The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-11
They Arc All Sinner.

The question whether It is proper to &C
cept gifts from Mr.. JAY GOULD ought to be
| settled at once.
A short time ago he gave $4,000 for
| Presbyterian Church extension. and now It
is reported that he has given $4,000 to the
| University In Washington square. an in
stitution which is also under Presbyterian
influences. It Is said. too. that he 10 CON-
stantly importuned for contributions to
religious and charitable purposes. for the
building Of churches. and the alienation Of
suffering from disease or poverty.
The Rev. DR.. PARKHUnsT. tho Rev. Dr.,
RA1NsFoRD. tho Ne,c York Tines. and the
Erenin0 Post contend that 1t is wicked to
take his gifts. They will not allow him even
to obey the injunction Of JESUS to the
young man. by giving all his possessions to
the poor: and they require that the poor
shall refuse to accept them. He must not
even give to the Lord. cry out these critics.
He must keep his money for himself. since
nobody can take any Of 1t.
II that Is the principle to be established,
OF course It will apply to rich men gener-
ally. It will be wicked to accept anything
from them until they have shown exactly
how they came by the money. and have
satisfied these ministers and newspapers
that they got it properly.
Mr.. ROCKEFELLER. for instance. has made
his great wealth out Of the Standard OIL
Company or Trust. Trusts are wicked
monopolies In the opinion OF many. Hence
the churches. colleges. and missionary 80
cieties which have received gifts from Mr..
RocKEPELLER ought to return the money.
Many people object to stock speculation
and contend that the money made by it
comes from source as immoral as the
Louisiana Lottery or the worst OF the faro
banks which ANTHONY CoMsrocK would
shut up. II the principle Is adopted that
before giving to religious and charitable
purposes. the would-be givers must ex-
plain and justify tho sources whence the
money was derived. Mr.. VANDERBILT's
contributions to the Bible Society must be
tested by the standard Of those who re-
gard stock speculation as wicked.
The buying and selling Of futures on the
Produce Exchange Is held by many people
who do not engage In the business to be
reprehensible morally Gifts Of money
made in that way must therefore be re-
jected by the Church and by all religious
societies until the question OF the morality
VI Ghc 4IACuduSo luoLuOuS 10 uoUtE.
mined according to the principles and
standards OF Christianity.
Dealing in wines or liquors Is de-
nounced by multltudes Of good and earnest
people rs contrary to the law OF GoD. Gifts
from dlstillers. brewers. and from beer and
wine merchants. accordingly. must be
spurned as money made wickedly.
Mr.. HENRY GEORGE contends that money
obtained by individuals from the mere rise
in the value OF land is an outrage on the
community generally. II that is so. and
this principle Is adopted. no religious or
charitable contribution ought to be ac-
ceptcd from Mr.. AsToR. Mr.. GOBLET. Mr..
RHNELANDER. and other rich men who are
now importuned for such gifts by church
and religious and charitable societies. To
the question whence the money came, an
answer which satisfies tho doctrines OF Mr..
GEORGE cannot be returned. According to
them. 1t was stolen from the community.
The adoption Of the principle and the
strict obedience to it which Is requisite II 1t
is religious obligation. would. OF course,
lessen enormously tho resources OF the
Church and Of charity. but none the less 1t
must be followed In practice. II the money
OF Mr.. GOULD Is to be refused for the rea-
son that some people think that it vas OBJ
tanned in disobedience OF tho Divine law,
the like scruples concerning the methods by
which the property OF the rest was accumu-
lated must be regarded by the institutions
to which any OF 1t Is contributed.
Otherwise We must 60 ahead assuming
thut what man has is his by right. or the
law OF tho State would take it from him.
whether he be Mr. GOULD or another. We
must leave 1t to his own conscience to de- |
termine IL he holds 1t also In obedience to |
the law OF GOD. whether he be Mr.. GOULD,
DIR. PARKHURsT. or DR.. RAINsFoRD. They |
are all sinners against the law OF CHRIST. |
and who except COP shall Judge them2