The glory known to all of us as Silliman University was made possible through a gift of an unlikely hero—a man who believed that in education lies the future of all good societies and civilizations. He was Dr. Horace Brinsmade Silliman, who gave the first significant amount to start off a school that now stands as Silliman University.

More than a hundred years later, that gift has more than borne much fruit—and our evidence lies in the University’s sprawling campus today, its remarkable history, and its roster of outstanding alumni who have made significant contributions to national and international development.

Sometimes though, to truly appreciate these blessings, it is best to go back to the roots of all this history. We can truly say that it is the quiet heroism of Dr. Silliman—in the form of annual contributions, which lasted for about seven years—that has led all of us to enjoy in the sharing of a valuable bond, the “Silliman Spirit.” What eventually counts is not just his first gift of ten thousand dollars and more to start an industrial school in the new American colony called the Philippines. What eventually counts are his ideals: he lived his life as a great community leader and a municent philanthropist, generously contributing his wealth to the development of his town of Cohoes, New York. In Dumaguete, halfway across the world, he went beyond his native New York and unwittingly changed the course of local history. Horace Silliman’s habit of giving had its greatest expression the day he read the newspaper headlines about the signing of the Treaty of Paris in the New York Times. Somehow, that moved him to do something, and thus began his little trips to the Office of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions in Manhattan to ensure financial strength to his vision of a school in the Philippines.

These small acts of unselfishness have become a legacy of more than a hundred years of fruitful grace.

Silliman University truly is a monument to God’s grace through the generosity of His instruments. The gifts from the other faithful givers that followed after Horace Silliman’s example are beautiful and resplendent echoes of the wisdom that was made concrete in 1901. For many of this University’s pioneers, building up Silliman Institute, which became Silliman University, was a kind of journey of faith: planting the seeds, secure in the dream that a bright future was ahead.

Silliman’s gift of generosity is the inspiration in the celebration of the fruits of grace through one very special way of expressing our gratitude.

More than a hundred years later, that gift has more than borne fruit—and our evidence lies in the University’s sprawling campus today, its history, and its roster of outstanding alumni who have made significant contributions to national and international development.

Sometimes though, to truly appreciate these blessings, it is best to go back to the basics, to the roots of all this history. We can truly say that it is the quiet heroism of Dr. Silliman—in the form of annual contributions, which lasted for about seven years—that has led all of us to enjoy in the sharing of a valuable bond, the “Silliman Spirit.” What eventually counts is not just his first gift of ten thousand dollars and more to start an industrial school in the new American colony called the Philippines. What eventually counts are his ideals: he lived his life as a great community leader and a great philanthropist, generously contributing his wealth to the development of his town of Cohoes, New York. In Dumaguete, halfway across the world, he went beyond his native New York and unwittingly changed a small course of local history. Horace Silliman’s habit of giving had its greatest expression the day he read the newspaper headlines about the signing of the Treaty of Paris in the New York Times. Somehow, that moved him to do something, and thus began his little trips to the Office of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions in Manhattan to ensure financial strength of his vision of a school in the Philippines.