The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-09
HAMLINE'S RED LETTER DAY
MORTGAGE RECENTLY RAISED
BURNED AMID REJOICING

PAA IAuOEcbS--.F ElenuS OI the
stitution Witness Burning of the
DOcument-Alumn Society of the
ing-FieId Day Exercises Held.
Yesterday was red letter day in
the history of Hamline university, and
1T was appropriate that expression was
given to the sentiments of the faculty.
patrons and students of the university
in adWiratfon Of the splendid achieve
ment Of DR.. G. H. Brfdgman, in rails
ing the college debt Of $50, 900, made
possible through the munif1cent gift Of
$4,000 made the institution by Presi-
dent j. J. Hill. of the Great Northern.
Gathered on the campus, several hum
dred people stood within little grove
just to the north Of the main building
and witnessed the burning Of the mort
gage, interspersed with exercises in
keeping with the significance of the oc-
casion
The faculty spared no pains to make
the incineration Of the recent mort
gage one of note long to be remem-
bered in the annals of the history of
the college. There were no mourners,
nor was there funeral dirge. but the
OCSdSlOAt Wdo Vic VI AOJOlCluS. fao
signal of new impetus and life for the
college, the presence Of the faculty and
alumni gave full evidence Of the fe-
licity Of the occasion, which was fur
Their demonstrated by the hundred or
more lusty lunged students, whose hair
lifting yell was a fitting final to the
cremation.
At one end Of the grove where the
company was assembled stood an altar
n yncd ;v, n lo<r @I,0
front with symbol Of death, that Of
the skull and bones. Nothing else gave
the altar other than a dark contrast
with budding nature on every hand.
Across the top was placed a silver pan,
in which the doomed mortgage was to
be placed.
Rev. J. F. Chaffee, presiding elder of
the Methodist conference for the dis
trict of Minneapolis, by reason of his
master of ceremonies. DR.. Chaffee in
dulged in a little humor, as touching
the unique nature Of the exercises.
Mortgages had, he said, enjoyed con-
siderable prestige in all lands in the
past, but it was happily occasioned
that the Hamline mortgage was des-
tined to an early grave. The boy who
made the boast to the boy who lived
across the street that his father was
going to have a cupola on his house
was outgeneraled by the other boy who
replied in tones of pride that his
father was going to have a mortgage
on his house. Hamline's mortgage was
once alive, but recently deceased. They
were now going to bury the last YES
tige of it.. They were going to have no
prayers or songs on the occasion, but
they would have little CAB.
DR.. Chaffee then introduced Prof W.
E. Thompson, who spoke in behalf Of
the faculty. Prof. Thompson said, in
opening, that his part of the pro-
gramme was simply to distribute a
few five-ounce frecrackers in advance
Of the thfrteen-inch gun which would
shortly explode when the orator from
Hennepin county took the pulpit
Prof. Thompson then paid high trib-
ute to both President Wallace and
President Hill 1t was a great thing
to achieve such financial success, as
the sum raised was large enough to
make the task, a most formidable one.
In speaking of DR.. Bridgman's efforts
Prof Thompson said that it only open
ed up a larger field before the eyes Of
the patrons Of the institution as to
the nature of the work conducted at
the college: 1t required a man of high
standing to collect from business men
of all denominations a sum sufficient to
raise the debt. 1t was evidence Of the
increasing confidence which the peo-
pie Of st. Paul had in DR.. Bridgman
that so generous a response to his call
was forthcoming
Senator James T. Wyman, of Mime
apolis, a trustee of the college, was
next introduced by DR.. Chaffee. He
asserted that he had spoken on many
occasions and before numerous gath
erings, but it was the first time that
he had been accorded the high privilege
Of speaking at a funeral service. There
was no time more opportune, he con-
tinued, to make nice remarks about
people than after they had become de-
ceased, and he suggested to the clergy
men present that they were well aware
of that fact. However appropriate it
might have been, he could not think of
one nice thing to say about the mort
gage.
Some one in the crowd suggested that
the mortgage did not foreclose on them,
and perhaps that might be a virtue
Senator Wyman replied that 1T fail
ed to. do so because of lack Of oppor-
tunity. as the interest was well kept
up. Continuing, Senator Wyman said
in part:
''There is an adage that hell is paved with
good resolutions. I should like to amend
that to make it hell is paved with good
resolutions and mortgages. Mortgages are
the hardest things in the world to get rid
OF; any OF you men who have ever had any
good story told by James G. Blaine, which
will, perhaps, bear repeating. Mr.. Blaine
was witnessing performance of Faust. Near
the end of the play, those of you who have
seen 1t will recall the scene, the leading
character is pushed backwards and dropped
down Into an aperture in the stage, out Of
which Issues so0red smoke the
regions. 1t seems the hole. was made for
minister built man, like Brother Chaffee here
and the character taking the role of Faust
into the hole. and caught at the waist line.
and there he stuck The attaches below In
vain tried to pull him through. and those
above abetted their efforts. The audience
in the gallery rose and broke the silence with
Thank God. hell is full
eff hell is paved with good resolutions and
mortgages. I hope it will become so full of
those Instruments which have afflicted the
people Of the Northwest. that there will be
room for no more, and that another may
never get there from Hamline UNIVERSITY
1t was a piece of splendid fortune which as
sisted DR.. Brldgman in securing the funds
necessary to nquidate the mortgage. Seven
eighths Of the money was received from peo-
dent Bridgman's work has endeared him to
the men Of our state, and the catholicity of
his faith has won him many friends among
all denominations. I should never cast my
vote as a member Of the board of trustees
of this college for a man who did not have
q kind word for every denomination in this
great commonwealth Of which you are part.
Mr.. Hill has done much for the institu-
ton through his liberal gift With one hand
he endowed great Catholic institution liber-
ally and with the other he gave $4,000 to
Hamline university. God bless such a man.
After Senator Wyman had finished
his address, DR.. Bridgman was called
upon. and said:
"You are not placing the credit
where 1t belongs. 1t was just as hard
to take the institution through the
trying times Of the last few years as
10 collect the money To Mr. Fiji tha