New-York tribune., 1905-04-14
Tribute by a Congregational Pastor in
Connecticut

To the Editor Of The Tribune
/ Sir: In the early spring OF 1903 Mr.. Rockefeller
and his family came to one Of the smaller mountain
/ resorts and I was brought accidentally into a
| week Of close contact with him. It was in the
month Of May. The Wild viburnuTn in blossom
! the mountain. The season had not opened yet.
| and 1 was the only guest at the hotel and by
! sufferance knew the proprietor. who. with his
| family was making ready for the opening.
Word came to my friend. the proprietor. that
John D. Rockefeller and his family would like to
occupy the place for week or two. and occupy 1T
alone, to the exclusion OF other guests. This was
because Of the nervous breakdown OF Of his
daughters. So terms were made and the family
arrived.
The proprietor introduced to Mr.. Rockefeller.
and the latter took me in to see his family. We
took long walks together. and soon was asked
to leave the private table and apartments Of the
proprietor and Join Mr. Rockefeer's family their
guest These facts are related TO show how IN
planned the meeting had been.
But 1t led on my part to certain fixed impress
sions of the man and his family life which all the
reflections cast upon his character. before and
since, have never been able to change or efface
was sharing for the time. the kindly intimacy
of a Christian household. and the man OF the
household was as he should be. the leader in this
Having the house entirely to themselves. there
a freedom which ordinary hotel life would not have
permitted. Each morning after the breakfast there
were family prayers. with reading from the Bible.
As a minister. with experience in many charges.
to know something of this function. OF
the observance In this particular family say
that none in any place ever impressed
with its loving earnestness and simplicity. The
entire atmosphere OF the family life was the atmos-
phere Of love-
impression. AS they rose from their knees each
and then the members Of the family, one after the
other held out the hand to those OF us who were
kiss after prayers had been the pretty custom in
het n 10. Rockefeller
I had many opportunities for conversation and
of religion: After more than twentE- years Of
contact win f Know snvtbi5 % m az ST nS
such matters. that was talking with sincerely
While there Mr. Rockefeller went to the city for
day. On his return he told me that he had
They told him his at the church teaching
soebt M him out and in Speaking to me of il after
ward said: MI Hutchins. would rather have my
sittnE sR4 aIds RiSg S@Do upon throps H@' IMAM see MN
Mr. Rockefeller again. and have had no intercourse
with him otherwise l have read much of what
5Ss t sssn eli e%pny n ana ms with
lament it. ! have heard man and minister OF
Mr. ROckefeIler's own denomination tell things re-
claiming that he had positive proofs Of their truth
fuIness. But have not believed; and do not be-
cerelv Christian man which found him TO be
during that week of unsOught and accidental per-
SSe the question will arise how to reconcile the pr-
CHRISTIAN
dealings in the world Of finance, And II Is a serious
one. / put the question to him IN more than one
OF our Conversations. and could give his answer
IL that were my object. They were not satisfactory
70 me They were to him. But make no attempt
AZ reconcfliation either to satisfy my mind or
Tha minds of others ] simply bear witness TO the
lasting Impression Of Christian character and sin
cerity which that intercourse MADE upon me. Much
Mr. Rockefeller's gift to the American Board and
Uoncb also against IT, But all Is being said as
fbough the moral badness OF Mr.. Rockefeller were
an Established fact, OF which badness his money
does or does not partake
Nv present contention is quite apart Grom the one
At Cannon issue From a sense Of justice 70 the
1nan himself I have been led 10 write this Good
men and my brethren in the Christian ministry are
rronouncing condemnation upon him I bear this
testimony In his personal defence. not condoning
t6a cornorata acts violence with which Mr.
Pockefeiler IS ofhcially connected and for which
IN nv own mind he must stand; according TO his
-t,ors ir them responsible still believe that ~
aces not deserve the wholesale calunny which