The Cairo bulletin., 1905-04-11
BAPT|STS ACCEPT
WITH THANKS
Glad TO Get slOO, 900 from Rockc.
feIler for Missions
DR.. STRONG PROTESTS
SAYS MULTlTuDEs BELIEVE OIL
KING HAs NO MORAL RIGHT
TO THE MONEY HE GIVES
AWAY.

Boston. April 9.John ID. Roekefel-
ler despite he criticism aroused by
bis gift Of 100000 10 ihe American
Roa@d Of Foreign Missions, has made
ano,!er donation 81 like amount,
this me 10 the American Baptist
Missionary Union The donation mas
9een accepted with thanks, ana viii
~ ufol for missionary purposes in
accordance with Mr Rockefellers
wishes
Mr. Rockefeller con rinu;es annual.
ly to the build ng needs OF the union.
but j. is announced that his gift this
year exceeds those Of former years.
The exact amount win not ba made
known until after formal action has
been taken by the union on Monday
Rev. Josiah S rong, of New Yora.
President Of the American ms flute
Of Social Service. has Joined In the
protes, ef Congregational min sfers
against the acceptance Of the Roeke-
fellcr II TO the American Board In
a communication to the COMMITTEES OF
Tho protesting clergymen DIR. Strong
says.
"Deening the question now under
public discussion one of exceeding
Importance, | believe owe It to my
conscience TO place on record my re-
pectfnl protest against the accept
lnce Of the gift.
I'VE are told by those who approve
acceptance OF the gift that it Is not
he business Of any charitable organ
| 8a,ion or missionary society to sit
n judgment on the character of the
contribution 70 its work. - =. -.
esgz the Real QUESTION:
This simply begs the real question
VI issne, Can a church or soc ETY.
hus wash it, hands Of al responsible
ty toucang all gifts which may come
it's treasury wi. violating funda-
mental principles Of ethics2
"a man may become possessed of
money to which he has no moral right
in great variety OF ways, but what
ever the method, the fundamental
ethical pr nciple remains the same.
namely Is not hisora
namely that a man has no right to
give that which is not bis and no
one has right TO receive gift
which The donor has no right to give.
This ethical principle, which Is be-
gond all poss BE question IS precise
y applicable 20 the case in hand, and
he Prudential Comm ttee cannot
raca it by refusing TO recognize it.
II is charged by many that MIR.
Rockefeller has acquired large pro-
oertion Of his wealth by illegitima;e
methods and to such illgotten gains
he has no moral right illegal rights to
not enter into the d'scugsionl
A Reasonable Doubt.
'MuFltudes bel eve that undisput-
ed facts raise a reasonable doubt, 70
ay the least. whether Mr. Rockefsl-
Ter has a moral right to the money
which he gives away. II follows
therefore that the board aas no rigat
% accept his gift until hat reason
able doubt is removed.
Il would not say that the Prudent
lal Committee has a right TO accept
this principle 1t has no right to re-
iect T. The acceptance Of ethical
penc Pies is no. optional.
Fore more than 20 years We have
deplored the fact that workingmen
IS class refuse to attend church.
Wlen asked why the habiual reply
is that the churches belong TO the
capitalistic class which is not deal
ing justly By labor When men who
have KEEP. back the laborer's hire
contribute largely 70 the religious oo-
lects and their gifts are accepted,
Torkingmen believe thai the church
condcrcs in justice and are embitte--
ed oward her
"Consc.enee Ct the cdureh touching
wealth profoundly needs quickening.
The new conditions Of sOcis.y de-
nand higher ethical standards. This
is a most favorable time 20 respond
10 the new needs