Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/96

 70 A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO the churches of Chicago and its vicinity. Seventy men responded and assembled in the Grand Pacific Hotel on June 5, 1889. This conference adopted the following resolutions: 1. That a concerted effort be made to raise four hundred thousand dollars during the next sixty days in Chicago and the West. 2. That this conference request the pastors, with select committees of laymen, to undertake this work in every Baptist church in the West. 3. That a College Committee, consisting of thirty-six members, of whom nine shall be a quorum to transact business, be appointed to take the work in charge and co-operate with the Secretary and Committee of the American Baptist Education Society. This General Committee shall have full power to appoint an Executive Committee from its own members, and other special committees, and to take all necessary measures for the vigorous prosecution of the work, in co-operation with the Secretary of the American Baptist Education Society. 4. That the chairman of this conference be directed to convey to John D. Rockefeller an expression of our appreciation of the munificent contri- bution proffered by him to aid us in re-establishing our educational work in Chicago and assure him of our purpose to do our utmost to carry the under- taking to success. After the adoption of these resolutions the conference elected the College Committee, E. Nelson Blake, who presided at the con- ference, being made chairman of the committee. Oscar W. Barrett was made treasurer. He had offices at 172 La Salle St., in the center of the business district of Chicago. In addition to a gen- erous contribution he gave the secretaries the use of a small room as their headquarters, without charge. Having a wide acquaint- ance he gave much useful information and advice, and, being uncommonly genial and hopeful, he gave daily encouragement to the secretaries and heartened and helped them through many dark days. This committee held a meeting on June 10, when the following form of subscription was adopted : SUBSCRIPTION FOR INSTITUTION OF LEARNING IN CHICAGO CHICAGO, ILL. June 20, 1889 WHEREAS, The American Baptist Education Society has undertaken to raise the full sum of one million dollars for the purpose of establishing a College in the City of Chicago, Illinois, and