Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/84

58 A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO It was this note to Dr. Morehouse that led to the first meeting between Mr. Rockefeller and Mr. Gates, to their trip to Cleveland together, and to all that followed. Meantime it had come to be understood that Mr. Rockefeller had definitely decided to take a large part in the movement to found the new institution. But what he would do was quite unknown to those most interested. They were anxious to see the movement under way, and were waiting for him to initiate it. But he could not be hurried. As time passed it became evident that he was waiting for two things: first, to be satisfied that the denomination to which he belonged favored the undertaking, and second, if it did, to see the actual launching of the enterprise by the Education Society. Meantime he gave that Society substan- tial evidence of his interest in its work by a gift of a hundred thousand dollars. The following letter from Dr. Harper is peculiarly interesting in showing a new, definite step in advance, a step suggested and carried through by Mr. Gates: NEW HAVEN MY DEAR FRIEND: February 27, 1889 The following line of action has been decided upon. A meeting of the Executive Committee [of the Education Society] this week or next for the appointment of a committee of five or seven gentlemen who shall go to Chicago, talk with the brethren, look at sites, confer with each other, and make a report to the Board of the Education Society in May [i.e., at the annual meeting]. This report will cover all questions connected with the location of the University of Chicago, the amount of money, the plan of securing this money, the different departments, etc., etc., etc. The purpose of this is to get a definite action upon which Mr. Rockefeller may act. We believe that he is ready to take hold, but that he wants some- thing more definite than has yet been presented It is proposed that this report be made to the board, adopted by them, and then reported to the Society at its annual meeting. Speakers will be arranged for, and the great work of the annual meeting would be given to this point. This plan, I have reason personally to know, is satisfactory, and indeed, more than satisfactory to Mr. Rockefeller I thoroughly believe that this is the right step and that nothing will be done until a definite report of some such committee has been made 1 remain Yours truly, W. R. HARPER