Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/68

42 A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO made some addresses which had attracted his favorable notice, and had just raised, with extraordinary facility, the endowment for Pillsbury Academy, showing most uncommon abilities in plan- ning and executing a financial campaign. It was no wonder, there- fore, that the quite unconscious Mr. Gates was now in the eye of Dr. Morehouse for secretary of the new Education Society he was expecting to organize in Washington in three weeks' time. Hence the following letter, the first of many which passed between these two men during the succeeding two years. Dr. Morehouse to Mr. Gates, April 27, 1888: Are you coining to Washington ? I hope so. I want you present at the Education meeting on the i6th of May Some of our eastern people want western light on the subject. Come if you can and have a voice in the decision of an important matter. I congratulate you on your success hi securing funds for the endowment of Pillsbury Academy. Mr. Gates went to Washington and was appointed correspond- ing secretary of the new Society. He was a young man, only thirty-five years of age. His eight years in the ministry had been spent in the West. Little did those who now appointed him cor- responding secretary of the new Education Society understand the extraordinary abilities of their appointee. Mr. Gates possessed a most acute intellect, analytical powers of a very high order combined with abilities for broad generalizations. He was thus fitted to grapple, with eminent success, with those great problems of philanthropy, education, and business which engaged him for many years, first in his work for the Education Society and later through his association with Mr. Rockefeller in the latter's benevo- lences and business. Mr. Gates was an educational statesman. In recording his appointment as the executive officer of the Society through which Mr. Rockefeller was destined to act in founding the University of Chicago, the story of the preparing of the way for the coming University is concluded. The way was now prepared. There was still indeed plenty of room for mistakes. There were perils on every side. Many anxieties oppressed the minds of those who hoped for a new University for Chicago. Many questions occurred to them: What would the new Society do? What attitude would the new secretary assume toward the Chicago