable gratification in behalf of the Board of the Education Society, of announcing that I hold in my hand a letter from our great patron of education, Mr. John D. Rockefeller, [great applause and enthusiasm] in which, on the basis of the resolutions adopted by our Board, he promises that he will give six hundred thousand dollars The Secretary's remarks were interrupted at this point by tumultuous cheering and applause, accompanied by the waving of handkerchiefs and other evidences of enthusiasm. Order having finally been restored the entire assembly united in singing the doxology. "Praise God from whom all blessings flow." Addresses in support of the resolution were made by Dr. A. H. Strong, president of Rochester Theological Seminary; Dr. P. S. Henson, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Chicago; Dr. T. W. Goodspeed; Dr. E. G. Robinson, president of Brown University; Dr. J. A. Broadus, of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Dr. H. L. Morehouse, corresponding secretary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, and Dr. H. C. Mabie, of St. Paul. The feeling in Chicago was well illustrated by some of the things said by Dr. Henson: I scarcely dare trust myself to speak, for I like to speak the truth, and I am fairly intoxicated with a healthy joy. I feel like Simeon when he said, "Now Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy