The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-04-25
sENTIMENT VERSUS CASH

1 Some years ago a distinguished clergyman, representing a
8rominent church, refused a large contribution offered by the
:Rockefellers, on the ground that it was tainted money The
,eusal was something new under the sun, and it attracted wide
spread attention. To refuse money from any source was
Unusual. The refusal was based on moral grounds. Now comes
| refusal based on sentimental grounds that is even more singu-
Tar. It's wisdom will be Endorsed by some and questioned by
In the little frontier hamlet of Ranger, Texas, there IS a
Baptist church with a congregation OF t~Wenty-nne members, ola
md young. Some years ago this congregation purchased a small
tract of land for a few dollars, and on it erected a modest house
n worship. Close by a Gods acre was set aside for a burylng
dround, and here for some years members of the families OF the
congregation have been buried. Then came the oil boom, max
he the church lands especially desirable, The congregation
|eased these lands to an oil company, and IS receiving $zoOOW
Ter annum in royalty. This money is beng devoted 10 chWCn
purposes, chiefly educational, and many are the denominations
schools that have been helped from this fund Inc oil WeLs
roved to be gushers, and soon the little church ana 'e nt M
graveyard were surrounded by a forest OF great derrIcks' ana nc
I'm industry flourished. OF late the smart scientists nave COME
) the conclusion that the little graveyard IS merely the nc !" a
eservor Of oil that is practically eXhaustess' linen inc "'n
est came. An oil syndicate Offered the church people one MIL
ION dollars for the right to sink wells in the little graveyard,
rst oblieating itself to remove the bodies and decently renter
nem elsewhere, The offer meant several thousand dollars 10
Zach of the Twenty-Five members of the congregation, ana
evond all doubt it was tempting. Sentiment ~lnterposed ana
cheated the project, and the congregation refused inc n"lnon
dollars. They did not wish to have the remains Oh 'hen u t
6sturbed. "Fooish people" the worldly wise Wl say; put
uar tbe worldly wise cannot withhold respect and adrmrdtoh
|r this sturdy little congregations loyalty TO sentiment "
sas useless to argue that this oil discovery is a gilt OF God
hat should not be refused. 1t was useless to argue that TINS NIL
IN dollars could be used in Gods work to support missions,
.hools and other good activities, 1t was useless TO test tG
Nunidity of individual members by telling them that tney couu
az ~, each his share for personal use, and permit those who
ared TO do so to contribute to a common fund to be used III
,urch work. Each member stood firm. In a little prairie town
lii 200 or 800 population no one can be very rch' excepting
@erhsns The church that has an income Of 100000 a year assured
IN some time; but one million dollars is a vast sum- and fard
resist. The dead would be more becomingly situated II
emoved from the noise, smoke and changer OF OIL guSheIS' lnI
wing only were concerned, and these VIII not permit IN saCitu
ol to be disturbed, and all glory be to them for their 'nvincloe
,yalty to sentiment, 1t is refreshing to find such a spirit in
world given over to materialism, lis like a fountain spring
10 ND in a desert. 1t gives each OF us a firmer grasp upon HIM
8sf to know that there is something, somewhere, beyond price
~omething that money will not buy. These poor people are
wing evidences of the fact that in all the world there ar az
Aling.