Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-29
TODAY
The American Board Of
Foreign Missions
will Announce Decision Regard
ing Rockefeller Gift.
nr. Barton So Announces the Result
of the Conference.

Boston, March 28.-POsitive action
was taken on the question of accept
ing John D. Rockefeller's gift of $780,
mnl to the American Board of Commits
sioners for Foreign Missions, at meet
ing. this afternoon, of the prudential
committee of that organization 3, but
the nature of the action was not dis
closed. The committee announced Of
fcially. however, that a statement cit
ing the decision of the committee
would be given out, tomorrow. AL
ready the American Board has re-
ceiyed from Mr.. Rockefeller $4,000.
which has been apportioned to various
foreign missions conducted by the
board.
Boston. March 2S.-The question of
accepting or rejecting John d. Rock
efeler's gift of 100000 to the Amer
lean Board Of Commissioners for For
eign Missions was the principal bust
ness scheduled to come before the pru-
Dental committee of the OrganiZa tion
at a meeting called for this afternoon.
Since the announcement that Mr..
Rockefeller had offered the money.
Congregational clergymen from vari-
Gus parts of New England have met
and formally protested the acceptance
of the gift because of Mr.. Rockefeller'S
connection with the Standard Oil Co,
the profits of which corporation, the
ministers held, should find no place in
advancing religious missionary work.
The matter has otherwise been the
subject of much public discussion in
press. pulpit and by various organ
iZations, including labor unions, a large
number declaring for the acceptance
of the gift and as many vigorously OPP
posing it. DR.. James l.. Barton, tor
eign secretary of the American Board.
said today. that already $41,500 Of the
gift was in the treasury OF the board;
and the question to be decided at to-
days meeting was whether this
amount should be returned or whether
it should be retained and the balance
accepted.
Boston, March 2S.-Dr. Washington
Cladden's protest to the American
Board against the acceptance of the
gift Of 500, 900 from John d. Rockefel-
Ter is as follows:
irg, us explicitly as l can. my sur
prise and regret that the officers of the
American Board have accepted large
sum of money from Mr.. John d. Rock
cfeler | object to this because the
money thus bestowed does not right
fully belong to the man who gives it;
it has been flagitiously acquired, and
all the world knows it.
at may be difficult, in many cases
to Judge of the methods by which
wealth has been gained; the operations
are complex. and we may be Ill doubt
respecting their honesty. 1t is. nc
doubt impractical BILE to undertake the
investigation of the sources Of all The
gifts that are offered us. But wher
the investigation has been thoroughly
made. and the case is clear. we arc
bound to guide our conduct by tho
facts made known.
an this case the investigation has
been thoroughly made and the fact:
are known. The Legislative inquiries
the records of courts, have given the
reading people of this country the ma
terals for a judgment upon the meth
DDS of Standard Coil. and there never
was Il day when their minds were as
clear on this subject as they are now
They know that this great power has
been built up by injustice and Oppres
sion. they know that its immense
gains have been made by forcihly de-
spelling citizens of their honest gains
ana shutting the doors of opportunity
upon them.
at has been forcibly done. I say. Il
has been done very largely through il
icit and Ubiquitous control of rail
ways. 1t has never ceased to use this
power in this way. 1t is using it toda!
as effectively as it ever did.
"Mr. Rockefeller may deny that re-
bates are now given to the Standard
But the Standard now controls about
tWo-thirds of the railroads of this
country. and its power is eXerted Ii
fixing the classification OF freights ir
such way that can kill competition
Rebates are no longer necessary. Thus
this stupendous power. which owes its
existence to a shameful prostitution o
agencies created by public law for the
public service, is now able to Law It's
paralyZing hand upon all the indus
tries of the nation. and to force then
to contribute to its enormous reve
nucs. And this is the money which Is
offered to the American Board. We
have no right to take it. 1t does not be
long to the man who offers it. 1t be-
longs to the people from whom 1t has
been extorted
1T is often assumed. I fear, that we
do not need to be very scrupulou'
about money which we can use in do
ing good That indifference is deadly
The good that is done by lowering ou'
ethical standards might better be lef
undone. Shall the young men ant
women of the missionary colleges b'
taught TO regard Mr.. Rockefeller as
great benefdctor? The colleges mlgh
better be permanently closed"
Boston, March 2s.-While the Amer
lean Board received a protest from DR.
GLADDEN., it also received a communica