Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-15
SOLICITED.
The Prudential Committee
Of Foreign Missions
asked for Rockefeller Donatio,
Of 100000.
statements In Regard To Tn.
troversy.

Boston, April 1.-THE gift of s,oo j.
10 the American Board Of Corn,,;.o ,'"'
ti' ior Foreign Missions rom Lob ~
I'ockeielier. was solicited i.y P.rraa.
tatlVes OF the Prudential Commit.aa
c"fding to a statement sem y az
oreSs' tonight, from the Headquarters -,
the board. This is an entirely diffaroS.
version OF the matter than that civ
IN an interview with Secretary a.
l.. Barton on March c.lh. ana LII
made public through the local otso -
the board ee ol
In the earlier statement, DR.. Rar,o,.
is made to say that the gift was %,
untary and unsolicited. The or;,i,e',
statement as furnished to The Assoc;a'
ed Press by representatives ns -
board, told of request from Johr ~
Rockefeller, Jr., for a conference win
me secretary OF the board. A confer.
ence was held and later one of the Sec.
retaries met the private secretary ~
John ID. Rockefeller following a church
service at MOntclair, n. j., AID tho
two discussed informally missionary If.
fairs. DR. Barton concluded:
subsequently,, l was asked to present
list of objects which We're in imedi.
ate need of support. and which could
not be supported by the regular receipts
Of the board. Such list was prepared
Stlll later an interview was reauested
tor conference regarding the list as
well as the general policy of the board.
The conference was followed in time nv
the promise of 100000.
so far as l know, no person sought
an int rview with Mr. Rockefeller or
any member of his family or any MEM
Der of his staff Of secretaries, and no
letters were written to bring influence
to bear upon him in these matters. |
believe that the gift was spontaneous
one given from his own impulse for the
purpose OF the work carried on under
the American Board
The statement sent 20 The Associated
Press tonight says:
secretary James l.. Barton, D. D..
sent 10 the corporate members of the
American Board today. a complete
statement with the correspondence
showing the steps which led to the gift
from MIR. Rockefeller of 100000.
This statement, the secretary says,
IS made in the interests of an accurate
understanding and to correct a false
impression created in some quarters by
a brief published interview with HIM
self, referring to the beginning of ne
gotations which was reported some two
weeks and has been widely misused and
n;sqroted."
The conference with Mr.. Rockefeller.
Jr.. and tie meeting o. the secretaries
at Montclair, n. j., are described as
before The statement concluding:
More than year later, in December
of last year. Secretary barton wrote
Mr.. Gates, (Mr. Rockefeller's private
secretary in regard to the Is higher
educational institutions of the board
sending him a new booklet upon TINS
work Just issued. and asking # there
would be an opportunity of bringing
these institutions to the attention oi
Mr.. Jonn D. Rockefeller with view
to securing funds for their endowment
in Whole or in part. Mr.. Gates al once
replied that Mr.. Rockefeller mad DE-
cl:ned nither to endOw institutions III
foreign countries. bur had sometimes
made contributions for the erection CT
necessary buildings and for current ex-
penses. .
Secretary Barton presented late Ill
December a statement OF certain press
ing snecial needs than existing Calling
for S163 600 A conference was calleu os
Mr. Gates upon the subject OF TINS 'tt-
tor. For six of the ten objects prese",-
ed, Mr.. Rockefeller promised tniou Jus
his agent, Mr.. Gates. to give si"o''oV
This letter announcing the gift was
received Feb 10. 1905. and was present.
Ell tc the Prudential COMMITTEE d. ~
regular meeting the next uay, "hei LII
Gift was accepted. g.,
"Secrctary Barton says: ! never nlI
any question whatever resaruiis
propriety and even duty of so'c''",
help for the needy INSTITUTIONS
work of the board from Mr.. hoeN. ..o
Tor as from other people OF means
are members in good and regular s''"'
ing If Christian churches. IN
In soliciting and accepting tiiis e ..a
,o;tber the Prudential Committee w
oRcers and members of the An1eiN" :.
Board. nor the pastors ana ''ieiD ss,,,e
our Congregational churcnes ',anate
arv obligation whatever TO au' ''s,,I
the cause of. or defend an! ii'ui' LET
rorporatiOn, nor is anyone ny ."l
"a he restrained from absolute -
or sn.ech according to the uic''tN
bic ,ntrammeled conscience o.o-
Tn view of the fact that bo'h Sc Sc
uents carried by The Associate" r;.
emanated from the Office OF ''le ~, in
can Board, it is apparent 'naa ,' a
CONSISTENCY was due to prep''' a.
.L ,b,p transmission.