Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1900 [PAGE 44]

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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

[NbV, 12

Besolved, That the Board of Trustees of the University takes the first opportunity since the death of Dr. Gregory to renew an official expression of its appreciation of the great debt of gratitude under which the University must always rest to its first Executive. He was endowed in liberal measure with the qualities which were needed to prepare the plans and effect the organization of such an institution. His scholarship, his intellectual balance, his familiarity with public questions, his courage in the face of much opposition, and his skill in debate, laid foundations for a University upon which the superstructure has been continually growing stronger and nobler since he ceased to be so potent in guiding its affairs. His sympathetic nature and his efficiency as.a teacher not only endeared him to students, but gave inspiration and direction to their lives. His works will remain after him to do him honor and his memory must always have a unique and enviable place in our history. His death, even at the end of a long and exceedingly fruitful life, fills all friends of the University with sorrow, The Board of Trustees, not only because of its official responsibility and its point of vision, but perhaps more particularly because four of its members were students of the distinguished deceased, is in a position to realize the great worth of his services to individu a l s , ^ the University, and to the educational progress of the State, and knows now very feeble its former action is in adequately expressing it. Not only in an official and formal way, but with a depth of feeling which we can not utter, we declare that it was rare good fortune which brought his great gifts to the aid of the University in the days of its infancy; and in the years of its strength it will never cease to cherish his memory and draw inspiration from Ms words and his example. Resolved, That his desire to be buried in the gounds of the University is not only significant of his unceasing affection for it, but brings to it the opportunity to secure in larger measure the continuance of his influence upon its life. While any common practice in this direction is doubtless to be avoided, even in the case of strong characters who have exerted telling influence in the affairs of the University, the preeminence of Dr. Gregory in this regard is assuredly sufficient justification in this instance. Therefore, the Board directs that burial be made in mason work in the neighborhood of a point south of the line of John street if projected into the University grounds and about one Jiundred feet therefrom, and about midway betwee Unniversity hall and the west line of the University grounds; and the Board will, as soon as practicable, give appropriate treatment to the grounds in that vicinity and will assume the perpetual care of the grave, to the end that it may unceasingly remind us, and coming generations, of the virtues of the departed, and forever exert an influence at once mellowing and uplifting in the life of the University. And the executive officers of the University are directed at an early day to carry this action into effect.

ISAAC S. RAYMOND, SAMUEL A. BULLARD, ALEXANDER MCLEAN, .

Committee. O n motion of Mr. M c L e a n , it was ordered t h a t t h e C o m m i t t e e on B u i l d i n g s a n d G r o u n d s should look after t h e location of t h e b u r i a l place a n d make a r r a n g e m e n t s for t h e b u r i a l at as early a d a t e as prac^ ticaV^le. O n motion of Mr. A r m s t r o n g , $300.00, or so m u c h thereof as m i g h t be needed, was a p p r o p r i a t e d to defray expenses connected with t h e burial. T h e board adjourned.

F. M. MCKAY,

W . L. PILLSBURY,

President.

Secretary,