The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-30
ROCKEFELLER GIFT IS
FINALLY ACCEPTED
But Formal Action Is Postponed
Two Weeks to Hear the
Protest

$3.50 ~ % lie american
board of commissioners for foreign
missions announced today that its pru-
DENTAL committee had accepted a re-
port or the subcommittee recommend
ing the acceptance OF the gift of $780,
600 by John D. Rockefeller, but that
final action had been postponed for
two weeks. The report of the subcom-
mittee, in the language of statement
issued by the board today. was receiv-
ed and accepted as expressing the ut
most Judgment Of the prudential COM
mittee ard the executive officers" and
was to the effect that the committee
could not accede to the protest of those
who objected to the acceptance OF the
gift.
The report also stated that the gift
was offered by Mr. Rockefeller and
unanimously accepted by the pruden-
tial committee. 1t says that in accept
ing the gift the committee followed 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 report holds that the acceptance
of gift involves no expression of
opinion on the part of the committee
as to the character of the givers and
TO intercept a gift made to others in
order TO express an opinion seems un-
warraDtable."
The reason for deferring final action
is given as follows:
''Inasmuch as the protestants have
requested delay. the committee will
hold final action in allegiance for two
weeks The report also says:
Most Is Already Spent
This gift of 100000 was offered to the
board and unanimously accepted br the
prudential committee on Feb. II. 1t is
building and equipment fund and is
aTailaD BILE only for the named
OF this S9l 900 has already been appro-
priated and Sil.500 has already been for
why W. should have departed from the
custom OF the board and made our COM.
mittee practically a tribunal to decide
whether gifts are to be received. IL would
be manifeStly unjust and unthinkable to
reject gifts without thorough scrutiny.
and 1t is equally clear that no committee
could possibly undertake the task of such
II seems to us that il would have been
an assumption and usurpatiOn if We had
tried to stop any man who wished to
give it for missionary work. The rea-
son assigned for rejecting the recent gift
is that gifts constitute a relation of
honor between the recipient and the
donor. This gift was made without con-
ditions. This means that II involves the
American board in no obligation whatever.
material or moral. to the donor The
church must make such an assumption
about its gifts or receive none at all.
Gifts made TO the church can be accepted
only upon the assumption that they are
debts paid to God and to humanity and
involve nothing whatever in the way Of
favors. To assume that obligation is to
accuse the gfver of seeking to further his
own interests and the church OF being a
respecter OF persons. The committee feels
that such assumption. concerning
either the giver or the recipient. is I'M
warrantable and that it has no right 20
prevent this money from doing the WOrk
for which IL has been designated.
View Favorable to Rockefeller
The argument which has been present
ed in various ways and by different pro-
teStants in the last few days II summed
up practically in this. that there is
of this gift is believed by them TO be
identified i'm a conspicuous way with this
evil. and therefore the American board
should refuse this gift in this conspicuous
way and thus strike blow at this evil.
We feel that the protestantS have other
ways of making their views known and
that the blow should not be struck at
the expense of the people in the non
Christian world. We do not deem that
any gift is made 10 the committee. but
simply through the committee TO objects
for which the committee Is a trustee. For
this reason also the acceptance OF gifts
involves no expression of opinion on the
part of the committee as to the char
acter OF the givers and 10 intercept
gift made TO others in order to express
an opinion for ourselves seems unwar-
rantable. In common with the protest
/ ants. We are ntl btil4u " Niic
sue they have raised But the commit
tee does not feel warranted by refusal
OF gifts to pass final Judgment upon ques-
tions which have never been settled either
before the courts or at the bar Of pub
lie opinion.
While. therefore, we do respect most
sincerely the conscientious convictions Of
the petitioners. we on our part must ask
that our conscience also be respected. be-
lieving as we dc that under solemn obliga-
ton TO care for our trust We had no right
to decline this gift. IL is obvious. there
fore that We can take no action in ac-
cordance with the request Of the petition
ers.
Professionals Gain Strength
Rev Mr.. Evans, chairman of the
protesting committee. said today:
A meeting of the committee has been
called for tomorrow to discuss the report
and TO decide upon the next step. This
committee has been increased in mem
bership to fifteen in order that all sec
lions OF New England may be represented.
The proteStants are growing in number
throughout the country. both inside and
without the Congregational church More
and more representative men are coming
over TO our side. The matter is not settled
by any means.
GLADDEN. Continues Active
COLUMBUS. o.. March 29-"There
should be an organized movement OF