Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-05-06
ENDOWMENT FUND
REACHED THE MARK
Gustavus Ado| plus College Has
Now Permanent Fund Ex-
ceeding $4,000.

and st. Peter. President Johnson, of
the college, authoritatively announced
that enough funds had been secured to
insure an endowment of $250,000 to the
college. AS q consequence of these glad
tidings the student body declared
holiday and with their band spent the
afternoon in celebrating the event. 1t
was some over two years ago that Hon.
G.. A. Smith of Minneapolis offered the
college 100000 feet Of standing tim
Der as a nucleus for an endowment
fund of $25O,000. A few months later
j. ]. Hill Of st. Paul promised $4,000
should the college raise $150,OOO.
| For several months not much was
done in the matter, but it was finally
decided to call Rev. Carl Solomonson Of
Duluth to take charge Of raising the
| fund. 1t was only on the third call
| that he could be induced to take charge
and in October, 1912, he entered upon
| his work. He organized the work and
| from that time on there was no let up.
Every possible effort was made to Sc
| cure the required amount In Febru-
airy last, with the time limit expiring
unpropitious. 1t seemed that all eff
forts had been in vain; the fund lack
ed 100000 and all possible avenues had
been approached. It was then that
President Johnson, at the annual Swed-
ish Lutheran meeting Of the Minnesota
conference, made a plea to that body
and in less than an hour over $4,000
| had been raised.
| With Rev. Solomonson in charge, the
board Of directors of the college, the
| faculty, student body, ministers in the
conference and citizens of st. Peter
generally gave freely Of their time and
money to secure for Gustavus Adolphus
that which she was sadly lacking-an
endowment fund. Solicitors were sent
out to the various parts of Minnesota,
North and South Dakota Nearly 10000
people were approached for contribu-
| tions and money was secured from up
wards half Of them.
This endowment for Gustavus Adolf
| plus college marks a new era for the
institution. Depending upon per cap
! tia from the conference and the small
tuition fees from the students-she was
unable to carry on the work which her
founders had intended. Everywhere it
was necessary to stint and this worked
| a hardship which was an obstacle to
| her growth which had been sorely felt
| With the income from the assured en-
dowment fund bright dawn is in store
| for the college.
Every solicitor not alone attempted
| to secure funds but also spoke word
for the college as an educational cen
| ter. During the canvass for the en-
| dowment each solicitor was a commit
| tee Of one to boom the college and the
| resultant good of the advertising tc
Gustavus Adolphus and st. Peter can.
not be estimated. The most conserva-
tive look for an increase of at least sc
in the student body for next year.
The Free Press takes pride in the citi.
zens of st. Peter. They are never found
wanting and the harder the task the
more eager are they to lend their aid
Gustavus Adolphus is the pride Of st
Peter and from the time of it's location
here has been her especial care.
Gustavus Adolphus college has sem
men out of it's halls who have take1
high rank in the state and nation; mer
who are found leaders in all walks OF
life, and the Free Press has yet tt
learn Of one Of it's alumni who ha:
brought shame and disgrace upon hi:
alma mater. All have filled their niche
with credit and honor.
May 1st, 1914, marks a new era. I
/ is the beginning Of a new life, and al
expansion to greater usefulness which
could only have been made possible b!
an endowment. Gustavus Adolphus cal
now look to brighter, better and NOR
influential days. No more shall finances
lessen her sphere of activity and wan
shall be thing of the past. st. Pete
people have reason to take pride in tn
assistance they so freely gave towards
the raising Of the fund, and their &C
ton will never be regretted But il
their pride they should not forget tn
many thousands residing elsewhere VIII
by their generosity made possible tn
| securing of the endowment.
The Free Press is unable to give tn
exact status of the endowment fund a.
Treasurer Carlton has been unable t
check up the returns which have ar
rived in the past few days and canno
| give the amount Of the total secured
| While the endowment has been secures
it is not the intention of the colleg
friends to be satisfied until the fund ha
reached at least 100000. Then will
Gustavus Adolphus be able to carry GU
plation. It means a larger and bette
college, a better and more prosperou
St. Peter, and a sphere Of usefulnes
without limit.-St. Peter Free Press.