Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-31
DO NOT WAIVER.
The Protesting C|ergymen
Maintain Their Attitude
IN Declining to Accept Rookie.
Teller Donation.
e....uent Made Public by Secretary
Of Committee.

nos,on March 3O.-Not content with
decision of the prudential commit
%. ~ the American Board Of Foreign
,,issions in regard to the gift of $780,
Dao made by John d. Rockefeller, the
o.osting Congregational clergymen
~ ,gain. today, and decided not only
-. MAINTAIN their attitude of opposition
% rho acceptance of the Rockefeller
doration but also to submit the facts
"a documents in the matter to the
ronpregational clergymen of the cOun-
try.
The position of the prudential COM
r;t,ee as announced, yesterday. that
.ome could not discriminate in it's ac-
centance of gifts made it all the more
necessary. it was said. today. for the
nro,estants to urge that the money be
rejected.
The meeting was private, but after
odiournment the following statement
was issued by Rev. H. w. Gleason,
secretary:
THE committee considered the reply
of the prudential committee to the pro-
test and were a unit in the conviction
that this reply raises Il still more
fundamental and serious issue. name
H. that the prudential committee dis
rlaims all moral responsibility for dis
elimination as to the sources from
which they receive their money for
Christian work For this reason it
seemed to the committee all the more
necessary to maintain the protest.
CT he al
mittee have delayed final action for
two weeks in order that as wide an
expression of opinion as possible might
be made upon the issue, committee
WAS appointed to submit the facts and
documents in the matter TO the Con-
grcgational ministers of the country"
Dr. Washington GLADDEN. of Column
hrs, Ohio and President VIM. J. Tue
knr Of Dartmouth College. were in COM
nunic alton with the committee by tele-
gram and letter.
President Tucker wrote as follows:
"ln regard to the general position
taken by the defenders Of the action of
the prudential committee in accepting
Mr. Hockofellcr's gift. that a mission
arv organization has no right to dis
crilnina,c in regard to money received
list il pa, sod unwarrarted judgment
upon III" business methods of any man.
or Gf any corporation. are under public
discussion AMI certainly if under au-
thoriZ"i investigation. it is a discrimi-
nation in favor of methods at least.
tn accept a gift from such n source US
freely as from "thnt. sourC es. The bust
ness methods of the Standard Oil CO.,
are on trial before the people Of the
coTtry. a great many people, among
whom are those in the constituency Of
the American Board are morally con-
cerncd in the issue of this trial. 1t is
not necessary to affirm that no judg-
m"nt. legal or moral, has as yet been
declared. The fact that the trial. invcs-
tigation. or discussion, is going with SO
much seriousness is IN Its"lf sufficient.
"The acceptance by the American
Board % a gift from this source under
the present conditions mrst mean one
Of two things. Either the beard believes
that the business methods involved are
correct or that they are Il matter of
moral Indifference so far as the recep-
tion If the money is concerned. Fo:
ore, DO not like to see the American
Board take either one of the Sc positions.
Such actions hurt the conscience of
the coming generation more than that
of the generation which is passing. 1t
Is not an incentive TO missionary zeal.
| shall I've greatly surprised if the ac-
certan'e of this gift does not call for
red"ublrd energy on the part of the
churches to maintain the missions OF
TIE board
~ think that it should be made clear
in some way that acHuiescence in the
acceptance Of the gift does not follow
from the action of the committee. As
understand. the gift. has in good part
gone its way. The fact should not pre-
wdice discussion. No organization set
I" the high and lasting erds of Chris
tian service can allow itself to be
thought indifferent 10 the moral ISSUE
the day. whenever these issues are
necessarily affected by its action"