Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, DEC. 6, 1932. THE PILGRIM TRUST.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 7, 6 December 1932, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, DEC. 6, 1932. THE PILGRIM TRUST.

Two years ago Mr Edward Harkness, an American railway magnate and philanthropist of Scottish descent, created the Pilgrim Trust, whereby a gift of £2,0(JU,000 was made to Great Britain for the benefit of the nation. Mr Harkness has been blessed in large measure with prosperity, and his gratitude has been shown to the extent of not less than £20,000,001) in gifts to worthy causes of charity and deserving institutions,' both in the United States and in Britain. Such generosity towards the land from whence his forebears sprang reveal an interest and sympathy which time cannot eradicate. Though perhaps not the least of his gifts, that which created the Pilgrim Trust is outstanding because of its nobility of thought and deep feeling' of inspiration. Mr Stanley Baldwin, Sir John Simon, Lord Macmillan and Sir Josiah Stamp, among other prominent men of Britain, were named as the original trustees, and the preamble to the deed of trust stated:—“Whereas it is acknowledged by all that Great Britain in the War spent her resources freely in the common cause, and in the years that have elapsed -since peace has sustained honourably and without complaint a burden which has gravely increased the difficulties of life for her people. And whereas by the bounty of Providence America has of late enjoyed an ample measure of prosperity, and the donor himself has been blest with worldty means. And whereas the donor feels himself bound by many ties of affection to the land from which he draws his descent. And whereas it seems to him that it is right for a private American citizen to show his admiration of what Britain has done by a gift to be used for some of her more urgent needs. . . .” Immediately following the execution of the deed Mr Harkness supplied a further sum of money for offices to enable the trustees to set to work. They were npt hampered by restrictions, but were given a wide discretion to apply the funds to objects coming within the legal definition of “charitable.” Under rules laid down in accordance with the interpretation of the trust, the first duty was held to be relief in the present distress, and, second, promotion of the country's wellbeing. In this way is the fund being distributed. Coming within the first rule, whose importance is emphasised by the large amount of distress caused by economic ill-health, are undertakings to meet such conditions in Britain, especially those to encourage land settlement for unemployed workers, home occupations, and camps and clubs for young people. Under the second heading national edifices have been renovated. The insecure foundations of Durham Castle, a magnificent structure dating back to the time of the Conqueror, were made secure; the central tower of Lincoln Cathedral, formerly in a dangerous condition, is now safe; the restoration of Greyfriars Church and the maintenance of the fabric of St. Giles’ Church in Scotland were aided, and hospitals and other institutions received timely help. Similarly, Wales and Ireland participated in the opera-

tions of the Trust. It is worth x'ecording that among Mr Harkness’s benefactions prior to the creation of the Pilgrim Trust were gifts to Yale University and to Harvard in America, to St. Andrew’s University (Scotland), and to Lincoln College (Oxford), while he also has contributed to the new Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, and Mrs Harkness has given a large sum to the Lady Margaret Hall, the senior women’s college at Oxford, for the erection of a large block for students’ use. Such gifts are a fine example of a desire to create an international goodwill, particularly between the two great English speaking nations, and shine brightly in a world which to-day is sadly in need of a full realisation of this very worthy aim.