Repository: UIHistories Project: Dedication - Illini Union (1941) [PAGE 8]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

spiration mil wins human aflWtion*. Kortu i! incl, much more than thai repn i ntec] if tl in finaiK tl exhibit* It is probablj true th tl , Illinois | ,ds significantly in this respect amoiifi oth< i j is rich abundance of ood will, loyal d < tffi ionate n ard. Tliei ttle however to ive tangible or visible evident of tin little 1 iv< expression to the existing wealth of ( I im ami s best ass l0> little to demonstrate thai the wise counsels and devoted, oft i heroi abors of founders and builders are recognized or appreciated. Ki I words, low in eulogies, are very good so far as thej bul whei I their besl they leave entirely untouched another form of expn i embodied in material monuments. This is widely understood and peopl< everywhere obey their besl impulses and noblesl instincts in erecting statues and building permanenl memorial structures associated witl »reat movements and dedicated to greal men. That there is oo1 tnon ( it, usually conns from the want of collective endeavor. It is hard ; minds united, preferences pooled, sentiments centralized. This h,

been true with US. The story in a few words may b

HISTORY "1 MOVEMENT

|UUi

iven as follows,

There was wide appreciation of the work and influence of Doctor }reg >ry in th< jarlier years; but, especially from the time the grave was made upon the campus, the thoughl was often expressed thai som< suitable testimonial should be elected to the man whose remains rest tl. in. This f ling all along was a general one, concurred in bj adA 1 by alumni, urged by friends, shared by students as y r they came and went, and favored by interested people at road. Tin sentiment grew with the passing years, esp ialh g alumni, until at length a conference, previously arranged for, \ lh on Alumni day 1912, resulting in a canvass to as rtain fur what members of the Alumni Association thought should and • done b themselves. In the mean time Mr, Homer A. Stillwell > ex-'82, who upon a visit had sought out the grave and wa. in the small prominence given to it, offered to contribute a

n d sum towards a suitable memorial. This stimulated action

"J the committee reported to the Executive Committee o\' tin ion, in dune 1913, thai the feeling was wry prevalent and

I unanimous thai something should be done by the a l u m n i .

to .O.DOO.

Th.

ml of money suggested was mosl commonly pul from $25,000 The Executn ommittee referred the report to the Alumni Council and b this bodj ii was referred to the new Executive Committee with ' commendation thai a special Gr< orj memorial committee I" »in1 I, with Mr. s. A. Bullard as chairman, to take thl matter in chan This new Executive I itteo again favored action, nppiw " iommendation of the Council and instructed the President of th< """ '" appoint the proposed memorial committee nnd ttl« to , '" '" " nference thi President of the Univei itv. thai of the H 1