Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-12-07
ROCKEFELLER
BY DR.. Frank Crane

Copyright, 1920, by Franz Cfane.J
Sixty-three million seven hundred and SIX
ty-three thousand three hundred and fifty
seven dollars is the staggering sum John D.
Rockefeller has just added to his already
mountainous gifts for human welfare.
His total gifts to date are estimated at
$475,O000O0 and some say over half mill
lion.
This, is 1925, 100000 more than Carnegie's
benefcences.
1t is the greatest amount Of money ever
given in history by one man for benevolent
purposes.
It is hard to estimate Rockefeller, because
he is richer than the rest of us. He has
succeeded where thousands, playing the
same game, and employing identical meth
DDS, have failed Or come short. And it takes
more Justice than most of possess to be
just to one who has beaten us.
Eliminating envy, however, as much as
be MORALLY possible, we have to conclude
that this man, leaving out Of consideration
all question as to how he got his money. is
doing more good, gauging what is good by
the practical methods at hand, than any
human being that ever lived.
That is, of course, doing more good as
far as money can do good.
This does not necessarily make him
great man, nor put him in the rank of Lin
coin, Plato or Saint Francis
But it does show that he is great enough
to be in the grip of great impulse, great
conviction and idea, and perhaps that is the
best any of us do.
He made his money in the rough and
tumble of American and modern business,
and in way probably no worse nor better
than that of his rivals.
Pass that. He got his money, quite as
other millionaires and country storekeepers
get theirs. We will not discuss the "Capi-
talistic" system
But, having got it, he is using it in a way
that shows the vast advancement of the
world. Going over the list of rich men, from
Croesus and Midas on down through the
Medici, the Fuggers and the Rothschilds, to
this day. and even granting that luck or UNI
just privilege or what not made some people
wealthy and kept others poor. the fact
mains that this gigantic figure, whom fate
put in charge of vast wealth unit, has
turned the stream of his millions toward
helping his fellowmen, and not hurting.
1t is harder to be charitable toward the
rich than toward the poor Envy gums
equity. But fair-mindeG folk will not grudge
this man his need of praise.
The list of his beneficiaries reveals thou
sands of human beings aided. Diseases re-
duced, poverty relieved institutions of learn
| ing assisted churches helped and almost
every practical agency for relieving want and
| woe given encouragement. That's surely
| that.
He built himself no throne, founded no
dynasty, amassed no collection of gold and
jewels and erected no gingerbread chateaux
| in Europe and America to outdazzle others
He seems to be Supplemented old man,
| upon whom, he sits alone in his study or
lies at night upon his~bed, the Spirit of that
One who is Servant of All" has descended
| at least in a measure.
Unfortunate enough to have incurred the
charge of being a Rich Man, he is trying to
wash his hands before he goes to be judged
| And the world of his fellowmen, whatever
| their theories and obsessions, their pro-
grams and propaganda, should think very
kindly of one who, undismayed by their con-
| demnation and criticism, has dared to help
| them.
| He's just human being after all, and as
another human being, one of the common
masses, I should like to take his hand and
say, THANK you!" provided, of course, I
could break through the army of those at his
gates who want to get something from him.
1t is difficult to see how he is going to be
utterly condemned at the last, if He is to
! be the Judge whose rule stated:
"Inasmuch We have done it unto one
of the least of these My brethren ye have
| done 1t unto Me-"