Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-10
MONEY IS GOOD.
Baptists Accept $780,
600 from Rockefeller.
Treasurer Of the Baptist Union
Cashes the Check.
fremont Temple Pastor Defends the
Standard Oil Magnate.

Boston. April 9.-John D. Rockefeller,
the Standard Oil magnate. has replied
to his religious critics by the contribu-
ton of another 100000 to be used for
missionary purposes. The gift this time
is made to the American Baptist Mis-
sionary Union, corporation with
headquarters in fremont Temple.
Mr.. Rockefellers check for that sum
was received Friday morning by
Charles w. Perkins, treasurer of the
union. and was Immediately cashed at
the First National Bank. The money
is now in the treasury of the society.
and will be used, in accordance with
the wish of the dOner. for the general
purposes Of the union"
The gift was accepted gladly and
without question, Notwithstanding the
bitter controversy which is being wag-
ed over Il gift of the same amount
which Mr.. Rockefeller recently made To
tie American Board Of Commissioners
for Foreign Missions. the COngrega-
tional body.
There is nothing unusual about the
gift to the Missionary Union for Mr..
Rockefeller has been an annual contrib
utor TO it for many years. Last year he
gave the same amount. $1,000 But.
judging from interviews with leading
Baptist clergymen of this city, it is
likely to cause 4 sensation when 1t be-
comes generally known. and to give
r.Se to an extended cont rOveisy among
the members of that denomination.
The Rev. Herbert s. Johnson. pas
tor Of the Warren Avenue Baptist
Church. declared that he would not
take 4 dollar of M. Rockefeller's money
unless he offered it as conscience
money. He characterized the posses
sion of such great wealth as that of
Rockefeller as menace to the COM
munity, and asserted his belief that
the Baptist denomination. was the
worst sinner" and in accepting Mr..
EOckefeller's donations is doing itself
great injury.
On the other hand. the Rev. p. S. Hen
son. pastor of fremont Temple. would
ACCEPT the gift as Il contribution ito the
Lord. into the source of which he was
not called upon to inquire. He was very
severe in his criticism of the arrangement
Of Mr.. Rockefeller made by Congrega-
tional ministers and Others accusing
ih'n of ''lynching'' his character. con-
d"mning him as suspect before he hal
been convicted by due process of law.
He could not forget, he said. that Mr..
Rockefeller made possible the University
of Chicago by n gift of 100000 when an
other Standard Oil magnate had turned
deaf ear. and declared that he would
have more confidence in the heroism of
the pulpit when the Congregational mir
listers who feel aggrieved begin to throw
denomination instead of combining their
efforts in this regard to Baptist away
ont in Cleveland.
Ordinarily such n gift from Mr.. Rookie
Teller to the American Baptist Mission
airy Union would create no more than a
passing interest, but coming at this par
tcular time, when the Congregational
denomination is at loggerheads over the
question of accepting gift of exactly
the same size from the same source, it
takes on peculiar significance.
Why did Mr.. Rockefeller send tho
check at this time? And why did he
make it an even S1OO.c0O' The missionary
union did not stand in immediate need of
about $500OO What. then. was his mo-
tive9 Was the gift meant as a challenge
to his critics? Was it Mr.. Rockefeller's
method of testing the feeling among his
Baptist co-religionists?
These are questions into which those
yesterday. did not care to
inquire. Charles w. Perkins. the treas
urer of the union, declared that the gift
was received ''in the usual course OF
business" and had no significance what
ever beyond the fact that Mr.. Rockefel
Ter was charitably inclined.
why" said he. this is n regular thing
with us. This is the end of our financial
year. We closed the books. yesterday.
Every year along about this time Mr..
Rockefeller is in the habit of inquiring
how we stand. what is the condition of
our finances. and he is always ready to
make good any deficiency.
II do not mean by that that he simply
gives what is necessary to make good
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