New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-01
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.
A CHAT WITH PRESIDENT HARPER.
AIMS OF THE NEW INsTITUTIoN-AN EDUCA'

AIMS OF THE NEW INSTITUTION-AN EDUCA'
TIoyAL GIANT FULL. GROWN IN DAY.
"Thc University Of Chicago confers no honorary
degrees" said President Harper the other day IN the
course OF n conversation with the writer. simple as
the remark Is II IS most significant OF the young anu
lusty university, which has now for the fourth uhe "
its brief life Of three years been the recipient OF JOIN
d. Rockcfeler's piincey generosity Any lnsutu'ioh
so munifcen,ly endowed can well afford to be chary
Of its academic favors though unfortunately that RUE
has not always obtained in American colleges Inc
struggling fresh water college Is not the only
offender in this matter.
Another fact would like TO make prominent
added Dr. Harper ais recent resolution OF the boau
OF Trustees that henceorh the seal OF tile university
and all Official documents shall bear the words Inc
University Of Chicago, FOUNDED by John D. Rockefeller
In this way what he mas zone LOT uS VIII NC Pc
petuated for all time.'
speaking Of the founding OF the university suggests
n few words abOu: its origin. There was University
OF Chicago founded In 1857 by the Baptis's But
somehow 1t prospered, though 10 did goou WORN
I'm its day. II met many yiclssitudes For Il ioie
time there differences Of opinion In regard 10 H.
until finally in 1856 all differences OF opinion In re-
gard to II ceased for every one acknowledged that
n WAS dead There was nothing left OF 1t except
memory and a number Of alumni, who found thenl-
selves accidentally orphaned.
Then along came John D. Rockefeller In 1886 ana
proposed thy the University OF chicago be resuscni'eu
Mr. Rockefeller Is q devOut Baptist ana IL seemed
misfortune to him that this outcome OF Baptist ecu
cational endeavor should come to naughk Besides'
doubtless he was impressed with the need OF hrst
class institution OF higher learning in Chicago, city
which Is destined to be one OF the great cities OF the
world and Is now indeed in the opinion OF all eoou
Chicago men, so he said that he would give Toooooo
toward the rcsuscitatlon OF the institution provided the
people OF Chicago raised 100000 The American
baptist Education Society took up this OFFER ana us
energetic secretary the Rev Fred T. Gates aided by
the Rev T. W. Goodspced, went to work and raised the
required sum- with $4,000 to spare. Thus was born
the University OF Chicago Its only relation 70 the Ola
institution being identity Of name and the 'act that
II has adopcd the alumni OF the old institution as It's
own As might be expected the university Is
Baptist insttdtion to the extent that 1t has been
created by Baptist money and enthusiasm that u
majority Of It's Board of Trustees are Baptists and
That It is Christian in It's spirit and work, In broad
though real sense II repuGiacs the title of sectara
ISM however and with good reason. 1t is, In fact
frcer from sec,arian trmme than some OF the older
American colleges. and without doubt even nh
ngnosic student could pass through any OF its nuner
Gus courses without having his irreligous sscep-
Utilities wounded.
II Is not necessary here TO give list in detail OF
the sums given to this favored institution, as 1t was
given I'm The Tribune Of Wednesday. II Is sufficient
IN s,v fiat the aggregate OF contributions foots up
the grand total OF 81 OOo 900, Of which Mr. Rockefe
Ter has given a3,60o'000
Are we satisfied with what We have got7" repeated
President Harper. My dear sr,' he continued
laughing when get SlO.OOo.OOO, whlch won't
be In the very far distant future. can assure you
we will feel that we have just reached the hr5t stage
Of our history. The University of Chicago like
Chicago Itself is always advancing remark which
IS also entirely true Of the accomplished president
of the university. DR.. Harper IS not Chicago man
ly birth but lie Is more fOrtunate he Is an
ohio man. lie Is in the prime Of life, being between
forty and forty five years old He was graduated from
Muskingum College. ohio. in 1870 He received the
degree Of Phi. ID. from Yale University In 1870. In
the same year he became principal of Masonic Col
lcge Macon Tenn. The next year he became tutor
IN the preparatory department of Denison University,
and principal Of the in 1879. Almost lmme-
datey he became professor OF Hebrew ana cosnatc
languages in the Baptist Union Thco'0ecal semi
nary. From 1870 to 1856 he was principal OF Chai'
talqua College Ct Liberal Arts, and In 1891 he be-
came principal of the Chautauqna system In Lose
also he was elected professor Of Semitic languages
I'm Yale University; In 1850 he was made Woolsey
professor Biblical utehturc In Yale and In 1891
Colby University confetrsd upon him the degree OF
d. D., title net usuNy given to outside OF the
university but in this case richly deserved
1his Is IA record \of achievement that might well
satisfy any ordinary man, bnt DR.. Harper has been
He has done valuable work as Editor Of the well
known Blakcsce outline lnductivc Bible Studies
for Sunday schools. lie has been Editor Of THE
Id and New Testament student and OF llebraica.'
He has In fact, done much to populalize the study
OF the Dible by his addresses at Chautauqua, as well
as his editorial work. and there many who will
regret that has been called by the new university
from a field OF labor and investigation In which he
gave promise Of achieving such brilliant results
Iu on the other hand all who know him believe that
he 10 the ideal to be the head Of the Chicago
University. For while he Is as alert, versatile and
nm 10 date rs any member Of the Chicago Board a
Trade could desire. he has at the same time drunk
deep d;aught, at the well OF scholarship whose waters
poyoke a thirst that Is slaked while there Is
anytKins TO be learned.
Through no fault Of the university, Its history thus
FIR Is almost summed up In the record OF Its bene-
factions ana of Its buildings, finished or In progress OF
construction Il was born only three four years
ago. and began its actual academic career only on
the LIST OF last October But even there Is much In
the way of promise to record There are for instance
llo professors and instructors actually duty,
with more to be appointed in the future. There are
plenty Of colleges and good colleges too, that would
look ON a roster OF 40 students high water mark
OF success. In order to get these instructors and
professors pretty much the whole Of Europe and
North America drawn upon. There was time
few months ago when II was not safe for an emf
nent collcgs professor TO go out alone for walk
some agent OF tho University of Chicago almost
sure 70 capture him. The way III which the univer-
slty baggeds genius, both ripe and budding, finally
became Joke with the press. but 1t was no Joke to
the other colleges OF which lost their best men,
For us a rule those whom the university called went.
There the prestige Of going TO new and great In