1891II A Momentous Decision 



ultimately form the endowment. Should Mrs. 

 Stanford outlive him the bulk of the property would 

 be willed to her, that she might still have the honor 

 and enjoyment of giving, and not sit idly by while 

 others administered the finances. I refer specifically 

 to this chivalrous attitude on the part of Mr. Stan- 

 ford, as it shaped the early history of the university 

 endowment. He further stated that the board of 

 trustees, already appointed, would remain without 

 function during the lifetime of either founder, unless 

 specially called upon to serve. 



In conclusion he offered me the presidency of the 

 institution at a salary of ^10,000. 



While I went home to discuss the matter, Mrs. 

 Stanford and her faithful secretary, Miss Bertha 

 Berner, attended service in a neighboring church. 

 There a student preacher discoursed somewhat 

 vigorously on the wrath of God. At the end, he 

 approached the two ladies to ask if the five-dollar 

 goldpiece Mrs. Stanford had put into the contri- 

 bution basket was perhaps dropped by mistake. 

 She reassured him on this point, but said she was a God 

 not acquainted with the God he had talked about; "^^'""^ 

 the One she knew was *'a God of Love, who pities 

 them that fear him, even as a father pitieth his 

 children." 



After a short consultation with Mrs. Jordan, I Ofer 

 decided with some enthusiasm to accept Mr. Stan- <'"''^^'^ 

 ford's offer in spite of two apparent risks. As to 

 the first, California was the most individualistic of 

 the states and still rife with discordant elements. 

 Secondly, the new institution was to be "personally 

 conducted," its sole trustee a business man who was, 

 moreover, active in political life. But the possi- 



c 355 :i 



