The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-02
WHAT ASPROMISED ULTIMATUM IS SENT
Commercial Club Issues Statement
as to Pledge Of Support to
Augsburg Seminary.
It Is in Answer to the Criticism
That Promises Were Not
Fulfilled.

/ In view Of published reports regarding
the failure to secure from Minneapolis
residents $4,000 toward the new building
fund of Augsburg seminary. In which the
statement has been made that the Com
mercial Club did not fulfil its promises
In the matter of raising the fund, a state
ment of the promises made by the club
and of what has been done to carry them
out is made by the club. It follows:
This question first came before the
Commercial club May q, 1901, the state
ment being then made that a new build
ing for the seminary was absolutely neces-
sary and that unless assistance in erecting
the building could be procured In this
city, the trustees would consider proposals
for the removal of the seminary to some
place where assistance could be obtained.
The matter was referred to the committee
on municipal affairs and the financial COM
m1ttee, Of which A. G. Paul, now president
of the club, was chairman Mr.. Paul, at
a meeting of the public affairs committee,
June 8, 1901, submitted a lengthy report.
He stated that the trustees desired to raise
$4,000 in Minneapolis toward the new
building, feeling confident that they could
| raise $4,000 from their friends outside
the city The report closed with the fol-
| lowing statement and resolution, which
| was adopted:
After looking into this matter thoroly
I am Of the opinion that we ought to help
what we can, but should not make. any
pledge, or name any specific amount or
obligate ourselves, and I have framed the
following resolution which think will
meet with general approval:
| Whereas, the public affairs commit
tee of the Commercial Club have exam
ined the statement submitted to its
finance committee by Professor Oftedal,
and the report to the seminary corporation
| of the president Of the board of trustees;
and
Whereas, it appears that the Augsburg
seminary needs $4,000 more than the
amount it has on hand to build and equip
its proposed building in Minneapolis; and
Whereas, It has been suggested that
$4,000 of this amount should be raised
among the business men Of Minneapolis,
the balance of $4,000 to be raised by
| the friends of the institution among the
members Of the Free church.
Now. therefore, Be it resolved by
said public affairs committee that it will
use its best endeavors to raise said sum
of 100000 to be used in the completion
and equipment Of said building on condi-
ton that the present plans Of erecting a
building in Minneapolis to cost not less
than $4,000 be carried out, and that the
$4,000 now in the hands of the officers
of the seminary, or pledged to them ane
an additional sum Of SIS, 900 to be raised
by the Free church, be also expended ii
the construction and equipment of sale
building
"A copy of this resolution was forward.
ed to the conference in session at Will.
mar, which body passed a resolution
thanking the club for it's tender of as
sistance and at the meeting of the public
affairs committee of June II the follow
ing motion was adopted:
THAT a committee to consist of sever
from the club membership and including
the president of the club, be named to as
sist Augsburg seminary in raising funds
for the erection of their building
1T is apparent from the foregoing tina
the Commercial club did not promise tt
raise $4,000 or any other sum, nor has i
at any time since made any specific
pledge farther than a, pledge of it's bes
efforts to raise such fund.
THE committee appointed in accordance
with the motion, personally solicited con
tributlons from a number of our citizen
and addressed an appeal to a large numbe
of others, and has secured in all abou
$4,000, which has been turned over to tn
trustees.
! upon being informed that members o
the conference outside the city were o
the impression that the club was in dut
bound to raise the balance Of this fund
another earnest effort was put forth b,
the committee, to which effort the cit
press lent very valuable assistance, bu
lneSe e1IOTIS Qlu not result SUCCESSFULLY.
There has been no single work whicl
the public affairs committee has under
taken to which it has given so much eff
fort as it has in trying to raise thi
money, but from the start the purpose di
: not appeal to our citizens and our per
sonal requests for assistance, as we'll a
our solicitation by mail, did not bring an
Z results.
/ 1.-THE committee. however, feels that
/ has carried out its obligations and pu
. forth its best endeavors to assist thi
: seminary and sincerely regrets that GU
r citizens did not respond more generousl
1 | TO this purpose