New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-30
FAVOR ROCKEFELLER GIFT.
FINAL ACTION DELAYED.
american Board Prudential Com
aittee Adopt Subcommittee's Report

rsoston March oq.-The American Board of Com
r,issioners for Foreign Missions announced to-day
that ITS prudential committee had accepted a re-
nort az the subcommittee, recommending the ac-
centance of the gift of 100000 by John D. Rookie
feller but that final action the matter had been
postponed for two weeks The report of the sub
committee IN the language Of a statement issued
By the board to-day. was received and accepted as
expressing the unanimous judgment of the pru-
dental committee and the executive officers and
was that the committee could not accede 10 the
protest OF those who objected TO the acceptance of
the gift
The report also stated that the gift was offered
by MT- Rockefeller and unanimously accepted by
the prudential committee on February IA last 1t
says that IN accepting the gift the committee fol-
lowed the universal custom of the Church in the
past IN receiving upon its affairs the gifts of all
who were moved TO lay them thereon The re-
port holds that the acceptance OF gift involves
10 expression Of opinion on the part of the COM
nittee as 10 the character of the giver and to
intercept gift made 10 others in order to ex-
press an opinion seems unwaTantable." The rea-
for deferring final action given as follows:
''Inasmuch as The protestants have requested de-
lay. the committee will hold final action in abey-
snce fer weeks"
THE sUB-coMMITTEE's REPORT
An abstract Of the report OF the subcommittee.
as adopted, follows:
For aim almost century the board has received
and non-Christian alike In receiving gifts from
and IN no way passed Judgment on the business
religion, character life of the donors In rnis
the past. for the Church. IA all ages has received
upon IN MS affairs The gifts of all who were moved
followed, not only by phanthropic and educa-
The principle on which this policy rests is the
belief that our responsibility begins with the re-
are TO be held responsible We are asked now
70 make al exception and to single this
that this gift Of 100000 offered TO the board
mIttee on February IA 1t is a building ami
equipment fund and is available only for the pur-
appropriated and s4l.5eo has already been for
Your committee sees no reason why we should
nave departed from the custom OF the board and
whether gifts are 10 be received II would be mani
testify unjust and unthinkable reject gifts with
no committee could possibly undertake the task of
It seems TO that it would have been an as
sumption and usurpation il had tried to stop the
sonary work The reason asse1ed ' for LOT nus
the recent gift is that siTts ca1et+4 -.
honor" between the recipient and the donor. This
gift was made without conditions. This means that
whatever. material moral 10 the donor, The
Church must make such an assumption about all
Church can be accepted only upon the assumption
nat 53ey are qehts PAID to God and to humanity
To assume that obligation is designed or conten1-
s own interests and the C6urch Of being eG Iu4 pe
specter of persons. The committee feels that such
recipient is unwarranfabie and that they have no
for which it has been designated
A SUMMING Up OF THE CASE.
The argument which has been presented in va
rlous ways and by different protestants in the last
there IS great evil in G Our pcaGI6a IN tbs 6 tha
OF TINS glio Is believed by them TO be identified in
American Board should refuse this Gift ia this con-
We feel that t profstanfs nlo~ at this evil
ebaAII5s Ihf ~ News known ana that the blow
TIE non-Christian world We do not deem that any
s .bo are mace 70 the committee but simply
COMMITTEES is trustee. For this reason also the
aseeptance of gifts involves expression Of opn-
ion on the part of the committee as to the char
a5eT q me gFers and to Intercept gift made
seems unwarrantable. In common with the BRO
Iestants We are not blind TO the moral issue they
I ae 5alseo- But me committee does not feel war
ISnted by a refusal Of gifts TO pass final Judgment
eitner before the courts at the bar OF public
While therefore we do respect most sincerely the
CONSCIENTIOUS convictions Of the petitioners, We on
our part must ask that our conscience also be- re-
spected. believing as we do that under our solemn
eolgation to care for our trust we had right to
can take no action in accordance with the request
or the petitioners
The Rev. Mr.. Evans. chairman of the protesting
committee said tbs afternoon:
meeting Of the committee has been called for
Tomorrow afternoon TO discuss the report and TO
decide upon the next step: This committee has
that all sections Of New-EngIand may be repre-
senteo The protestants are growing in number
throughout the country, both inside and without
the Congregational Church. More and more repre-
sentative men are coming side. The
matter is not settled by any means.
Columbus. Ohio March 29.-''There should be an
organized movement Of the churches said the
Rev. DR.. Washington GLADDEN.. moderator Of the
Congregational Church. to-day. against the ac-
ceptance Of John D. Rockefeller's gift to the Amer-
can Board of Foreign Missions. Something should
be done at once shall consult the authorities of
the Church and ascertain their attitude in the mat
ter"