Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-16
ROCKET ELLER'S GIFT
EXPRESSION OF VIEWS IN LETTER
OF ACCEPTANCE.

NEW HAVEN, Conn, May LEN let
! ter acknowledging the receipt from the
| committee of protesting ministers of
| documents bearing upon the recent ac-
! ceptance of the Rockefeller donation to
| the American board of commissioners of
! foreign missions, the pastors of Congre-
I gational churches in New Haven with the
exception of Rev. Artemus J. Haynes of
| the United Church, have jointly given eX-
preston to their views in the matter
The pastors in their letter say that
while reluctant to express their views,
| some extraordinary statements of the
protestants call for an answer. They de-
plore any unnecessary and harsh criti-
cism of missionary societies. Further, they
say they are among those who have
agreed to the acceptance of the gift, but
have not, in any declaration of their
views manifested what the committee
calls any tendency" to "palliate." excuse,
'exculpate" anything that may be shown
to be wrong in the business methods OF
any corpora ton. On the contrary, the
pastors assert, they have not neglected
suitable opportunities of testifying
against any recognized double standards
of, private and public morals. or against
any recognized form of Industrial or So
cial evil regardless of what individuals
might be present in their congregations,
and without anxious thought of the pos
sible offenSe to the contributors to the
treasures of our churches
The letter. continuing, says.
We deeply regret that your committee
has published, and is scattering broad
cast such declarations as the following
concerning the reply to you or the pru-
Dental committee: Explanations, eva
sions. excuses, legal quibbles-but not
one sentence from beginning to end that
rings true and other words which we
forbear to quote. In view of your publ
cation of such charges. we are called
upon, irrespective of our opinions con-
corning the questions at issue to say that
in our Judgment the reply OF the pruden-
tial committee Is admirable in form.
Christian in its spirit, and in its reason
ings worthy of respect for its straight
forward simplicity and its clear ethical
tone, and we would express our continued
confidence both in the equity and high
honorabIeness of the judgments of men
who are held in so great esteem among
US as President Capen, Secretary Barton
and the gentlemen associated with them
in the prudential committee.
1--WE notice with regret the following
words: The courts can be bought; the
legislatures can be bought; the churches
can be bought; but the American people
cannot be bought Such unqualified words
under other circumstances might be passed
by without serious notice, but when ad-
dressed by a number of Congregational
ministers to their brethren they cannot be
left unchallenged This statement, 50
sweeping in its condemnation of legisia-
lures, 50 caumnious of judiciary, 50 unjust
to our churches, we would repudiate as
untrue in fact and socially destructive IN
its effect.
I'VE desire also expressly to disavow he
assumption that by the acceptance of such
donations. or by the use of any mans gift
of that which is lawfully his own, the trus-
tees of a charity enter into AN alliance
with him in his business become yoke
fellows with him in wrong practices or N
any way compromise themselves with ques-
tionable methods of corporations.
I'VE wish deciSively to deny your as
sumption that, while sustaining the actions
of the American board, we are not free as
we have always been in our pulpits to re-
Duke any wrongs that may be exposed in
our economic system.
I'VE in turn must protest when you In
sist that because of our customs or prln-
ciples concerning charitable contributions
we are not in sympathy with the working
people and that our ministry is become the
silenced witness of any threatening social
injustice. You have no reasonable or moral
right to so Judge US. We deprecate the
continued repetition of all such assertions
as misleading the unchurched people and
as hurtful to the dearest interests of our
common Christianity.
1--WE would add. in conclusion, that in
our opinion one of the chief virtues now
needed for the elevation of business morals
| is the exercise of the intelligent discrim-
| the church in regard to all questions of
| social ethics is first to learn the facts and
| then to speak the truth in love-
The letter is signed by the following
| clergymen: Newman Smith, William w.
| McLane William J. Mutch Frank r.
Luckey, Watson l.. Phillips, George +.
Prentiss, William w. Leete, Thomas G.
| Mckay, F. Lincoln Davis Isaiah w.
Sheath Edward F. Coin, Daniel j. Clark.