Arizona republican., 1901-01-01
millionaire Rockefeller

HSS~~>SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS S>>S>S>S>S>%>NNS
1t was dull November Sunday
morning in New York, damp. gray and
dismal. At $3.50 a. Man hour wher
most young people of wealth are s;i.I
indoors and in bed-a young man hur-
ried down the steps of No. West Fiji
ty-fourth street. and, with the light
confident step Of health an l purpose III
life. turned down Fifth avenue. This
was John d. Rockefeller. Jr., on his
way o. the Fifth avenue Baptist church
where perhaps the largest young msh's
bible class in the city meets every Sun
day morning, under his leadership.
1t began to rain. Like drops of ice
water the rain smote the young pedes-
TRAN, and he buttoned his frock coat
closely about him. Under that Goa,
was a green lowered waistcoat, and
beneath the waistcoat was heart ov-
erflowing with love for humanity. HIS
clothes wern those of the New Yoik
man of fashion the clubnan. the ham
diwork of q good taller. we'll fitting
and worn with unconscious grace.
The Fifth Avenue Baptis: church IS
tucked In between private mansions IN
Forty-siXth street; no ostentation
without. all simplicity within. At 9:io
Mr. Rockefeller entered the church AMI
mounted the stairs that lead TO TIN. gal
lery. where some fifty young men were
gathered. awaiting him. f1e shook
hands with the president uf the class
who stood there greeting all corners
regular attendants and strangers alike
for general Invitation is extended T.
young men, and especially strangers in
the city. to join Mr.. Rockefeller's class.
II has a total enu5lled membership OF
125. The writer, unknown TO any Of the
members, was greeted as a friend.
Mr., Rockefeller took his seat by the
side of a small table at the foot Of .hs
aisle, and at 9:45 the preliminary song
service of fifteen minutes began with
the hymn Tell Me The Old. Old Sto-
ry," led by trained male voice.
II don't believe God cares whether
we attend church or not said Mr.
Rockefeller, in opening ;he meeting
so long as We live the right kind of life.
We ask no questions here-Are you a
church member? Where DO you come
from? What Is your business? When
we stand before the great throne none
of these questi,ns will be asked. Such
things are Of no account. The mar
who simply goes to church on Sunday
and says: There. I've done my duty
for the week falls short of the quail
flea. ions of a Christian as God defines
them. The great and only question Isl:
What kind of daily life are you liv-
ingy
At ten O'Clock nearly every seat III
the gallery was occupied, and the as
semblage included men Of various call
ings, trades and professions-clerks.
railroad men, artisans, most of them
wearing the ready-made clothelng OF
wage-earners. their faces expressive of
earnnstness, and minds turned toward
the right. Among them were several
gray-haired men. After a short prayer
by the leader of the song service the
superintendent of the Sunday schoo!
came in to ask for dozen volunteers
to take classes at the Chinese mission
supported by this church at II Doyer
street. MIR. Rochelle, Endorsed THE
superintendent's plea, saying: 81
WI htu lpI a year VI wv v III Shi-
nese mission. and from personal expe-
rlcnce l asure you that no people so
greatly appreciate the attention OF
Christians as the Chinese IN this city,
which Is probably true of all the sons
OF the celestial empire in this country.
1t Is true that sometimes young womrn
take classes in the mission with a view
to marrying some well-..o-do China
man, but we have weeded out all such
teachers, as well as young men who
WIRE not competent to teach the word.
Now the mission needs number OF
trained workers. II we merely meet
here once week. If we fail TO put our
study of The bible to practical use. we
accomplish almost nothing. ] hope a
dozen Of yuu young NTH will volunteer
today to carry to the denizens OF the
Chimes quarter that which you have
learned here. Glancr your eye over
the congregation at the service Hoday
in this church and you will see a num-
Der of Chimes bright, intelligent young
men. all members of the church, as the
result of our labors at the mission
Not even the woIldliest man, the
steptic, could doubt the sincerity of the
young leader. As he spoke, he himself
crushed the barrier of riches. and stood
among the members of the class as a
brother among brothtrs. H.s voice wa,
clear and well modulared. His vocab-
ulary bespoke one not b-nS out OF coll
lege, but his delivery had all the elo-
quenre of carnestnegs. His his mannrr
there was the modesty and gentlcn, IS
of the educated gentle man and the true
Christian. Tall. vary slight of form.
with a pale, clean sHavcn face. blond
hair, and the genera appearance OF
refinement. he easily commanded tae
attention OF thc class. His finglrs are
,ong. suggestive of artistic tastes. but
they are blunt and brad a. tips, a
sure sign of the worker in the practical
field of business. He wears glasses,
but Behind them arr small, alert gray
eyes with dropping lids, indicative OF a