New-York tribune., 1905-07-22
accepting the gifts of John D. Rockefeller as

follows:
From his prominence in his own denomination
and as q leader OF religious and ethical tn0uSnI,
DR.. Washington Gladden. has aroused wide
spread discussion by his recent Opposition 10
the acceptance OF the money or John D. Rocke-
reller for the missionary purposes oI the Anert-
can Board. His creGlbility as an original IN
vestigator. and even his Christian spirit. has
been attacked by those close 10 the worlds
greatest monopoly. A man OF stngularly pure
ana simple lie ana ever devoted 10 the highest
welfare OF humanity, ne can hardly lose the lus-
tre OF his Christian character and integrity in
comparison with the greatest captain Of indus
try the world has yet discovered.
The man whose life has oaen lived from the
standpoint or pagonlzed Gospel, so far as II
touches industrial problems, can hardly be de-
tended by his friends ard dependents in the
light Of the teachings Of Jesus: Love one an
ot1er. and Thy neghbOr as thyself"
For fifteen years the writer knew DR.. GLADDEN.
with the familiar intimacy OF a neighbOr and
fellow pastor. His friendship was that OF a
man who, like John Milton. lifted the idea of
man" before his fellows. To know him was 10
catch some of bis own enthusiasm for the king
dom OF God on earth, for the CoIurn bus pastor
not only believes that the kingdom OF God is in
tne neart or man, but that the principles Of the
New Testament have social. political and in
dustTlal mission Christianity. he thinks. Is
pracCcal, and IS 70 be applied to every phase
OF life on earth. The brotherhood Of man the
solidarity Of the race, is not dgTnent, accord
ing TO DR.. GLADDEN., but a reality OF Gospel rev
citation, yet TO dnd fuIiIment.
Believing this, Dr. Gladden's life has been de-
voted 10 its accomplishment. Study and tnves-
rgation have been pursued with one object in
VteW-to ind out the facts. The problems &C
the age have been confronted with the Gospel
rule or conduit The Ons ptlilOSOpher's stone
destined 70 transnute all sordfd elements 10
pure gold So his preaching, teaching writing
and, above ali. his life have borne witness 20
MS desire Tor the practical application OF Chris
danity tc all sociological problems
AS a patient investigator he has sought 70 6nd
OUT the primal facts governing the present in
dlStria4 system, as his books abUndantly testify
thousands Of letters have gone forth from his
Ing light on the present system and what hone
OF change there might be for betternent
one result OF his earnest search is the IN born
eonvlcuon that our present industrial and po-
htical system is al wrong Men nls1 6rs+ ~
all recognize that they are here TO serve To
that end a citizen must sanctify himself for the
good of the state in a willing service and the
man OF business must not live TO please himself
alone, but co please others. Long ago in his
nations DR.. GLADDEN. foresaw " the danger 10 in
divlduaI liberty and the spirit Of brotherh o6
For the good OF the body polite he realized that
this system must pass. or II Will change the
! new Christian brotherhood into the old pagan
slavery again, or something worse He to-day
ughts thls gigantic evil with al the force of nj =
oslc and heartfelt conviction that the Master
came TO make II en- good.
The efforts Of Starr J. Murphy. counsel 70 John
D. Rockefeller. in his praiseworthy efforts 70
and DR.. GLADDEN. mapping and uphold thu ve-
rac1ty or MS patron, make mess Of the whole
on the principle that what rogues have 1ore
rogues may DO. Nobody preteuds that the Stand
dTu OI company was corn IN Flghr5OuS0
/ nurtured in prayer It's gospel is not the story
Of Bethlehem or Calvary, but the gosr eI II
greed and its projectors. meeting the devil in
secret conference and shown the kingdoms of
this world, with the remark, "Au this will give
tnee If thou wilt fall down and worship ne -
forthwith fell down, and proceeded 70 take pos
session.
DR.. Gladden's points are certainly well taken
| and clearly stated when he argues against the
acceptance Of the gifts of such men as Mr.
Rockefeller on behalf Of the church The legal
principle respecting property is clear. II is the
| principle that properly which is not rightfuIIy
held cannot be rightfully given or rightfully re-
| eeived.
There is no need. however. TO quarrel with
Mr.. Rockefeller. He is only the child of mis-
| taken and efete conception OF Christianity. Let
q new evangei be sounded Set in motion q
propa ganda for the social, Industrial and civic
regeneration Of the world. Convert John D.
Rockefeller. Boldly charge that he and his Ik
are not Christian except in a limited sense.
Mr.. Rockefeller is a babe. Perhaps there is
hope for him He has a thousand millions or so
It cannot be returned TO those 20 whom il right
fully belongs. Let Mr.. Rockefeller repent Lei
him retain q modest com perenCe Then the bulk
OF his fortune could found a mighty Institution
for the teaching Of applied Christianity 70 social
and industrial life
spousibility, and John D Rockefeller, IKE the
phpnix. VIII rise from the ashes of & false and
hated system TO a place in the heaven and
the new earth, wherein dwellerh love, brother
hood liberty and righteousness
Yet the funny thing about il all is that so
many who deem themselves good Christians
cannot the contra diction between throat cut
| ing God and loving man and praying for the
success OF Christian missions on Sunday