Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-05
America. Board Still Talk
Of That 500,
Protesting Ministers Hold a
4 Pleasant Conference.
And Complete q statsme"t-w''' be
s Sent Broadcast.

protesting against the acceptance by
the American Board of Commissioners
for Foreign Missions of John D. Rock
efeller's gift of 100000. will have to
conduct their crusade unassisted III
any form by the prudential committee
OF the American Board. After a pro-
tracted conference, today. between
representatives of the protesting ci@r-
rvmen.s committee and three members
of the prudential committee. the lat
ter refused absolutely to join the plo-
testants in their movement 10 ornis
before the Congregational clersy VI
the country reasons for or against 'he
acceptance of the gift by the American
Board.
Previous to the conference, the rep
reseptatiyes of the protesting commit-
tee held a meeting at which II was oe-
cided to ask the prudential committee
to issue a joint statement cohcerhiis
the circumstances Of the GIT ana the
reasons for it's rejection or acceptaHce'
Representatives of the two commit
tees then met in conference.
Tho conference lasted nearly five
hours. and at adjournment. the con-
ferees declined to discuss the proceed
inps If WAS learned, however. that the
prudential committee had refused 10
issue any statement jointly WIN Tie
protesting committee.
The protestants announced that
statement opposing undualifiedly the
acceptance of Mr.. RockefeIler's GIT
wi,, he sent to every member of the
American Board and to every Consre-
gational clergyman il the unlted
States.
Although the gift has not yet been
accepted formally by the board, the
nr,,dentjal committee, last Tuesday,
made a report recommending that MI.
Rockefeller's contribution be accepted.
In defence to the protestants, however
the report of the prudential committee
was laid over for two weeks.
Tonight. a member of the protesting
committee gave the following state
ment in reference to today's meeting
to The Associated Press:
THE committee appointed by the
protesting ministers held pleasant
conference with a subcommittee OF the
nr,,lontial committee, but 1t was not
practicable to act i'm common In send
ing out a statement. 1t was necessary
either to send out the two statements
now ready for the committees, (whicn
pl,n was not satisfactory to the SUP
committed, or to prepare JOINT uoc
ument for the preparation OF WHICH
there was no time before next Tues
day. The subcommittee could not OF
fer tn defer final action on the part OF
the prudential committee beyond that
date" >.
At q late hour, tonight. the commit
too of protesting clergymen completed
its statement which will be printed ana
sent broadcast tomorrow. 1t Is ao-
dressed to the corporate members Oh
the American Board and the ministers
Of our Congregational churches. After
recitjng briefly the history OF the con-
troyersy the statement says, undef
the caption, 1.-The Main Issue:
"The protest rests on the conviction
that the church must not stand In COM
promising relation to a man. VINO III
public thought represents methods that
are oppressive. dangerous and wrong
We cannot disregard the effect OF the
association which his name, in view OF
the facts that are widespread and no.
tOriouc, unfortunately carries with IL
The church cannot afford to enter into
any relation that may weaken or dis
credit it in the fulfilment of its task
The main question is one of the moral
prestige and power Of the church.
.All the confusion arising from the
literal use Of the figure. tainted mon
ey" may be brushed aside at once
Money is impersOnal; 1t Is not tanned
and cannot faint morally. 1t is by vol
untary relation to the donors that NOR
al responsibility is incurred. with the
unknown or impeached giver. tht
church Is brought into no such con-
Scioiis and deliberate relation. The re-
fusal of a gift from such source "A;
this In question does not imply inVes'
t,gatloh Of the record of every giver.
and this whole practical difficulty
which has been allowed to obstruct our
fuldiment of the obvious duty of the
moment, falls to the ground as hcti
tious.
1.-THE church owes it to itself and thu
public conscience to acknowledge re-
sponsibility when it voluntarily enter:
into dealings with a donor who stands
openly impeached OF serious Oftenses
which 1t is our duty to condemn.
II Is not required that the church
fern a tribunal Is pass Judgment OF
personal character. or probe into tn
business methods Of all givers. Sucl
examination Is not necessary In re
fusing a gift. Public belief and ex
preston. formed on extensive evidence
through long series of years. furnish
sufiicient basis for such action. Thi
works no injustice to an individual
ny singing him out among others sus
pected Of being as bad as he 1t L
by his own actions which have al
ready singled him out before the worit
as a notorious and typical instance o
an e:il element in our national life.
However. formidable may be TIM
practical difficulties in the way of ex
ercising this responsibility, they mus
not obscure the ethical demand. Tit
balancing Of prudential consideration.
can only be half way station in tn,
consideration Of any moral question
Where shall we begin. If not with tn,
most conspicuous case that has We
been presented to our church.
y Where We must end is shown b!
the answer Of the Prudential Commit
tee. We must end in the declaration
OF complete responsibility for tn