Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/118

92 A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO You will perceive that it is necessary that the subscribers to this fund should know authoritatively that both Mr. Field and Mr. Rockefeller are satisfied that the conditions which they have made are fulfilled. First, Mr. Rockefeller had required that the pledges be satisfactory to the American Baptist Education Society. The Executive Board of our Society appointed a committee, consisting of Messrs. E. Nelson Blake, C. C. Bowen, and J. A. Hoyt, which carefully looked over the pledges and made a report, which report is embodied in the following telegram, which I shall read, addressed by the Board to Mr. John D. Rockefeller, bearing date of May 23: "CHICAGO May 23 "John D. Rockefeller, New York: "We are directed by the Executive Board of the Education Society to wire you as follows. The Board, through a committee consisting of E. Nelson Blake, C. C. Bowen, and J. A. Hoyt have carefully examined every pledge of the four hundred thousand dollars, and find what they believe to be good and satisfactory pledges amounting to four hundred and two thousand and eighty- three dollars. Further funds are promised and are coming in at the rate of a thousand dollars per day. The Board find that in addition to the above sum, gifts of libraries and apparatus have been made, valued at fifteen thou- sand dollars. Mr. Marshall Field's pledge is not included in the above. The Board certify that your terms are fulfilled to their satisfaction. Your cer- tificate that pledges are satisfactory desired at once to announce here to sub- scribers, and to secure site. Shall we send a messenger to see you with pledges for examination ? Please wire your wishes to the Auditorium Hotel. "F. T. GATES, Secretary "GEORGE DANA BOARDMAN, Chairman "ALBERT G. LAWSON, Recording Secretary." In response to this telegram, your Board received the following from Mr. Rockefeller: "NEW YORK May 24 "Rev. Fred T. Gates, Corresponding Secretary, Rev. George Dana Board- man, D.D., Chairman, American Baptist Education Society, etc.: "Your telegram received, stating that the Executive Board of the Ameri- can Baptist Education Society have carefully examined the pledges made for the Chicago University and that the conditions of my pledge of May 15, 1889, to give six hundred thousand dollars for the same have been complied with. I accept the statement of this committee, and will cheerfully carry out my covenant in the said pledge. I rejoice with you and our many other friends on your remarkable success in securing this fund and hope our most sanguine expectations for the University will be fully realized. "JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER."