10 Conservative *
STANFORD UNIVERSITY.
[ Address to the Trustees of tbo Lelairl Stan
ford Junior University , by Jane L. Stanford
February 11,1897. ]
Mr. Chairman ami members of the board
of trustees of the Leland Stanford Jun
ior University :
In deeding to you this homo and its
contents this afternoon I am merely car
rying ont the intentions of my beloved
husband and doing what ho would have
done had I been first called hence to the
life eternal and he remained hero alone.
In his last will and testament ho dis
tinctly and at some length expressed
such intention. Therefore , while I am
left alone to execute this deed , it is in
fact the deed of both of xis. And since
this is the first opportunity I have had
of bestowing , by myself , a gift upon the
students of the university , I deem it
proper and fitting to give to the trustees
a few directions in regard to the future
work , which , in the natural course of
events , it must soon bo their duty to
carry out as managers and responsible
custodians of that institution , but which ,
for the present , by the will of our
Heavenly Father , devolves on mo as sole
surviving founder of the university.
In the first place , I hope that the time
may come when this homo , which is so
dear to me , will bo found useful as an
affiliated college to the Leland Stanford
Junior University , or as a library for the
use of the students of the university and
the community at large ; and it would
gratify mo exceedingly if I could fill it
with books and make it accessible to all.
But-in whatever manner it , may bo ulti
mately decided that this homo be used , 1
wish it to bo expressly understood that 1
direct that it bo devoted to the uses and
service of the Lelaud Stanford Junior
University , and I direct and declare that
it bhall never bo converted into a club
house , a boarding-houso , or a place of
undignified amusement.
In the second place , let me speak of
the honored president of the university.
Every year since his installment his su
perior abilities , his remarkable influence
upon the faculty and students , and , in
return , their fidelity and loyalty to him ,
have filled me with gratitude. That
one so able , so scholarly , and yet so ap
proachable by all classes of society , so
willing and ready to lecture and aid all
institutions throughout the state , many
times making self-sacrifices to do so ,
should be among us , I am sure has
caused California at largo to feel that
my husband was wisely led when he
selected him for the position ho so ably
fills. As for myself , I could say much
in his praise , for ho has tenderly and
manfully helped to lighten my burdens ,
and assumes the cares and responsibili
ties of his position without any com
plaint , fearing to add to my cares. I
will only add that my earnest and sin
cere prayer is that no circumstances
may occur to take him from his present
position during the years in which the
responsibility still rests upon mo. And
[ would like to think that , his connection
with my husband in the past may servo
.is a link to bind him to the university
for many years to come , when good old
igo may still find him amid the scenes
of dear Palo Alto , blessed and honored
by the citizens of California and the
students and graduates that go forth
each year to fill their places in life.
What I am now about to say I have
frequently discussed with Doctor Jordan ,
but repeat it to you because I have been
asked by several of the trustees to indi
cate to them some of my wishes which
it may be desirable for them to carry
out , when they take upon themselves
cho responsibilities.
A subject I feel most reverentially
under obligations to touch upon is one
of a religious nature. An impression
exists in the minds of many whose com
mendation and strengthening prayers I
need and seek , that the students of the
university are not directly taught to
reverence God and His wonderful
works. It was God's goodness to my
husband and myself , as evidenced in the
many blessings we received from Him ,
that inspired our hearts with gratitude
and gave birth to this university. It
seems to me , therefore , most proper and
necessary that a reverence for God's
name should be one of the fundamental
truths there expounded. It was such a
feeling that caused my husband to di
rect during his lifetime that , while no
particular sect or creed should bo al
lowed to intrude on the university , there
.should bo taught therein " the immortal
ity of the soul , the existence of an all-
wise and benevolent Creator , and that
obedience to His laws is the highest duty
of man. " I will hero quote his own
written words to mo on the subject :
' Religion is intended as a comfort , a
solace , a necessity to the soul's welfare ,
and whichever form of religion fur-
ihhes the greatest comfort , the greatest
solace , is the form which should be
adopted , be its name what it may. The
best form of religion is trust in God and
a firm belief in the immortality of the
soul , life everlasting. "
It is my direction that this vital and
most important fact be not lost sight of :
that the students when they enter the
university be taught that every one born
on earth has a soul germ , and that on
its development depends much in lifo
hero and everything in the lifo eternal.
Cultivating the soul intelligence will en
dow them with that which is beyond all
human science , and rovenl to them God's
very self. Thomas a Kempis has said :
"How noble is the soul of man ; what
wonderous powers are hidden within it.
It can find no rest until it hath attained
to the Supreme good reached its aims ;
when once this is attained , it then en-
ioyoth peace. " Another well-known
writer has said : "Religion does not
consist in confession ; it does not consist
V
in repentance. It consists only in the
purity of the heart and iu the lifo of the
individual. " And another says : "There
is no narrowing so deadly as the nar
rowing of man's horizon of spiritual
things ; no worse evil could bofull him
in his course on earth than to lose sight
of Heaven. And it is not civilization
that can prevent this , it is not civiliza
tion than can compensate for it. No
widening of science , no possession of
abstract truth , can indemnify for an en
feebled hold on the highest and central
truths of humanity. What shall a man
give in exchange for his soul ? " To
teach this means the simple truths
taught by our greatest of all teachers
Jesus Christ.
In this connection I recall a statement
made to my husband and myself by the
late Mark Hopkins , president of Wil
liams college , while spending an even
ing at our homo in Washington in 188(5. (
After reading aloud to us the fourth
chapter of Ephesians ho remarked , "A
general observance of this chapter
would civilize the world. " I call your
attention to this remark because it was
made by one of the foremost educators
of this country.
Representatives of all denominations ,
without any restrictions , are invited to
occupy the pulpit from Sabbath to Sab
bath at the university , and I note with
satisfaction that the students as a rule
attend voluntarily in largo numbers , and
listen with rare attentivouess to the ser
mons preached. I also note with grati
fication that there prevails among thorn
a deep and sincere religious sentiment ,
as is shown by the regular Sunday even
ing meetings , attended chiefly by the
young men and women of the univer
sity. I feel assured that God has a
place in their hearts ; therefore I have
thought that as soon as my financial
condition warranted it I would like to
e&tablish a professorship of Bible history ,
to be filled by one who will teach it
without any prejudice.
In the next place , I would impress on
you the importance of a subject near
my heart , that of economy being tangLt
the students. A student will be better
fitted to battle with the trials and tribu
lations of lifo if ho ( or she ) has been
taught the worth of money , the neces
sity of saving and of overcoming a de
sire to imitate those who are better off
in this world's goods. For , when ho
lias learned how to save and how to con
trol inordinate desires , ho will be rela
tively rich. During the past three and
a halt' years of close observation on my
part the importance of economy has
impressed itself forcibly uponme , and I
wish it to bo taught to all students of the
university. Nature has made the sur
roundings of the university beautiful ,
and the substantial character of the
buildings gives them an appearance of
luxury. I wish this natural beauty and
comparative luxury to 'impress upon the
students the necessity of their preserva-