Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/155

THE FIRST PRESIDENT 127 as to the proposed conference with others and yourself on this subject, he prefers to abide by the decision of the brethren with whom you have fully conferred in Chicago, and who, while recognizing divergence of views, regard you, in essentials, as in accord with them. The brethren named by you would be reluctant practically to sit in judgment upon the candor or the competency of those with whom you have already conferred. 4. You inquire whether it would be wise, in case you should not have the privilege of teaching your views, to accept the presidency. This, of course, is a hypothetical case which was not a factor in the original compact as rati- fied by you, and hence ought not to be pressed. It certainly would be unwise, after all that has been done, after all the expectations that have been raised, after the great momentum that has been obtained, to plunge the enterprise into confusion, to arrest progress, to destroy the bright hopes of the hour, by declining to give in your final acceptance until somebody should determine what would be best in such a case. This may be left to the logic of events. The wisdom of introducing new complications at this critical stage in the enterprise will be questioned by your best friends. It would seem wiser for you, if necessary, to forego the exercise of some right in the way of dogmatic teaching of views somewhat divergent from those commonly accepted, than to insist upon it at any cost, and in case it were not granted, involve the enterprise in unspeakable embarrassment by your withdrawal. The responsibility of acceptance, even in view of the suggested possibilities of the case, may be left in the hands of Him, whose grace and guidance we all seek. The private committal has been made, and the chief patron of the enterprise is not pre- pared to give his consent to a reopening of the question or a reversal of the decision. Most truly yours, H. L. MOREHOUSE. On the day following this luncheon Mr. Rockefeller wrote Dr. Morehouse : I inclose a letter from Dr. Harper of January 26 to call your attention especially to the postscript, which seems to indicate that he has no thought but to go ahead with the western enterprise; notwithstanding this I trust we do not want to have your letter changed. The "postscript" was the "N.B." already quoted: "I suppose I must resign my work here this week," etc. Mr. Rockefeller thus assumed full responsibility for the letter of Dr. Morehouse and reassumed it in a letter of the same date to Dr. Harper, saying, He [Dr. Morehouse] has written you a letter on the subject which you will no doubt receive by the time this reaches you.