New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-17

pacity both as his personal representative in
the execution of his benevolent plans and as the
president Of some OF his personal business en-
terprises. for nearly a score Of years. he has not
come prominently before the public until this
time
The way in which Mr.. Gates assists Mr.
Rockefeller is illustrated in the origin OF the
Rockefeller fund Of $1,2O0,O00 for medical re-
search few years ago. At the time this fund
was provided its creation was ascribed to the
fact that a grandson OF Mr.. Rockefeller had
shortly before died from contagious disease.
This was supposed to have inspired him to pro-
vide for medical research with View 10 the
discovery Of a remedy for the disease.
1t is not generally known that Mr.. Gates is
former Baptist minister we'll as a fnancier
and student. His first and only pastorate was
that OF the Central Baptist Church Of Mime
apolls Among those whom he baptized in that
church was a boy named Huntington. When
this boy grew up he entered the University of
Minnesota, and graduated with hOnors.
He came East and took up the study of med-
cine at the College Of Physicians and Surgeons.
Although an enthusiastic student, life in New
York City had its lonesome moments for him.
1t then that he would go to the home Of his
former pastor, Mr.. Gates, who had preceded him
East and had for some time been connected
with Mr.. Rockefeller. II the evenings thus
spent they talked about medicine. Nj. Gates
became interested in the subject.
one day Mr.. Gates asked him about the best
books on the treatment OF diseases, their origin,
cure and consequences. The reply was THAI
the best one was Oslers "PriuCiples and
Practice Of Medicine" Mr.. Gates happened
20 be about 10 start on his vacation. He got thu
book. took il with him and read il through.
From this book he learned that medicine as
science was IN its infancy. He made a cata-
iORJle of Il O. "a
been found, and another OF infectious diseases
whose germs had not been discovered. Then he
studied how far specific cures had been found
for germ diseases and found that there were
tew-Oaly for dphtheIid and hydrophObia Il
opened UP TO him a vast helf 10 be explored.
he prepared fnenoranduE OF what he had
learned on the subject and gave it to Dir. Rookie
Teller. In IL he called attention 10 the worl.
done at the Koch and Pasteur labOrat cries in
Germany and France. He Informed him that i'm
this country there was nothing being done IN
this direction. There was not medical college
which was adequately endowed; while thcoluei-
CAL collegiate and technical schools had been
provided with funds, medicine had been prac-
tcaliy left TO SHIFT for itself, although IL was
the subject which most nearly affected the hap
piness Of the people. This aroused MI Rookie
felleT's enthusiasm He authorized the employ
ment Of man 20 give his entire time To a cor
respondence with the most eminent bactcriolo-
gists IN the United States and Europe and TO
put himself in communication with the work OF
Koch and Pasteur and that at Johns Hopkins
and Harvard universities. etc. The result was
the giving Of a fund of 81 100000 for medical
HOPKINS O.
600 TO the Harvard Medical School
The career of Mr.. Gates is unusual. He is a
minister who has proved himself i business man
OF the Rockefeller calibre. Son Of a Baptist
minister who never received a salary larger than
$4oo a year, he was born IN Maine, Broome
County, \. Y. on July , 1853. HIS fat3er
moved TO Kansas as Il missionary when he was
fourteen years old. Mr.. Gates as a boy had an
opportunity TO learn from experience the les
sons OF poverty and some Of the needs OF mis-
slons. BEFORE going TO college he earned the
money 10 pay his expenses by doing various
KINDS OF work, studying at home IN the even
Ing. lie was clerk in a store, sold agri-
cultural implements and learned the rudlnents
of finance, which 10 serve him so well in
later years in bank, I'm which he rose to the
office of cashier
AT twenty-five he entered the junior class of
the University Of Rochester. Notwithstanding
that his preparation had been self directed he
was graduated with the highest marks OF his
class. Then ne entered the Baptist Theological
Seminary in Rochester with the intention Of
following his father into the ministry. For
eight years he served as pastor Of the Central
Baptist Church of Minneapolis and then in
1888. resigned his first and only passionate In
order to take up some special work at tho re-
guest Of George A. Pillsbury, the -four man. Of
that city. Mr.. Pillsbury desired assistance in
founding the Pillsbury Academy, at Owatonna
Mimi, and wished the Rev. Mr.. Gates to under
take the raising Of $4,000 for It among the
people OF Minnesota. He raised the sum, then
considered a large one, in the course Of six
weeks. His success attracted the attention of
his denomination. and he was selected to be
come the secretary and executive officer Of :,
mote Baptist education. This position was ac-
cepted only after he had spent six months look
ing into the work being done by the fifty Bap-
tist schools OF the country and their possible
t!es This investigation led him to the con
cIuslon that the educational work OF his de-
nomination could be best served by the es-
adjustment OF 3 university IN Chicago Upou
lis invitation number OF Chicagoans met him
ana promised him support. In December 1855
ne learned that Professor William r. Harper
81 fale University. was urging MIR. Rockefeller
10 establish university IN Chicago while other.
were using their influence 10 secure a Baptis1
university for New York. Armed with lettc.
from Professor Harper, in the following mont
Tor the first time no met the man With who,
ne was TO be associated in various canaclfies
series or interviews resulted in the location o.
university at Chicago. Mr. Rockefeller pron,-
ised the sum Of 100000 If $500 600 was s,,i
scribed by others. With the assistance OF m.
I. w. Goodspeed. Mr.. Gates secured the f,,n6s
and the first board OF trustees was named.
WON R0CKEFELLER'S ESTEEM
The oil man observed the good sense and SKIN
displayed by Mr.. Gates in overcoming the DIFF
hcuittes lying In the path OF the proposed mi
versity, and as soon as it had been established
invited Nr, Gates 20 see him in New yo-l. NJ