MR. CARNEGIE'S LETTER OF GIFT February 10, 1914. GENTLEMEN OF MANY RELIGIOUS BODIES, ALL IRREVOCABLY OPPOSED TO WAR AND DEVOTED ADVOCATES OF PEACE: We all feel, I believe, that the killing of man by man in battle is barbaric and negatives our claim to civilization. This crime we wish to banish from the earth; some progress has already been made in this direction, but recently men have shed more of their fellows' blood than for years previously. We need to be aroused to our duty and banish war. Certain that the strongest appeal that can be made is to members of the religious bodies, to you I hereby appeal, hoping that you will feel it to be not only your duty but your pleasure to undertake the administration of two millions of dollars five per cent bonds, the income to be used as in your judgment will most successfully appeal to the people in the cause of peace thru arbitration of international disputes; that as man in civilized lands is compelled by law to submit personal disputes to courts of law, so nations shall appeal to the Court at The Hague or to such tribunals as may be mutually agreed upon, and bow to the verdict rendered, thus insuring the reign of national peace thru international law. When that day arrives, either thru such courts of law or thru other channels, this trust shall have fulfilled its mission. After the arbitration of international disputes is established and war abolished, as it certainly will be some day, and that sooner than expected, probably by the Teutonic nations, Germany, Britain and the United States first deciding to act in unison, other Powers joining later, the Trustees will divert the revenues of this fund to relieve the deserving poor and afflicted in their distress, especially those who have struggled long and earnestly against misfortunes and have not themselves to blame for their poverty. Members of the various churches will naturally know such members well, and can therefore the better judge; but this does not debar them from going beyond membership when that is necessary or desirable. As a general rule, it is best to help those who help themselves, but there are unfortunates from whom this can not be expected. After war is abolished by the leading nations, the Trustees by a vote of twothirds may decide that a better use for the funds than that named in the preceding paragraph has been found, and are free according to their judgment to devote the income to the best advantage for the good of their fellow men. Trustees shall be reimburst for all expenses incurred in connection with their duties as Trustees, including traveling expenses, and to each annual meeting, expenses of wife or dauter. Happy in the belief that the civilized world will not, can not, long tolerate the killing of man by man as a means of settling its international disputes, and that civilized men will not, can not long enter a profession which binds them to go forth and kill their fellow men as ordered, although they will continue to defend their homes if attacked, as a duty, which also involves the duty of never attacking the homes of others, I am, Cordially yours, ANDREW CARNEGIE. RESOLUTIONS OF ACCEPTANCE RESOLVED, That the Trustees of The Church Peace Union, deeply grateful to Andrew Carnegie for establishing this great and significant foundation, and for the honor done themselves in being called to its administration, accept with high appreciation his generous gift, and pledge themselves to the faithful fulfilment of the trust committed to them. RESOLVED, That in expressing our gratitude and, as in confidence we may, that of the various religious bodies with which we are associated, for this impressive provision for our sacred cause, we desire to record our sense of the commanding duty which it imposes upon the religious world and its peculiar moment for humanity at this hour. The present system of war and armaments stands condemned by the conscience and intelligence of mankind as unworthy of the civilization which we have achieved. Opposed to the first principles of modern industry, economy and politics, it is above all opposed to the principles of morality and religion, and we consecrate ourselves unitedly, in the spirit and purpose of the founder of this Church Peace Union, to untiring effort to rally the world's moral forces and men of all religions, to the work of supplanting war by justice and international brotherhood. |