OCR Text |
Show MINISTERS WHO ACCEPTED ROCKEFELLER GIFT FEEL AN EXPLANATION IS DUE ".' m NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 16. In a letter acknowledging the receipt from the . committee of protesting ministers of documents bearing on the. recent acceptance ac-ceptance of the Rockefeller donation to the . American board of commissioners of foreign missions, the pastors of Congregational Con-gregational churches in New Haven, with the exception 'of Rev. A. J. Haynes of the United church have Jointly given expression to their views in the matter. ' The pastors in their letter say that while reluctant to express their views some extraordinary statements of the Protestants call for an answer. They say that they are among those who have agreed to the acceptance of the gift, but have not. in any declaration of their views, manifested what the committee com-mittee call any "tendency" to "palliate, excuse, or exculpate" anything that may be shown to be wrong In the bust-. Bess methods of any corporation. On the contrary, - the, pastors assert, they "have not neglected suitable opportunities opportuni-ties of testifying against any recognised double standards of private and public morals, or against any recognized form of Industrial or social evil regardless of what Individuals might be present In their congregations, and without anxious anx-ious thought of the possible offense to the contributors to the treasuries of our churches." The letter, continuing, says: "We deeply regret that your commit-. commit-. tee has published, and Is scattering broadcast, such declarations as the following fol-lowing concerning the reply to you of the prudential committee: Reply Was Ethical. " 'Explanations, evasions, excuses, legal le-gal quibbles but not one sentence from beginning to end that rings true,' and other words which we forbear to quote. In ' view of your publication of such charges, we are called on. Irrespective of our opinions, concerning the questions ques-tions at Issue, to say that In our judgment judg-ment the-reply of the prudential "committee "com-mittee Is admirable In form. Christian In. Its spirit and In Its reasonings worthy of respect for Its straight-forward simplicity and Its clear ethical tone, and we would express our continued contin-ued confidence both In the .equity and high honorableness of ' the Judgments of the men who are held In so great esteem es-teem among us as President Capon, Secretary Sec-retary Barton and the gentlemen associated asso-ciated with them in the prudential committee. com-mittee. Regret Some Words. VWe notice with regret the following words,' 'the courts can be bought, the Legislatures can be bought, the churches can be bought, but the American Ameri-can people cannot be bought.' "Such unqualified words under other circumstances might be passed byi without with-out serious notice, but when addressed by a number of Congregational ministers minis-ters to their brethren, they cannot be left unchallenged. This statement, so sweeping in its condemnation of Legislatures, Legis-latures, so calumnious of the judiciary, so unjust to our churches, we would rew pudlate as untrue in fact and socially destructive In its effect. . |