THE
LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR
UNIVERSITY
AD D RESS TO THE TRUSTE ES
BY
JANE L. St ANFORD . . . . . .
SURVIVING FOUNDER OF THE
LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY.
FEBRUARY 11, .397
STANFORD University, CAL.
PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY
1897
. . . .
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$538.*.
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THE
LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR
UNIVERSITY
A D D RESS TO THE TRUSTEES
BY
J A N E L. S T A N F O RD
SURVIVING FOUNDER OF THE
LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY. *
FEBRUARY 11, 1897
STANFORD UNIVERSITY, CAL.
PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY
1897
ADDRESS TO THE TRUSTEES.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Board of Trustees
of the Leland Stanford Junior University:
In deeding to you this home and its contents
this afternoon I am merely carrying out the inten-
tions of my beloved husband and doing what he
Would have done had I been first called hence to
the life eternal and he remained here alone. In
his last will and testament he distinctly 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 us. And since this is the
first opportunity I have had of bestowing, by
myself, a gift upon the students of the Uni-
versity, I deem it proper and fitting to give to
the Trustees a few directions in regard to the fu-
ture work, which, in the natural course of events,
it must soon be their duty to carry out as man-
agers and responsible custodians of that institu-
tion, but which, for the present, by the will of our
Heavenly Father, devolves on me as sole surviving
founder of the University.
In the first place, I hope that the time may come
when this home, which is so dear to me, will be
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 com-
munity at large; and it would gratify me exceed-
ingly if I could fill it with books and make it
accessible to all. But in whatever manner it may
4 ADDRESS TO THE TRUSTEES.
be ultimately decided that this home be used, I
wish it to be expressly understood that I direct
that it be devoted to the uses and service of the Le-
land Stanford Junior University, and I direct and
decláre that it shall never be converted into a club-
house, a boarding-house, 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 superior 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 approachable by all classes of society,
so willing and ready to lecture and aid all institu-
tions throughout the State, many times making
self-sacrifices to do so, should be among us, I am
sure has caused California at large to feel that my
husband was wisely led when he selected him
for the position he so ably fills. As for myself,
I could say much in his praise, for he has tenderly
and manfully helped to lighten my burdens, and
assumes the cares and responsibilities of his posi-
tion without any complaint, fearing to add to my
cares. I will only add that my earnest and sincere
prayer is that no circumstances may occur to take
him from his present position during the years
in which the responsibility still rests upon me.
Afid I would like to think that his connection with
my husband in the past may serve as a link to
bind him to the University for many years to come,
when good old age may still find him amid the
scenes of dear Palo Alto, blèssed and honored
ADDRESS TO THE TRUSTEES. b
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 Dr. Jordan, but repeat it to you
because I have been asked by several of the Trus-
tees to indicate to them some of my wishes which
it may be desirable for them to carry out, when
they take upon themselves the responsibilities.
A subject I feel most reverentially under obliga-
tions to touch upon is one of a religious nature.
An impression exists in the minds of many whose
commendation and strengthening prayers I need
and seek, that the students of the University are
not directly taught to reverence God and His won-
derful works. It was God’s goodness to my hus-
band and myself, as evidenced in the many bless-
ings we received from him, that inspired our
hearts with gratitude and gave birth to this Uni-
versity. 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 direct during his lifetime that, while
no particular sect or creed should be allowed to
intrude on the University, there should be taught
therein “the immortality 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 here quote his own written words to me on
the subject: “Religion is intended as a comfort, a
solace, a necessity to the soul’s welfare, and which-
ever form of religion furnishes the greatest com-
/2
6 ADDRESS TO THE TRUSTEES.
fort, 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 im-
portant 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 life here and
everything in the Life Eternal. Cultivating the
soul intelligence will endow them with that which
is beyond all human science, and reveal to them
God’s very self. Thomas à Kempis has said:
“How noble is the soul of man; what wondrous
powers are hidden within it. It can find no rest
until it hath attained to the Supreme Good—
reached its aim; when once this is attained, it
then enjoyeth peace.” Another well known writer
has said: “Religion does not consist in confession;
it does not consist in repentance. It consists only
in the purity of the heart and in the life of the
individual.” And another says: “There is no nar-
rowing so deadly as the narrowing of man's hori-
zon of spiritual things; no worse evil could befall
him in his course on earth than to lose sight of
Heaven. And it is not civilization that can pre-
vent this, it is not civilization that can compensate
for it. No widening of science, no possession of
abstract truth, can indemnify for an enfeebled
hold on the highest and central truths of human-
ity. What shall a man give in exchange for his
soul?” To teach this means the simple truths
ADDRESS TO THE TRUSTEES. 7
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 Williams College, while spending an
evening at our home in Washington in 1886. After
reading aloud to us the fourth chapter of
Ephesians he 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 restriction, are invited to occupy the pulpit
from Sabbath to Sabbath at the University, and I
note with satisfaction that the students as a rule
attend voluntarily in large numbers, and listen
with rare attentiveness to the sermons preached.
I also note with gratification that there prevails
among them a deep and sincere religious senti-
ment, as is shown by the regular Sunday evening
meetings, attended chiefly by the young men and
women of the University. 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 establish a professor-
ship 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 taught the students. A student
Will be better fitted to battle with the trials and
tribulations of life if he (or she) has been taught
the worth of money, the necessity of saving and of
8 ADDRESS TO THE TRUSTEES,
overcoming a desire to imitate those who are bet-
ter off in the world’s goods. For, when he has
learned how to save and how to control inordinate
desires, he will be relatively rich. During the past
three and a half years of close observation on my
part the importance of economy has impressed it-
self forcibly upon me, and I wish it to be taught
to all students of the University. Nature has
made the surroundings 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-
tion for the generations that are to follow. The
lesson thus taught will remain with them through
life and help them to teach the lesson to others.
The University buildings and grounds are for their
use while students, in trust for students to come.
Another subject I have given serious considera-
tion to is that we should not be ambitious to
increase the present number of students—eleven
hundred—for some years. If our Heavenly Father
spares me to become the actual possessor of the
property it was intended should be mine, it would
afford me great satisfaction to add some necessary
buildings—the chapel, library building, chemical
building, and two additions to the museum—the
latter in order to have a place for the works of art
and curios I direct to have removed there from my
home in this city, my home at Palo Alto, and my
home in Washington, D. C., after my departure
from earthly life. Even with the addition of these
buildings the present number of students would
ADDRESS TO THE TRUSTEES. 9
only be made comfortable, but they could then use
all the rooms in the quadrangle, which are now
Overcrowded, as recitation rooms. These build-
ings are needed, and I hope the Trustees will be
able, in the future, to build them, if I am not
during my lifetime.
The next subject to which I would call your spe-
cial interest and attention in the future is
the Mechanical Departments. I know full
well how important my husband considered
these departments. The large workshops were
fitted up at an enormous expense with the
very finest and best of machinery and tools.
During the first two years there were over
a hundred students busily engaged in learning
how to use their hands deftly and usefully in the
machine shops. This number, from some cause
which we cannot understand, has been steadily
decreasing from year to year.
It was a theory of my husband that the labor
of a man whose brain has been developed in con-
junction with skilled hands, made him so superior
to the ordinary workman as to enable him to com-
mand the highest compensation. He also felt that
the presence of these departments in the Univer-
sity tended to greatly dignify labor.
Many of the students come to this University
because the advantages are free and because
they know that they will be obliged to carve out
their own future; and with the encouragement
which we will give these departments in the future
they may gladly pursue this course of study. The
professional world has more than its quota, while
I0 ADDRESS TO THE TRUSTEES.
the manual has still room for more skilled
workmen. If these departments are encouraged,
and work in the machine shops and wood-working
departments are made major subjects, their grad-
uating classes would be larger and would readily
find responsible positions. When you put on the
armor and take up the work where I leave it, I
charge you to pay special attention to these de-
partments. Let the laborer always keep before
him these words of our precious Savior: “My
Father worketh hitherto, and I work.”
In the Act of the Legislature under which the
Leland Stanford Junior University was founded
and is now in existence, is the following clause:
“The person making the grant may therein desig-
nate such rules and regulations for the manage-
ment of the property conveyed as the grantor may
elect to prescribe; but such rules shall, unless the
grantor otherwise prescribe, be deemed advisory
only, and shall not preclude such trustees from
making such changes as new conditions may from
time to time require.” And in the same Act of
the Legislature occurs the following clause: “And
in all cases the powers and duties conferred and
imposed by such grant upon the trustee or trustees
therein named shall be exercised and performed
by the person making such grant, or by his wife,
during his or her life, as the case may be; pro-
vided, however, that upon the death of such per-
son, or his surviving wife, as the case may be, such
powers and duties shall devolve upon and shall be
exercised by the trustees named in the grant and
their successors.”
ADDRESS TO THE TRUSTEES. 11
Now, therefore, under the terms of these clauses
and in the exercise of the powers that the Act of
the Legislature gives me, I, as remaining grantor
of the Leland Stanford Junior University do here-
by elect to direct that in the future when
a vacancy or vacancies shall occur in the
Board of Trustees of said University, either
by death, resignation, removal, inability to
serve, or by any other cause, said Vacancy
or vacancies shall not be filled until the num-
ber of the members of the Board of Trustees be re-
duced by death, resignation, removal, inability to
serve, or for any other cause, to the number of fif-
teen, after which as a vacancy may occur it shall
be filled in the manner designated in the Grant of
Endowment, but the number of trustees shall
thereafter never exceed fifteen. In the Board of
Trustees nine persons shall constitute a quorum,
but the assent of not less than a majority of the
whole, to wit, eight, shall be necessary for affirma-
tive action in the execution of the trusts herein
contained.
And further, in accordance with the provisions
of the aforesaid Act of the Legislature, I do here-
by elect to direct:
That from this time forth When a member of the
Board of Trustees shall be appointed, he shall be
appointed for the term of ten years instead of, as
heretofore, for life. But this shall not apply to the
members of the present Board of Trustees.
In explanation of these two changes in the
Board of Trustees, I will state in regard to the first
that during the last few years of my husband’s
of McAGAN
miſſiºn
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12 ADDRESS TO THE TRUSTEES.
lifetime he frequently discussed with me the ad-
vantages of a smaller board than one of twenty-
four members, and the advisability of the number
being some day reduced.
As regards the appointment of members for a
limited term of years instead of for life, I have con-
sidered the matter from many standpoints, care-
fully and prayerfully, and have had the advantage
of the experience of other institutions governed
by boards of trustees, with the result that I deem
it important and beneficial to make the change.
This change, however, does not apply to any mem-
ber of the present board.
In making alterations in the original Grant of
Endowment I feel a solemn conviction that I am
doing what my husband, were he still with us,
Would have done.
Before closing let me further direct that in
course of time the Board of Trustees shall elect
and number among its members many of the
alumni of the University.
“Dear Father in Heaven, I wish Thy will to be done
—and not mine; unless my will be Thy will, I ask for
Thine instead of mine.”