The Washington times., 1907-02-13
'ROCKEFELLER'S
SCHOOL FUND
CRAVE MENACE
Georgian Calls 1t Great
est Curse to South
Since 1865.

ATLANTA, Ca. Feb. lS.-The gift Of
John d. Rockefeller of So. 100000 to the
general education board has aroused
much criticism among thoughtful South
ern public men. II is feared that this
vast sum at the disposal of the board
and the idea that a good proportion OF
it is 10 be placed In the South. will
give that body a dominant influence IN
the shaping the educational policy of
the country, and perhaps not always Tor
the good Of the country. Another dan
ger, they say, lies in the fact that the
gift is IN securities in which Mr. Rookie
feIler presumably is interested
In a letter 20 the Atlanta Georgian.
Richard II. Edmunds, one of the best
known publicists in the South, voices
the sentiment of this element among
the public men Of the section. He
says:
With all due respect TO Mr.. Rookie
feller's intention. believing that he has
made this gift with the best motives. /
regard such vast power in the hands
or any body OF men, giving them abiI-
ity TO influence educational work in
the South and in the country at large,
as fraught with very great danger.
with such vast sum at It's command,
II Is possible for such an organization
70 become "A dominating influence in
every school willing to accept its gifts.
have a copy Of contract offered 10
a denominatiOnal college in which il is
provided that this money shall not be
used for theological teaching. and that
representatives for the general good
shall 81 all times have the right 10 in
spect the books, accounts, and securities
OF said college This is in effect an ir-
redeemable mortgage on the soul OF
every institution which accepts il.
II the uenOminaLiOnal schools Of the
South stand pat In begging aims Of a
general organization of this kind, which
has no direct connection with the spiriz
and work OF thu denomination, they will
become puppets 10 be moved as the con-
trolling elements in the general educa-
uOnal board shall in the future pull the
strings.
II some Of the people Of the South
accept these offers. l believe the money
VIII prove the greatest curse which has
betallen the South since 1866.
The magnitude of the new gift. how
Of the givcr simply intensifies the dan
ger 10 the South.
For months past the movements Of the
general education board seen 70 have
been designed toward getting into such
relations with the UNCONVENTIONAL
schools of the South As 20 forever have
a powerful. If net controlling influence
upon them Some UNCONVENTIONAL col
leges have accepted their contracts, thus
making a direct slap at the very reason
for the existence Of such denomina-
tiOual schools.
was not the UNCONVENTIONAL college es-
tablished for the purpose of developing
and expanding UNCONVENTIONAL pOWer2
What moral right have the trustees of
a UNCONVENTIONAL college. therefore. 20
bring into dlsrepute the aims Of its
founders by accepting gift Of money
CT condition that the gift shall not be
used for specifically theological instruc-
tiOnZ
What shall IL profit a denOminatiOnal
school, OF, any other school, il IL gains
even millions, and loses its own sOul2
What shall it profit the South II il gains
these millions and loses its self-reli-
auce and manhood
What shall 1t profit the South if IN
the eager scramble for gifts OF charity.
it's own people learn TO depend upon
others TO do for them what they should
do for themselves, and in losing man
hood and sturdiness of character, lose
the soul of lfe2