The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-04-13
What May be RockefeJIow's
Notifies for Church
Contributions
Contributions

yet hates his brother. The methods by which men
prove their hatred of their brother are many and
various, and probably no man of the present day
has shown his hatred of his brother in more ways
than Mr. Rockefeller. Is not the church likely to
be hindered in its work of restoring justice and
inauguratng of brotherhood by reliance
upon gifts from men who have large pecuniarX
interest in silencing the churchs protest?
Neither can the church ignore the influence
which it's action may have upon public opinion.
The church lives in the world and the world is
prone to judge christianity by the conduct of those
who profess it. II a church accepts money from
a notorious offender against morality, and if the.
church after accepting the money so acts as to
raise the suspicion that the receipt Of the money
infuences>the conduct of the church toward wrong
doing, will not many outside OF the church doubt
the good faith of the church? Will it not be
cause of offense to many? Is not a divergence
between profession and performance the most
severe charge that can be brought against either
individual church?
Mr. Rogers one of the controlling spirits of
the Standard Oil company, virtually admits that
the business was formerly aided by secret rebates,
and the government is now investigating charges
brought against the Standard Oil company for re-
cent violations of the law The antitrust laws
passed by various states indicate the feeling that
there is among the people. Ii the object OF the
church is the regeneration of the world, and
through this regeneration the establishment OF
love and peace in the place of selfshness and con-
flict, can it consistently form partnership with
trust magnates? Until the church has some
maxim from higher authority it can afford to con-
form to the doctrine expressed in the declaration
eff eating meat maketh my brother to Offend
will eat no meat"
1t is hardly worth while to consider the ar
gument that the church has no right to reject
money offered to it. 1t would put the church in a
pitiful position if it were so helpless that could
be made partner in wrong doing without its
power to refuse But if any preacher is afraid that
he will incur responsibility by refusing to accept
Mr.. Rockefellers gifts, let him devote himself to
Rockefeller, and he will not have any Rockefeller
the denunciation of the methods employed by Mr.
money offered to him. Let him preach the gospel
of the One who instead of attempting to absorb
the wealth of others, gave Himself to the world
and went about doing good, and he will never be
put to the test, for the men who make millions by
exploitation and then give 1.-THE of their plum
behring's to church or charity are not likely to en-
barrass with their gifts those who cry out and
spare not. Elijah never had to ponder whether
ne should receive gifts from Ahab, for the truth
which he proclaimed made Ahab his bitter enemy
From every standpoint the acceptance of the
Rockefeller money would seem to be unwise, while
its refusal would bring to him, he has had
brought to him before, the consciousness of his
iniquities The rejection of the gift would also
leave the church free to preach religion unadul-
terated by commercalism, and would go far to
convince the public that the spirit of the meek and
lowly Nazarene inspires today those who at the
communion table recall His broken body and His
blood. u w. J. BRYAN.