Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-30
ACCEPTED.
John D. Rockefeller Nav
Part With 500, 900.
Convincing arguments Calm the
Claims Of Conscience.
American Board of Foreign Missions
Gives Text Of Acceptance.

IIat It's
prudential committee had accepted a
!Hport Oh the Subcommittee recon-
llehhlns the acceptance of the. gift of
*ioo'ooo by John d. Rockefeller, but
thdt hnal action on the matter had
b"en postponed for two weeks. Notice
TO TINS effect was sent, today. 20 Rev.
Daniel Evans of Cambridge, the chair
man OF the committee of Congrega-
tloiiai clerGymen. which opposed the
acceptance of the gift.
Inc report of the subcommittee was
ADOPTED as expressing the unanimous
judgment of the prudential commit tee
ana declares that the board has never
passed Judgment on the business, reli-
SIon, Character or life of the donor.
ana says in substance that this princi-
PIE must be followed in the case of Mr..
Rockefeller. The objection to the ac-
ceptance OF the gift was based upon
Mr. Rockefeller's connection with the
standard Oil Co, the profits of which
corporation the contestants claim.
should not be accepted by the board
for religious work. The subcommittee
report also pointed out that Mr.. Rock
efeller's gift was offered to the board
dental committee on Feb Ii. The
committee also holds that the accept
ance of gifts involves no expression of
opinion OIL the part of the committee
on the character of the givers and sug-
gests that it was not blind to the moral
issue raised by the protestants.
The report of the subcommittee as
adopted follows:
The special committee appointed to
consider the communication received
from a number of ministers and lay
men protesting against the recent ac-
ceptance of a gift of 100000 to the
treasury of the board and designated
by the donor for educational work.
have carefully considered the petition
and beg leave to submit the following
report:
For almost a century the board has
received gifts from every quarter in
America, Christian and nOn-Christi;tn
alike. Into our treasury have also come
ffOerings from Mohammedans. Hindus,
Ruddliists. Shintoists and African saw
ages. In receiving gifts from these va
RED sources, the board has in no de-
gree and i'm no way passed judgment
life of the donors.
in this policy We have followed the
Universal custom of the past. for the
church i'm all ages has received upon its
affairs the gifts of all who We're moved
to lay them thereon. The same principle
has hoen followed. not only by philan-
thropic and educational institutions but
by other missionary boards.
..yrl.. hi.,b Iii ynnlt
rests is the belief that our responsibility
begins with the receipt of gift, 1T
then becomes our trust for which We are
to he held responsible. Before gifts are
received Hhe responsibility is not ours.
but is that of the donors i'm their own
conscience: it is Il matter between them
and their God. We are asked now to make
an exception and TO single out this
recent voluntary gift for refusal. 1t
should be stated that this gift of Sl0O,GW
was offered 20 the board and unanimous
" accepted by the prudential committee
on Feb. a.
NO part of this gift can be used in
connection with the regular or admins
larative expenses Of the board, bWt Is
building and equipment fund. and is
available only for the purposes named.
OF this S91 $50 have already been approp-
rated and 81. 80 hive been already been
forwarded
First. YOUR committee sees no reason
why we should have departed from the
custom of the board one which has been
universal in the world and made our
committee practically tribunal to de-
eide whether gifts are TO be received IL
would be manifestly unjust and unthinK-
able to reject gifts without thorough
scrutiny and it is equally clear tha1 no
committee could possibly undertake the
task of such a scrutiny
eft seems to u.s. in the second place,
that it would have been an assumption
and usurpation. if from our position W"
had tried to stop the money of any man
who wished to give il for missionary
work among those who are needy. The
reason assigned for rejecting the recent
Gilt is that gifts constitute a relation
of honor between the recipient and the
donor. Certain gifts are made to the
board with conditions attached. These 1t
NAV refuse or accept as wisdom directs
This gift was made without conditions.
This means. in the eyes OF the committee.
that it involves the American Do"rd III
no obligation whatever. material or NOR
such an assumption about all its gifts or
receive none at all. III it is believed that
All gifts involve a relation OF honor ana
| nut it under obligation of any, kind to
overlook the shortcomings OF the donor,
| it would then find itself bound to giv,;
greater consideration to the giver or
thousands than to the poor man who
gave little or nothing. and to condone
| the sins of large contributors. Gifts
made to the church Can be accepted only
upon the assumption that they are not
gifts but debts paid to God and to hui
manity. and involve nothing whatever in
| the way of favors. When a gift is made
to the church. TO assume that ob'lga-
| ton is designed or contemplated is t"
accuse the giver of seeking to further
| his own interests. and the church OF be
| ing :, respecter of persons. The commit t.
tee feels that such an assumption con.
| corning either the giver or the recipient
Is understandable and that they have no
right to prevent this money from doing
| the work for which it has been desig-
mated.
| Third. the argument which has been
presented in various ways and by differ
ent protestants in the last few days. IL
summed up practically in this: That
L ,t,~v hat