Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/94

 68 A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO salvation." "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord." I was one of the mourners at the funeral in Chicago and this is the resurrection thanks be to God that giveth us the victory. I heard the trumpet of the Resur- rection Angel blown by the Corresponding Secretary of the Society. He has come to the Kingdom for this time. He has been a long time in coming, but he has come. The organization of this Society, the existence and coming to the front of such a princely benefactor as John D. Rockefeller, the coming to the front, as the executive leader, of this splendid Napoleonic Secretary, the marvelous concurrence in the providences of God the organization, the man to lead it and the man to back it. What hath God wrought! .... Let us thank God, take courage, and press through the door to victory, and next year celebrate a triumph, and, as we recall the splendid deed done, that shall be an inspiration for the doing of other deeds grander still, we shall sing with a heartier good will, " Praise God from whom all blessings flow," and march as we sing. At the conclusion of the speaking the resolution offered by Dr. Hovey was adopted. Dr. William M. Lawrence then moved that the following telegram be sent in the name of this meeting, by the President, Hon. Francis Wayland, to Mr. John D. Rockefeller. "The Baptist denomination, assembled at the first anniversary of the Edu- cation Society, have received with unparalleled enthusiasm and gratitude the announcement of your princely gift and pledge their heartiest co-operation in the accomplishment of this magnificent enterprise." The motion was received with applause and adopted with enthusiasm. Such then was the happy outcome of the anxieties of Messrs. Harper, Gates, and Morehouse, and all those most interested, of the many letters, interviews, and consultations of the seven preced- ing months, of some conflicts and opposition, and of many hopes and fears. And thus ended the first chapter in the history of the University of Chicago. It remained to be seen whether a second could be added to it. The anxieties of the year had ended in enthusiasm, shouting, and songs of praise. How would the serious campaign of the next year end ? The Chicago men on whom was likely to rest the burden of raising the four hundred thousand dollars called for by Mr. Rockefeller's pledge returned home, thoughtful and anxious.