The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-03-29

The report OF the subcommittee was
adopted as expressing the unanimous
judgment OF the prudential committee and
declares that the board has never passed
judgment on the business religion char
acter or life OF the donor and says In
substance that this principle must be
followed in the case OF Mr.. Rockefeller
The objection 10 tn, acceptance Of the
gift was based upon Mr.. Rockefeller
connection with the Standard oil com
many. the Profits ~ whicn corporation con
testants claim should not be accepted by
the board for religious work. The SUP
committee report also pointed our that
Mr. Rockefeller's gift was offered 70 the
board and unanimously accepted by the
prudential committee on Feb Il.
The committee also holds that the
acceptance OF gifts invoves no expression
Of opinion on the part OF the committee
on the character OF tire giver and sug-
gests that Il was not blind 10 the moral
issue raised by the protestants.
COMMITTEES REPORT.
The report OF the subcommittee as
adopted follows.
The speci-l committee appointed 20
consider the communication received from
number OF ministers and laymen, pro-
testing
= gift OF 10000 20 the treasuary of the
tCsrd and designated by the donor for
educational work have carefully consid-
cred the petition and beg leave TO submit
the following report:
Tor almost a century the board has
received gifts from every quarter IN
America Christian and non Christian
alike Into our treasury have also come
offerings from Mohammedans Parsees.
Hndus Buddhists. Shintoists and African
sa.agaS--l receiving gifts-from- these
varied sources, the board has In no de-
gree and in no way passed judgment on
the business. religion, character, or life OF
The donors.
I'm this policy We have followed the
universal custom OF the past for the
church in all ages has received upon its
aiinrs the gifts of all who we're moved
- lay them thereon. The same principle
has been followed not only by philanthro-
;hic and educational institutions, but by
other missionary boards
WHERE RESPONSIBILITY BEGINS
"The principle on which this policy
rests Ia the belief that our responsibility
begins with the receipt OF a gift. Il then
becomes our trust. for which we are TO
be held responsible Before gifts are re-
ceived the responsibility is not ours. but
is that OF the donors in their own con-
science. Il Is a matter between them and
their God We are asked now 20 make
an exception and 20 single out this recent
voluntary gift for refusal II should
be stated that this gift or 10000 was
offered TO the board and unanimously ac-
cepted by the prudential committee on
Feb 18th.
mo part OF this gift can be used IN
connection with the regular or admins
trative expenses % the board but Il IL
building and equipment fund. and f.
available only for the purpose named.
or this $4,000 have already been appro-
priated and s4l,59o have already been for
warded.
NO REASON TO CHANGE.
First your committee secs no reason
why we should have departed from the
custom of the board one which has been
universal I'm the world and make our
committee practically n tribunal 60 decide
whether gifts are 10 he received II would
be manifestly unjust and unthinkable "a
reject gifts without thorough scrutiny
and It is equally clear that no committee
could possibly undertake the task of such
q scrutiny.
1T seems 20 US IN the second nace
that II would have been an assumption
and usurpation. N from -ur position We
had tried 10 stop the money Of any man
who wished 70 give Il -or miss .ouary work
among those who are needy The reason
assigned for rejecting the recent gift is
that gifts constitute n relation of honor
between the recipient and the donor Ger.
tain gifts are made 20 the board with con.
dltions attached. These 70 may refuse oi
accept as wisdom directs
WITHOUT CONDITIONS.
This gift was made without conditions
This means. IN the eyes OF the committee
that II Involves the American board I'M
no obligation whatever, material OF
moral. 20 the donor. The church must
make sich an assumption about all It's
gifs or receive none AZ all ~ 81 Is be.
lieved that all gifts involve q relation
OF honor and put ~ under obligation ~
any kind 20 overlook the Shortcomings
OF the donor. II would then find itself
bound 20 give greater consideration 20 the
gfver Of Thousands than 10 the poor man
who gave little or nothing md 10 condone
the sins OF large contributors
Gifts made 20 the church can IA ac.
cepted only upon the assumption that
they are not gifts but debts pssd 20 God
and 10 humanity. and involve nothing
whatever In the way of favors when a
gift II made 10 the church 10 assume
that the obligation II designed or con-
ttmplafed. is 20 assume the giver or seek
Ing 70 further his own interests and me
church or being respectOr of persons
ASSUMPTION UNwARRANTED.
The committee feels that such an az
sumption, concerning either the giver or
The recipient. Is unwarrantable. and that