, 1909-12-29

- tAASA a. wv itSu4L -
courage, integrity, and hard work. What
chey want in this country is not an
equal distribution of wealth, but, as far as
possible, equality of opp rtunity. There
has been no agitation against property ox-
cept III the mouths Of a few radicals, u6gii.
gIble in number. There has been vigorous
agitation against unfairness, injustice, and
dishonesty, aad that agitation will continue
',:ntlI these causes of discomfort are removed.
Mr., Kennedy acquired o vast fortune by
fair and just means, and no one envied his
prosperity.
Quite as important as the distribution Of
the vast wealth IS the ground on which that
distribution was made the attitude toward
the community which that distribution ex-
pressed
Having been greatly pyospered reads one
OF the articles III Mr.. Keunedy's viii in the
business which I carried on for more than
thirty years ia this my adopted country, and
being DESTROYS of leaving some expression Of
my sympathy with it's religious, charitable,
benevolent, and educational institutions, l
give and b6queoth out Of the rest, residue,
and remainder of my estate, after payment
III fun of all the gifts mentioned in the fore
going articles Of this my will, the following
legacies.
Aud then follows a long series of gifts, rang
ing from five thousand to two and q quarter
million dollars, to various colleges, homes,
missions, associations, schools, intirmariea,
hospitals. With q lavish hand Mr.. Kennedy
pours money into the great public |institu-
tons of New York the metropolitan Muse
I'M Of Art, the Public Library. Columbia
University, and the Presbyterian Hospital
receive 81, 250,0 300 each the Presbyterian
Boards of Home and Foreign Missions, and
the Church Erection Fund receive the same
amount. The Church Extension Committee
OF the New York Presbytery receives 81, 500,
OOJ. The United Charities Of New York and
Robert College at ConstuntInople receive the
same amount while the University of the
City Of Ne York, the Bible Society, and the
school OF Philanthropy Of the CharIty Or
ganlzatlon Association each' received $3.50,
OOO' Many.otkar institutions receive liberal
'Hlfestts. FINALLY, after the sp ciio BEG tests
a ~Taid, the residuary estate, which it is
believed will be very large, viii be divided
IN fixed proportions among certain public IN
stitutious named aud it is believed that this
will very materially increase the amount
received by them.
Here is the most conspicuous example in
the his DRY Of the country of the man who
worked for his city, and divided Iris prosper
lty with his city, who paid b1ck with a lavish
hand that which had been given him in the
way Of favourable opportunities for fortune,
protection. safety, health, and pleasure. Here
Is the most striking recognition in the his
tory OF America o, til 1t civic obligation which
r,7tsJlpon the men Who, under the American
system, have Iiseu from poverty to wealth,
have made almost unlimited use of the great
opportunities which, under American ins.i-
to'lons, are open 10 every capable and ener-
getic boy Of that Christian stewardship
under which a man holds his wealth, but for
the betterlueut. OF humanity. Here is a sug-
gest'ou Of ii possible cure TOR u great num-
Der OF the ills which affliet the social and
industrial order OF the day If MIR Konnedy's
spirit were general if every man recognized
his double obligation 70 his family and his
fellows, II every man worked with one hand
Afor those neare4t INN aud with tue other
hand for those less fortunate than himself.
th9 destructive element in society would
practically disappear. Justice must 90 even
handed with generosity but out of such q
y spirit as that which expressed itself in Nj.
r Kennedy noble gifts would come sucl rec
tltications Of the social and economic order,
such notifications OF existing iaw and pro-
vision fin futIIra mad tb,t tbo o- G -: