J.D. Rockefeller and the Baptist Church (1909)

From Duluth News Tribune, 1909; Minnesota, United States. (American spelling and punctuation retained.)

ʻThe churches may now add to Mr. [John Davison] Rockefeller's responsibility for the taint of wealth, that through his university he has tainted the nation's theology.

George Burnam Foster has finally been ousted from membership in the Chicago conference of Baptist ministers.

ʻBut he still remains a member and a minister of that denomination, as well as the professor of comparative religions in what is generally known as Mr. Rockefeller's Baptist University.

It was a merry war, filled with expletives and unchurchly heat, which ended Mr. Fosters ministerial affiliation.

ʻBut now comes Dr. Aked, pastor of the Fifth Avenue Baptist church of New York, “the Rockefeller church,” and agrees with the professor [Foster], though he can see no excuse for a book dealing with the fundamental tenets of the Christian religion, and “dashed off in thirty days,” like a best seller. He approves, however, of its purpose, which he says was to supplant the foundations of the faith of our fathers with something unbelievers may believe, but which more likely was to put cash in a purse that felt a money hunger.

ʻDr. Aked also congratulates “the whole church of God” upon the admission to the Presbyterian ministry of three young men who refused to accept the birth of Christ as miraculous, or the story of Adam and Eve as told in Genesis, or some of the miracles of the New Testament as authentic.

He calls them “young men who think and are prepared to advance in the fulness of Christian thought and Evolution.”ʼ

*******************************