ROCKEFELLER SCOLDED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 385, 5 March 1908, Page 4

ROCKEFELLER SCOLDED.

His Pastor Gives Him a Talk on Money. Dr Aked, formerly of Liverpool, and now pastor of Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, New York—better known as “ Rockefeller’s parson of the millioraire’s church ” has been lecturing his overburdened congregation rather severely. On a recent Sunday he threatened to resign if his congregation, which included Mr John D. Rockefeller, sen, did not contribute 7000 dols. to liquidate the church debt before the close of the service.

“This debt,” he said, “ is an inheritance of the past, but you must not expect me to contemplate the permanent ministry of this church if this yearly deficit of the current account is permitted. “I am grateful to the large givers of the congregation, but I shall not hi the least shy of receiving larger sums from the same sources. Many persons decline to Contribute on the ground that it is easy for the wealthy members of the church to pay all that is necessary. That spirit has raised up a crowd of stingy souls, and has made me tired of hearing this place of worship called ‘Mr Brown’s,’ ‘Mr Smith’s,’or ‘Mr Robinson’s church.’ ” The reference was obvious. Everybody stared at Rockefeller’s pew, but the whole family became suddenly absorbed, first in their respective prayer-books, and then in anything that was within reach. Owing presumably to the money crisis there was a dearth of dollars in the offertory, but there were promissory notes in abundance, nearly io,ooodols. being subscribed —on paper.