The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-16
PASTORS AROUSED.
Those of New Haven Take a Hand in
the Rockefeller Controversy.

New Haven, Conn, May 16.-In a let
| ter acknowledging the receipt from the
/ committee of protesting ministers OF
documents bearing on the recent accept
! ance of the Rockefeller donation to the
I American board of commissioners OF
! foreign missions, the pastors of Cen
gregational churches in New Haven
with the exception Of Rev J. A. Haynes
Of the United church, have jointly given
/ expression to their views in the mat
/ ter.
( The pastors in their letters say that
while reluctant to express their views
some extraordinary statements of the
( PrOtestants call for an answer. They
! deplore any unnecessary and harsh crit
4 icism of missionary societies. Further
| they say that they are among those
who have agreed TO the acceptance of
the gift but have not in any declaration
of their views manifested what the
committee call any tendency to pal
/ late excuse, or exculpate,' anything
that may be shown to be wrong in the
/ business methods of any corporation.
/ On the contrary the pastor asserts, they
have not neglected suitable oppOrtuni-
ties of testifying against any recognized
! form of industrial or social evil regard
less Of what individuals might be pres
ent in their congrega atoms AMI without
anxious thought of the possible omense
to the contributors to the treasures OF
our churches.
The letter coatinui~g says;
We deeply regret that your commit
tee has published and is scattering
broadcast such declarations as the fol-
lowing concerning the reply to you Of
the prudential committee. Excuses,
legal Quibbles-but not one sentence
from beginning to end that rings true
and other words which we forbear to
quote.
Endorse the Committee.
I'm view of your publication Of Suca
charges, we are called on, irrespective
of our opinions concerning the questions
at issue, to say that in our judgment
the reply Of the prudential committee is
admirable in form, Christian in its
spirit, and in its reasonings worthy of
respect for its straightforward simple
ity and it's clear ethical tone ana we
would express our continued confidence
both in the equity and high honor of
the judgments of the men who are held
in so great esteem among US as Presi-
dent CapOn, Secretary Bartin and the
gentlemen associated with them in the
prudential committee.
We notice with regret the following
words: Such unqualified words under
other circumstances might be passed by
without serious notice, but when ad-
dressed by a number of Congregational
ministers to their brethren they cannot
be left unchallenged. This statement so
sweeping in its condemnation of Iegis-
latures, so calumniOus of the judiciary,
so unjust to our churches, we would
repudiate as untrue in fact and socially
destructive in its effect
I'VE desire also expressly to disavow
the assumption that by the acceptance
of such donations, or by the use of any
mans gift of that which is lawfully his
own, the trustees of a charity enter into
/ an alliance with him in his business,
become 'yoke-fellows with him in
wrong practices or in any way comprO-
mise themselves with questionable
methods of corporations.
1--WE wish decidedly to deny assump-
tions that While sustaining the actions
of the American board. we are not free
as we have always been in our Dulpits
to rebuke any wrongs that may be ex-
posed on our economic system.
we in turn must protest when you
insist that because of our customs or
principles concerning charitable contri-
buttons we are not in sympathy with
| the working people and that our min
istry has become the silenced witness
/ of any threatening social injustice. You
! have no reasonable or moral right to so
! judge US. We deprecate the continued
/ repetition of all such assertions as mis-
/ leading and as hurtful to the dearest
/ interests of our common Christianity.
We would add in conclusion that in
! our opinion one OF the chief virtues
| now needed for the elevation of bust
ness morals is the exercise of intelli-
gent discrimination and one of the su-
, preme duties of the church in regard to
/ all questions of social ethics is first to
learn the facts and then to speak the
/ truth in love"
The letter is signed by the following
clergymen:
Newman Smyth. William w. McLane.
/ william J. Mulch, Frank R. Luckey
| Watson L. Phillips, George F. Prentiss
William W. Lette, Thomas c. Mckay,
F. L. Davis, Iraiah W Sheath, Edward
F. Coin, Daniel J. Clark.