The San Francisco call., 1905-03-30


the donor of this gift is believed to be
Identified in q conspicuous way with a
great evil in this country, and that,
therefore, the board should refuse the
gift in a conspicuous way, thus strik-
Ing blow at the evil
We feel" says the report on this
point that the protestants have other
ways of making their views known, and
that the blow should not be struck at
the expense Of the people in the nom
Christian world"
Rev. Mr. Evans, chairman OF the
protesting committee, said to-day:
A meeting OF the committee has been called
for tomorrow 70 discuss the report and decide
upon the next step This committee has beer
Increased IN mem bership TO fifteen, In order
that all sections Of New England may be rep
resented. The protestants are growing IN
humber throughout the country, both inside
and without the Congregational church. More
and more representative men are coming over
10 our side. The matter is not settled by any
means.
An abstract Of the report Of the sub
committee Of the American Board of
Commissioners for Foreign Missions
feads as follows:
For almost a century the board has re-
n receiving gifts from these varied sources
The board has in no degree and in no way
passed Judgment on the religion, character OF
Dfe of the donors. In this policy we have
followed the universal custom OF the past,
Tor the church IN all ages has received upon
It's sltsrE the gifts of all who were moved
q lay them thereon. The same principle has
been followed not only by philanthropic and
educational institutions, but by other mission
me principle on which this policy rests Is
the belief that our responsibility begins with
SF7Ist Tor which we are to be held responsfbie
We are asked now TO make an exception and
to single out this recent voluntary gilt for re-
fusal Il should be stated that this gift OF
800 900 was offered TO the board and only
accepted by the prudential committee on FEB.
ruary "A. II Is building and equipment FUND
and Is available only for the purpose named.
OF this. S91, 600 has been already appropriated
and 81 800 has already been forwarded.
Your committee sees no reason why we
should have departed from the custom of the
boerd ard make our committee practically a
tribunal 10 decide whether gifts are 70 be re-
ceived II would be manifestly unjust and
Unthinkable TO reject gifts without thorough
nittee could possibly undertake the task OF
such scrutiny.
ARGUMENT FOR ACCEPTANCE.
II seems to us that Il would have been an
assumption and usurpation II we had tried
70 stop any man who wished to give for mis-
eionsry work. The reason assigned for the
rejection OF the recent gift is that gifts con-
Etitute a relation Of honor between the re-
cipient and the donor. This gift was made
without conditions This means that il In
wolves the American board in no obligation
whatever, material or moral 70 the donor.
about its gifts receive none at all. Gifts
made 70 the church can be accepted only on
The assumption that they debts paid to
Cod and humanity and involve nothing what
ever ia the way OF faVors To assume that
obligation is designed or contemplated is Ia
accuse the giver of seeking TO further his own
interests and the church Of being respecter
Of persons. The committee feels that such an
assumption concerning either the giver or the
recinient Is unwarrantsb bic and that they have
no right TO prevent this money from doing
the work Tor which II has been designate.
The argument which has been presented in