The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-04
SPLIT ON ROCKEFELLER GIFT.
LITTLE HOPE or COMPROMISE
BETWEEN CHURCH FACTIONS.

bOhIONt ApIl 0'--lnt QUESTION OF tho to
tention by the American Board Of Foreign
Missions Of the gift OF SiOO 90 by John ID.
! ockefoller was debated this morning at
the regular meeting Of the Congregational
ministers in Pilgrim Hall About four hun
bred clergymen and laymen we're present,
and the arguments showed that the min
i,ters Of New England are divided on the
question, with little hope Of compromise.
one thing the meeting did show is that
the divisional least 30 far as was reveale d
10y the chosen champions in the debate is
to a surprising extent one of age. The
protestants are the young men in the min
i-try. The adheents Of the pHlde initial COM
luittee's policy In accepting the money are
the old guard OF the pulpit. OF course the
line IS not arbitrarily drawn. There are
veterans in the ranks Of the professionals
and there are young men standing with the
supporters Of the present order Of things.
None the less, the line Of cleavage Is a notos-
able one, and has been matter for comment
among both factions Of the ministers
Under the moderatorship Of the Rev.
Thomas Sims Of Melrose, the discussion
Was opened by the Rev. +. A. Noble OF. Chi
,ago, director Of the board, and the Rev.
Daniel Evans Of Cambridge, representing
respectively the advocates and opponents
Of taking Mr. Rockefeller's money.
Or. Noble said that he respected alike the
couscences Of himself and others. His
tr-t proposition was that no right man has
moral right to binder any other man
who wants to do good. and his illustrations
Nere drawn from the library work Of Andrew
Carnegie and the religious work promoted
by Helen Gould.
The American board is not an inquisi-
toria body was the next premise, sup
ported by quotations from its charter and
bylaws. Nobody can trace the dollar
in his pocket from the beginning said
Dir Noble. No man could get a rebate
unless somebody gave it to him, and every
one in large industrial enterprises tries
to get the lowest possible rates and the
lowest cost Of labor.
A Hallowell church has Just sent SIS
10 the American board" he continued,
coupled with the demand that that Rocke-
feller 500, 100 shall be sent back II they
are right, The Ameri can board must now
investigate and find out that no Ave cents
IN the SIS was the result OF cheating a street
car and that no cent Of It was made by a
farmer who 40 Id watered milk. 1t absurd
on the face Of il, contrary to the boards
charter and impossible as practical propo-
Ation,'
A third argument advanced by Or. Noble
was that the American board was not the
olace TO fight out economic questions.
he himself was In fun sympathy with
economy reform but he was not in SYM
patty with the men who want the Ameri-
can board 20 turn the grindstone while
they sharpen their economics" Finally
Dr. Noble rested his faith on the PROPOSE
ton that God works in wide sWee ps with
large methods and with many men in the
mplshment Of his purposes.
Men not over and above moral, men not
over and above just, have been used by
Him. said he. Citing Washington and
Franklin as men Of doubtful private char
Hcter, he asked u the protestants would
turn the pages 81 history hack and deny
them their splendid share ia the work Of
American freedom.
AS to Mr.. Rockefeller concluded the
speaker, Il do not know what Gods pur-
poses are. i know that his millions have
established Chicago University to be a
light and an inspiration TO coming genera
tions. Shall we Taze IT, / do not know
what use God will make of the accumulate d
wealth Of the Astors, the Hills and the
Morgans in His own good time. But | can
conceive that God may use the avaTice Of
men as ne Dhb Ohe0 tneiT tyTanny,iO tuftneT
the coming Of His kingdom
Mr. Evans said the appeal Of the prot
estants was to the common sense, the social
conscience and the divine Christianity OF
men. II was not question OF tainted
money, OF investigating each contribution
or OF Gripping the American Board. The
question was this: Shall the COngrega-
tional Church begin 10 receive assistance
in its Christian work from John ID. Rookie
Teller and from like sources?
Vast accumulations Of wealth should
make for vigilance as to the relations in
which the church shall stand toward them.
The serious national situation created
by the methods OF some Of the colossal
corporations should alarm the Church,
They are morally iniquitous and socially
destructive. They are menaCe TO hon
est business. They corrupt politics. They
bribe lawmakers, They threaten the
foundations OF our national life. The
question before the people, the Government
and the Church Is whether there can he
brought TO bear on them such strong moral
public opinion and law as shall correct
their wicked methods and destructive pTaC-
tees. Such a corporation is the Standard
oil Company, Of which the head Is John
D. Rockefeller. As his gift is being offered
fourteen States are fighting IL as a ruthless
Zoe and the national Government IL bring
ing criminal proceedings against it.
The charges made against Standard Oil
we're reviewed az length by DR.. Evaus, who
laid they were either true or false. II the
Latter, then why, he asked, had not Mr.
Rockefeller, with his record Of never Ia ing
failed IN anything to which he had set his
hand and his great financial resources,
brought action against those who have made
these charges and secured his vindication.
This was not the time for the Congrega-
tlOnal Church 10 allow herself to be brought
into such relations Of obligation and graft
tude as the receiver Of the gift must enter
into with the giver. The statement % the
prudential committee, that its -responsi-
liity begins with the receipt Of the gift
Dr. Evans declared had produced a moral
shock and Tevulsion which had brought
many who were In doubt as TO this specific
case into the ranks o. the protestanis This
general principle could not be admitted,
Tor il would make necessary the acceptance
81 all unconditional gifts. whatever the
source a position from which many OF the
defenders OF the prudential committee
reCoi
He took issue with them on the point
whether this gift was solicited, Even II a
technical negative could he given 10 this
question, he declared il was common
npwledge that for two years negotiations
had been going on between persons rep
10 ting Mar X jck sfeller ana IN seC nj 3ialiv
cpnneCted with the prudential committee OF
the American Board
IL is a fact, said he that Mr.. Rookie
Teller was not spontaneous donor, himself
ukIuu a Init