, 1873-09-07
The Origin Of the Institution Who
Raised the Money that Has
Been Used,
The Recent Great Movement for Re-
lieving the University
from Debt.
Who Carried Out tito Land-Schcmo---
Why tie University Hns lie.
Mafncd Almost Sta.
tionary.

CONSTANT AND uNfFonM VARIATIONS
from tho exact facts, in certain casoB, as would
lead those who nre acquainted With tho institu-
ton from It's foundation to bolievo that said va-
riations wore tho work Of q single hand for IN
unworthy purpose.
Some of these distortions OF facts rolnte to
tho origin OF tho University, and to tho means
wl1luh hayo recently beon takcn to FREQ this aem-
inary Of learning from debt.
With regard to tho
oR1o1N OF THE UNIVERSITY,
II soemB not to have boon generally known un-
til lately that thn credit Of frat proposing to
Judge Dopglab the idea Of = groat Univorsity,
that might DO crodltab1e to himself, tho city,
aud tho country, belongs to DR.. Eddy, of tho
Presbyterian Church. Through him, Judge D.
offered the pres1ysorians landH for untversity,
NTH conditions Of timo and amount to DO ex-
pended. Through political projudces or for
other reasons, DR.. Eddy failed to unite the
prosbyterianY in accepting tho donation. Aftor
years. iuacton, and tho failure OF TINT do
nomination to nccopt the trust seemed probable,
at m. citing Of gentlemen on some public affair
at tho fremont House, among whom voro Judge
Douglas and Lbs Intimate friend, Oharlcs Walker,
dll1ing an interval Of business, Judge Douglas
turned to Mr. Walkor aud made the offer OF the
laud to the Baptists through him, Judge Hop
kinB, as reported IN tho jStandard,-thc Baptist
organ of this city,-of June Is, 1879. describod
tho otfer as follows:
During the discnssion Of the subject [the land-
schene for tho rolief Of the nvoraty from Ght te-
Ing usgod by Dr. Eycrts1 Judge Hopkins, Of Norris
ILL.,, teated an incident which croated much interest,"
H. said ". being g as tho Tsemont uonsoimo no
Judge Douglas the lase Charles Walker and others
during pause in the sonysr,son around Tie table
way, MIR. Walker have determined to have college
At Costgo Grove. hayo made tho Offer Of ton
not reetn to be doing much about it, and viii probably
full to moot tho conditions As a,n half uapti4t,
Eddy fails.' Mr. Walker rose, paced tho room few
minutes, in his nervous wny, aud finally said Mr.
inos in ts aftornoon' In tue afternoon, according
to Judge Hopkins' recollection, he reported that tho
offer WA accepted.
This il the Testimony Of = dissnsercated Wit
ness before a public assembly and 1t accorts
with the remembered claims Of Deacon Walkor,
and NTH tho Impressions OF his friends and fam
lily. It nlso accords with Mr. Walke1's friendly
political relations with Judge Douglas. It also
further accords with Mr. Walkers relations a.
ono Of tho prophetic and trusted leaders Of the
Denomination. This shows that tho o1ror to Mr.
Walkor was
THE FIRBT oFFEn
made of the land to the Baptists. Following
this, naturally, the pastor Of the church Dr.
DurroughB) whose members and friends were to
nsaume 80 great responsibility, VAS selected to
visit Judge Douglas, in T'er7o Haute, and also In
Warrington, to obtain termB Of agroem ont upon
which titloB would be given. and to obtain tho
tltlos; and as m acknowledgements for these
sorvices, DF, 3. was made President to eerye
temporarily until some other person could be
found to fill the Chair permanently.
Another point OF history noodug to be cleared
up il tho agency employed aud tho 1uccesB Of
tho
FIRST GREAT MOVEMENT
to endnw tho University. The yagnenoas Of GER
thin 1ato etatemonta leaves the public uncertain,
and does groat injustice to the chief workers in
Ing records. careful correspondence, aud tho
testimony Of living witnesses, ind that DR..
Burroughs, aaBisted somewhat by the Roy. A. G..
Jos1yn and tho Roy. J. 3. Oloost worked up the
nearly or quite $4,000 But many Of theso
Bubrcriptions arc reported to have beon accom-
81. panied by certain verbal understandings, making
them Of no value except IS examples to misead
olhefh from whom subscriptions were sought.
In one case, person WAS persuaded to give hs
ulation that be might retain it in lis
own safo,-for tho eake Of using the
example upon othorB. It is such transactions
thia as well Us tho great financial failure, that
must be taken into nccount in estimating tha
rause Of the almoht uttor failure Of this great
subhcription. Mr. Olcott. to whom thoso sub
that verbal understandings wero plaadod againHt
giving notes or making any nettlcment so that,
of tho $4,000 only about $4,000 could bo
realized. In tho meantime, chiefly through tho
agency Of
TIE REV, ]. II. oLcoTT,
aono est, 900 was subscribed without any verbal
conditions. aud nearly all Of that amount hne
been collected md, thongh The greater psr.
purposes Of endowment, 1t hss boon lasgel,
Unworthy. 1t Af ftbis period, Is 50 little Was Oh Oh
aat ntd n from s9. mge9nt o A. su1ss1Pf9n
erection Of the first building WEB borrowed =
thus laying tho foundation Of tho debt that ha.
grown by accumulation OF bnck interost to tht
seeens formidable proportions Of slao,o0o.
RECENT GREAT MOVEMENT
for relieving the University from debt misinter
Rroted aud wrongly stated 10 that great injas
Institution. After the first subscription failed
md loan MAS rosorted to for building purposes
such financial endorsements followed al
brought the University into constant poril. 1h'
scmi-annual interest WAS With difficulty paid
the corpa of teachers could not be enlarged, NO
those employed adequately or punctually paid
Encouragement sosmol TO be deepening int.
despair. At this time, tho nov. ]. B, Olcott
kol't. m, finding that, whilo others received
credit 1ur all auccessos OF administration, ho Wa
hold responsible for all failures, at length re
signed, leaving the causo almost without hope
aH well as without financial direction. Old MON
bers of tie Board cannot fail to recall thoBo darl
days. At this time, tho
REV. N. @. CLARK,
widely known In tile country for his cnterprla,
Ind executive abilisy, had taken up bis Abode Ii
Chicago. Members Of tho Board aoon preasct
npon him the Financial BecretaryBhtp and he re
iucthntly undertook the otfico with it's fotnld
able labora. In consultation with otlsors he q
onco proposed to awaken now iuterest and In
erire public confidence by immediately undor
taking tho orectlon Of tho main building. 1lGBo
lutions ,wore. passed., though doemed hlmos
faslat!cal by aomo, to proceed at once to lay th
foundations. NOW subscriptions were obtained
aud old onos collected; and, at a cost Of el25,
QUO, the building was completed.
Meantime, the project Of procuring telescope
introduced by Prof. ForeY. and encouraged b
certain cltizons, waa taken up by
pHoF. MIXER.
He Visited Prof. PetcrH, ut Ann Arbor, and hl
certAiued that tho Clark teleHcope In proceHn d