The sun., 1903-12-09
BIBLE CLASS WATER DINNER.
YOUNG MIR. ROCKEFELLERS
TAKES ITS ORATORY PLAIN.
Senator Depew Tells Diners About the
Embarrassment or Great Weaith'-Mr.
Rockefeller Says be Earnest. Espe-
cIalIy In Getting q JOb-Penny GIFT.


Rockefeller, Jr, is leader and teacher,
held its annual dinner last night at the
Vendome Hotel. 1t was the seventh dinner
of the class and at this, as at all others
which have been held, Mr. Rockefeller
followed the rule he has laid down in matters
connected with the class. of letting each
, man pay his own share OF the cost OF the
dinner. The price was 81 a plate.
1t was. as one Of the spea kers said strictly
water brewed" banquet, 1t there were
plenty Of cigars on the side, Places were
spr ad TO- more than $50. Mr.. kocke,
fell r. Of course, attended. The guest OF
the evening was Senator Chauncey NJ.
Depew
Senator Depaw and Mr.. Rockefeller sat
at the head table. with William d. Murphy
the toastmaster, and the trust dcacons
and paste. of the Fifth Avenue baptlsu
Church.
The members of the class were seated at
three long tables at right angles to this.
Each scholar" had piece OF paper with nus
name written on it. pinned to the Lapel OF
his coat, so that every body, nomnally al
least knew everybody else.
Somebody offered Senator Depew slip
OF paper, but he squared his shoulders back
and said that If anybody there didnt Know
him. after his long life in the public eye,
a way at this stage of the game. Mr..
Rockefeller did not wear a tag, either. ,
The hall was decorated with palms and
ferns, and during the dinner an orchestra
Of members Of the class played and other
members sang; Mr.. Rockefeller responded ;ai
to the toast "A sons a son till he gets him
wife, but a daughter'sa daughter all OF her
life" He spoke after Senator Depew,
who told the young men that success III ne
wasn't by any means to be measureu py
riches. Mr.. Rockefeller expressed the be-
lief that il Senator Depew started up a
nj hn
ness in that line.
1T is said by some. remarked Mr.. Rookie
feller. that the most embarrassing mo-
ment in mans life il the moment when
he proposes to the girl he loves. FROM
experience know, however, that the pres
ent moment, when ! am called upon to re-
spond o toast in the presence of this king
Of after dinner speakers Mr.. Depew smiled
easily Is O far more embarrassing moment.
| should however be very ungra'eful were
to allow my embarrassment so o overcome
me as o fla in expressing to our guest the
very sincere thanks which / know all OF
US feel.
Young Mr.. Rockefeller expressed great
satisfaction that Senator Depew didn't
propose to establish a Bible class of his
own in town, because il he did all other
Bible classes would be obliged TO close
their doors
He thanked the board of trustees and
the deacons for attending the banquet.
Mr.. Rockefeller desired to leave one
thought with the class. Its text he said,
was, Being in earnest. or, in other words,
if anything is worth doing. 1t is worth doing
we'll
II hardly need to illustrate the point"
said Mr. Rockefeller, "for we have about
us all the time illusi rations of the Necessity
and the value Of being earnest. But don't
wait for success 10 come 10 you. Go seek
ing il, .,.,..,,,. ,,,.
go walking through he :, reefs, II necessary
in search OF position. Nothing can pre-
vent YOU from believing he things which
you seriously and earnestly seek
The toastmaster, in introducing Senator
Depew, said that he felt like share of
sy sya}sy sH'1 bost s Of SsM YorR RI cen WIN
The Senator's official subject was "Out OF
the earth came forth meat and out of the
strong came forth sweetness He didn't,
however, say anything about meat or
sweetness.
Senator Depew began by saying that
young Mr.. Rockefeller's Is now the rcst
famous and most talked about of Bible
classes, and by praising Bible study. He
went on to remind his hearers that
there are many Well-worn maNims and
axioins delivered to youth which are as
familiar to them Is 10 the "a &c who speaks.
BE honest, he said, is good enough advice,
but there is a phase of honesty little thought
OF. Then he told this story.
A client Of mine. Il man of wealth aud gen,
er"ns purposes. retired from business and
settled N the village Of his birth. The town tow
lie ting II WAS decided that II would bring
population, manufacture ana trade II the
tatons Of the Villas charter ,prohibiissd Ihrs
th drsIrd Wy pd s r. 500 o your
securing an amendment 10 the charter from
the. Legislature for my repayment, want
TO do all can to aid yon in putting this village
calls for"
The work was done and the results more
rang with praises for his generosity and pub
lie spirit The amendmen, to the charter.
he nI appropration OBJ to repay this liberal. minded
gentleman was submitted to . popular vote
al the next election; Nearly every voter
deieatcd 10 TO in the secret ballot, and my
client lost his money, OF the 900 voters.
the 900 WHO voted against thIs payment we're
IN their ordinary dealings With their ielloWmen
where a ledger account was kept scruph-
lousy honest
members % "a and il in =, their domestic relations and
in their private life lived mp to the standards
Of their faith They were accountable for
else knew their vote. They had called upon
their friend in, public meeting to advance
10 tt 'o roll CALI r; %oul ali have Shouted to return
him the loan. In voting secretly against
paying. they evidently manufactured justi-
hcation which fooled Their Consctences.
Nevertheless. the justification was dishonest.
the act was dishonest and If they had. before
saying their prayers, sQunrely faced their own
conduct and sat as jury upon their own act.
the verdict would have been that they were
thieves.
II the statesmen who advocated paying
the nations debts in deprecated currency
after the civil war had been intellgently
educated in the Bible class upon funda-
mental principles, he said, the, party of
reputation would never have had advo-
Gates who could persuade themselves that
their attitude was honest.
The Machiavelliun policy in diplomacy
is the science Of lying for ones country,
but doubt IL n great nat ion. or small one,
was ever benefited by liar Practical poll
tics are permeated with the idea that success
is largely dependent upon pretending that you
do not want what YOU are seeking, and that
you are friendly to the aspirant whom you
are knitting. Men of the purest character
who would scorn to be untruthful or dis
honest in business. are reCkoned superior
politicians because Of their skill on these
lines. If their honesty was built upon Bible
teachings they would be incapable OF this
method OF self-delusion and paralysis of
conscience.
The Senate deprecated the blind pursuit
of wealth as destroying spirituality, mar
rowing the intellectual horizon. numbing
the study and pursuit Of the humanities
r. Ia