BENEFACTIONS DECLINED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13008, 24 June 1904, Page 3

BENEFACTIONS DECLINED.

DELICATE AMERICAN CONSCIENCES.

Oifls from multi-millionaires to universities or religious ■organisations continue to Iks the subject of much discussion and concontroversy (writes the New York correspondent of the Argus, under date April 29). If Ml' Carnegie has assisted churches or other religious societies with his wealth, his contributions for such, purposes aro so small that they do not appear in tho current list of his benefactions. But in some instances his offered gifts for city libraries have been rejected, because of popular disapproval of tho manner in which liis riches were heaped up. That is to say, in somo communities a majority of the people bavo declined tho money, asserting not only that the high protcctivo tariff on iron and steel was unjust, but also that lie bad been influential in-shaping it for liis own enrichment, and had takon an unfair advantage of it by combinations designed to suppress competition. No question has ever been raised as to tho acceptance of the money given by old Dr Pearson to more than 30. smalt colleges. Ilis fortuno of 4,500,000 dollars was, gained in real estate operations. lio lias given away 4,000.000 dollars, and is about to celebrate his eighty-fourth birthday by adding three little colleges to his list-, at 50,000 dollars each.

Sometimes Iho objections raised sceni very unreasonable. For example, tho Methodist Church in Kenosha, State of Wisconsin, formally declined yestorday a bequest of 75,000 dollaro from tho iato "Willis W, Cooper, who was among those who lost their lives in tho Iroquois Theatre, at Chicago. Although ho was present only; because he desired that his grandchildren should enjoy a harmless extravaganza in the holiday- season, press _ despatches say that, the Church refuses his bequest (half of Ilis small estate) simply, hccauso he died in a theatre, which it regards as'an accursed place. A -Methodist clergyman was ono of tho victims of that terrible tire. I hear to-day that the act-ion of tho Kenosha, Church was due in part to certain condiI'.oits, not yet published, that were attached to the bequest. Tho most notable example of objections based upon tho source of tho wealth Ironi which tho gift is offered in, of course, the opposition excited by tho generosity of Joint I). Rockefeller, the bead of tho Standard Oil monopoly. Tho recipient of nearly all, his donations (excluding tho Chicago University and its .Medical School, to which ho has given nearly 20,000,000dol) have been Baptist churches and seminaries and other religious organisations. A bitter controversy has been raging in tho Stato of Nebraska, over his gift of 66,000d0l to tho St-ato University (solicited by the, president- of that institution) for a building to bo.used, for religious meetings. This university is supported by the State,. and it has 2500 studonts. Tho intention of the president to accept the donation, which was conditional upon a popular subscription of half-as much, 60 oxcitcd tho peoplo and iv majority of the newspapers that there has boon a loud call for the resignation of President Andrews. Mr Bryan lives in Nebraska, and in no other Stato is there a more lively hatred of trust monopolies,- The university, wbioh is tho apex of tho" public school system, would be defiled, it is said, by the money of Rockefoller, who, tlio leading 1 journal of tho State remarks, "strives to build up an,undeserved reputation for philanthropy by diverting' attention from the infamous means by which his wealth- was acquired." * But the gift was accepted two weeks ago, tho supplementary fund of 33,000d0t having been raised. President Andrew.? will now find it difficult to retain, his place. At a'Methodist conference in this city last week another view of the quest-ion was set forth by Dr Buckley, editor of tho lead-: ing organ of that church. He would tako money for religious uses from Rockefeller, bo said, but at" tho „sa'mo time would tell; the' man what he thought of bis method'.: "I. onco took l 2oociol offered to me by a rum-' seller," bo adi)ed, "but jf told him that if be would como and hear mo preach I would provo that his business was an abomination in tho sight of Clod and man."