The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-08
WOULDN'T TAKE HIS MONEY FOR
THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL.

DR.. Buckley, the foremost Methodist
editor in America, gave a severe re-
buke to the authorities of Chicago
University and all other institutions
which grovel before trust magnates to
obtain some of their ill-gotten wealth.
So hardened has the public conscience
become that this statement of DIR.
Buckley, made in a Methodist Confer
ence at Brooklyn, startled the coun-
try:
did John d. Rockefeller offer
money for the Methodist Hospital,
would take it, but l would tell him
just what / thought of his business
methods at the same time"
Why should a minister of the gos-
pei, whose duty it is to say to the
man who has obtained wealth by lille
gal or unworthy methods, Thou art
the man. he silenced because of a
contribution to his church school? If
he takes the money from the trust
magnate, and because of the gift re-
fuses to tell him what | thought OF
his business methods at the same
time" is he not, in a sense, bribed to
hold his tongue? But, worse than
that, if like DR.. Harper, he teaches
the youth that John d. Rockefeller's
character is one to be admired and
studied by the pupils in Chicago Uni
versity-if the money thus buys such
instruction, then does the endowment
become a running sore and a national
evil.
DR.. Buckley would take the money
and use it for good purpose without
being bribed to silence or to praise. 1t
seems that the Board of Foreign Mis-
sions of the Methodist Episcopal
Church has gone d long ways further
than DR.. Buckley or any other reli-
gious authority in America in being
careful to accept no money unless they
could wholly approve of the source
and the habits of the giver. Mr.. W.
w. Cooper, of Kenosha, Wisconsin,
made a will some time ago in which
he left $4,000 to the Board of Mis-
sions of the Methodist Church. After
making the will Mr. Cooper visited
Chicago, attended a play in the lro-
quois Theatre, and was one of the vic
Tins of that terrible disaster. Last
week the Secretary of the Board, A.
B. Leonard, communicated with the
County Clerk of Kenosha informing
him that the gift had been refused by
the Board of Missions because Mr..
Cooper met his death in a place of
amusement not countenanced by the
Church.
Many folks will say that the Board
was "straining at gnat," and yet the
members of the Board will have the
approval of their conscience. That is,
after all, the main thing. Men who
can resist the donation of money to
a good cause because they do not ap-
prove the source, are so, rare as to
cause comment. Though going too
far. as we see it, the contrast between
the Chicago University spirit and the
Mission Board spirit is worth consid-
ering.
The true policy is that enunciated
by Dr. Buckley to take Rockefellers
money for a good cause, if he proffers
it and not be silenced about his illegal
methods. Of course DR.. Buckleys in
situations will get no money from the
trust magnate, for they give rarely ex-
cept where they think they Will buy
silence or win adulation. The vener-
able Rev. John Tillett, who took the
bar-keeper's money for a good cause,
summed up the right policy when he
said to the dollar bill: You have
served the devil long enough, old Ten
Dollar BILL will now let you serve the
Lord.