Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-02-22
ROCKEFELLER'S SCHOOL
FUND GRAVE MENACE.
Georgian Calls il Greatest Curse
to South Since 1865.


ATLANTA, Ga, Feb. 13.-The gift of
John D. Rockefeller of $32, 100000 to the
general education board has aroused
much criticism among thoughtful South
ern public men. 1t is feared that this
vast sum at the disposal of the board
and the idea that a good proportion of
it is to be placed in the South, will
give that body dominant influence in
the shaping the educational policy of
the country, and perhaps not always for
the good of the country. Another dan
ger, they say, lies in the fact that the
gift is in securities in which Mr.. Rookie
Teller presumably is interested.
In letter TO the Atlanta Georgian,
Richard r. Edmunds, one of the best
know 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
of any body of men. giving them abil-
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 its command,
it is possible for such an organization
to become a dominating influence in
every school willing to accept its gifts.
l have copy of a contract offered to
a denominational college in which it is
provided that this money shall not be
used for theological teaching, and that
representatives for the general good
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 it.
If the UNCONVENTIONAL schools of the
South stand pat in begging aims of a
general organization of this kind, which
has no direct connection with the spirit
and work of the denominatiCn they will
become puppets to be moved as the con-
trolling elements in the general educa
tIonal board shall in the future pull the
strings.
If some of the people of the South
accept these offers, believe the money
will prove the greatest curse which has
befallen the South since 1865.
The magnitude of the new gift, how
ever, exalted may have been motives
of the giver, simply intensifies the dan
ger to the South.
For months past the movements of the
general education board seen to have
been designed toward getting into such
relations with the denominational
schools of the South as to forever have
a powerful if not controlling influence
upon them. Some denominational col
ieges have accepted their contracts, thus
making direct slap at the very reason
for the existence of such denomina-
tional schools.
Was not the denominational college es-
tablished for the purpose of developing
and expanding denominational power
What moral right have the trustees of
a Unconventional college, therefore, to
bring into disrepute the aims of its
founders by accepting a gift of money
on condition that the gift shall not be
used for specifically theological instruc-
ton?
What shall it profit a UNCONVENTIONAL
school, or any other school. it it gains
even millions, and loses its own soul?
What shall it profit the South if it gains
these millions and loses its selfreliance
and manhood?
What shall it profit the South if in
the eager scramble for gifts of charity,
its 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 life?