Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1876 [PAGE 193]

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193

SEPTEMBER 12, 1876.

The Board assembled in the University parlor at 4 o'clock P. M.f and was called to order by the President. Present—Messrs. Byrd, Cobb, Gardner, Mason, and Piekrell. Absent—Governor Beveridge, Messrs. Blackburn, Brown, Flagg, Gillham, and Sabin. The Board then took a recess to attend Chapel exercises. The minutes of the last meeting were read and the following cor^ rections made in the By-Laws then adopted : Article XI. " Quarterly," changed to "monthly." Article XII. Section 1, Omit the words: " At the seat of the College at least quarterly, or." Article XII. Section 4 was struck out. Thus corrected the minutes were approved. The record of the meeting of the Executive Committee, was also read and approved. The reports of the Regent and the Business Agent were next read and received.

REGENT'S REPORT.

To the Honorable Board of Trustees of the Illinois Industrial University: GENTLEMEN—In meeting you again, I owe it as" a duty to you and to myself to announce to you formally my answer to your urgent request to me to withdraw the resignation which I placed in your hands at your last meeting. Your somewhat hasty adjournment prevented any reply at that meeting. The desire which had been growing in my mind tor several years, to be released from so heavy a burden, and to be left free to complete some long-cherished plans of literary labor, caused m e to feel an intense reluctance to resume cares and responsibilities which, heavy in themselves, had been rendered far heavier by an unjust and often ignorant newspaper criticism. But the almost unprecedented unanimity and extraordinary urgency with which the faculty, the alumni, and the students of the University, and the people of this county, and to some extent of the State at large, and last, but not least, the Board of Trustees, asked my continuance, scarcely left me any liberty of choice. Your own prompt and kindly action removed the more immediate difficulties in my way, and I consented, though with a somewhat painful hesitation, to take u p again the office I had laid down. The grandeur of this great public interest, its importance to the State and to the always sacred cause of education, will not allow me to make my new term of service any less earnest and hearty than the past. I can only hope that the public concern so unexpectedly shown may portend for the University a future growth commensurate with the greatness of the interests at stake. In resuming my work let me state briefly some of the principles which have guided me hitherto, and which must still guide me in the future : When I accepted, at the outset, the position so suddenly and unexpectedly offered me, I was sustained by the belief that I knew and could use the chief agencies for success. I had watched for years the progress and growth of American colleges, and especially those in the west. I had seen them languish through a feeble infancy for lack of that public sympathy which their Presidents and Faculties took too little care to win, and I determined that this University should not be allowed to suffer from this source, so far as my own efforts could prevent it. I accepted, therefore, eagerly every, fit opportunity to meet the great public. I visited and addressed agricultural and horticultural societies, teachers' conventions and institutes, religious and social gatherings. I spoke at State and county fairs, delivered lectures, preached sermons, wrote articles, and met the people in their homes, schools, churches, and other assemblies. Everywhere I laid before them the great and noble public aims which filled my own mind, and which I believed ought to influence theirs. I have no doubt that these labors contributed largely to the early success of the University; I only wish that my strength would permit me to continue these public efforts, b u t they are too hard and exhausting to be endured by any one for^i long period. During the first year or two the Trustees paid my traveling expenses, since that time I have made no charge; usually, but not always, receiving enough to cover all expenses. I mention this because it has been published that I was away lecturing, etc., for my own profit, to the neglect of my duties at home. I have, not unfrequeutly, taken the cars after my work was done for the day, gone to a distant town, lectured and returned the same night to be at my post the next day. Frequently I have been left to pay my own bills, and in many other cases I have given the proceeds to the University. In this v^ay I earned, alone, the money to buy the organ used in our Chapel, and some of the means for our Art Gallery was raised in the same way. During the past vacation I have made ten public ad-