| Show dr gladden to whom it owes its birth makes eloquent plea for refusing gifts from doubtful sources seattle wash sept 15 by a of ag to the american board foreign missions today went on record as being opposed to a further discussion of tainted money in any of phases this vote was not taken however until the question had been out in all its phases and the leading america had voiced their sentiments on the subject dr washington gladden the leader ot the minority precipitated the discussion by the introduction of a resolution to the effect that the officers ot the board should invite nor solicit donations to its funds from persons whose gains are generally believed to have been made by methods morally indefensible or socially injurious air david pales of illinois immediately offered a sub resolution calculated to uphold the prudential committee in its attitude on the subject of such gifts and both were referred 0 o a special committee composed of dr gladden the author of tho original resolution mr falee who introduced the substitute rev george 0 adams hev philip s rev john R thurston W W mills and Gull tord douglas this committees report was made a special order of business at the afternoon session the reports submitted from the majority signed by five members and the other from the report containing the signatures of dr gladden and dr two of the original protestants immediately after the reading of the report dr gladden moved the adoption of the minority report and speaking to the motion he reviewed the question shall ill gotten gains be sought for christian purposes from its inception concluding with an eloquent appeal that tho church divorce itself for all time from this source 01 contribution dr Gi addens final words were of tho course which it Is his purpose to pursue in the future notwithstanding the overwhelming vote by which ahe minority report was virtually lost some of havo been kind enough to assure me that I 1 am in a very insignificant minority he said that may be I 1 leave it to be decided by you it will not be the first time that 1 have been in p very small minority even on this board but I 1 havo seen such small minorities in a very few sears grow to overwhelming majorities tho sama appeal of truth to alro ela one which I 1 havo learned to res fath hopland hope and I 1 therefore commit witha confidence chati have said to yoland the people of the to the kindly judgment of all honorable men from the moment that dr gladden yielded the platform until president capen announced hla defeat on the ballot to table a running debate was held in which representatives of every church section and dependent denomination seized tho opportunity to place themselves on record throughout dr gladden speech and following his rejoinders rejo inders to tho volley of pertinent questions which were shot at him from all parts of the auditorium dit orium it wis apparent that his attitude had made a lasting impression upon his auditors and at times iho applause was bogli spontaneous and unrestrained after the vote was fatten that finally disposed of the matter and while the ten who voted against the motion to table the resolutions standing applause broke cut and tr gladden who left the platform at the close of the debate was overwhelmed with congratulations en his address and the position taken by him he held an informal reception in one of the committee rooms and for a few minutes the routine of the afternoon session was interrupted in moving the adoption of the minority report committing tho board against the acceptance of such gifts as that recently subscribed by john D rockefeller dr gladden said in part the principle for which this board was organized Is much more than a corporation to carry on missionary work and to receive gifts for that purpose in the words of president tucker the board Is not ly a depository for the reception of unsolicited gifts nor even an agent or trustee for their disbursement primarily the board as it exists today is a powerful organization for tho solicitation and direction of funds toward missionary ends its work in cheso regards is as positive and as its work in the field principles ano and two virtually ignore the whole matter of solicitation in which present issues for the most part lie it is ahls function which we must keep clearly before us in tho entire discussion it is what haa been done in the exercises of athla function and nothing else that has provoked all this i controversy yet the entire argut of alie prudential committee as it has been presented to the public has ignored tills fundamental issue I 1 think that a great deal of moral confusion has been caused by this evasion and I 1 hope that we shall bo able to here get the main question fairly before us it may be granted that gifts which coic from unknown sources unan like those which are tho contribution plate may be taken without questioning to learn the source of all such gifts would be impossible and we arc not advocating absurdities offerings are made without ostentation which trumpets no are blown expect no return may be freely received and no possible barm can done but when tho giver comes with gift and asks us to accept it P and formally at bis hand tho 19 very different athla distinction by the way entirely disposed of tho that we aro peeking to prevent unworthy men from doing good wit rt anel money any rich man who 1 willing 0 o anake hla gitis and secret wll find no difficulty whatever in bestowing them it is only gifts somo public ac of the giver and who associate themselves with the giver about which any question can be raised eiery such gift represents the giver and his character Ss more of less reflected property as hesel has so truly said Is an extension of the personality and the personality sona lity can never be eliminated when gifts aro publicly made we ought to develop the missionary resources of our churches and of our locel conferences as they have never been developed we ought to do it and we can do it we can go before the people of our churches and say to them this work of bringing christ to ho world is our and we must do it the good fight is our fight and we can win t we arc not going down to egypt after chariots and horses we will fight it out ourselves we do not need to discuss tainted money it is enough to say that we are in feea of it for we know anere there is plenty of good honest money for all this christ needs money and he shall have what he culls tor brethren I 1 have said my word and I 1 call you to witness that it has been spoken not in anger nor bitterness but soberly and kindly I 1 havo indulged in no personalities I 1 have aspersed no mans motive I 1 have been constrained to speak very plainly for tho juncture is a serious one there aro principles at issue which cannot be trifled ith there are interests at stake which ought not to be sacrificed j |
