Two Letters

The time limit for the "intensive" drive for $15,000,000 for the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Manhattan, had expired. Less than $2,000,000 had been added to the $4,000,000 pledged before the drive began--enough for the building of the nave. The time limit for the drive was extended indefinitely.

Folk began to doubt whether the Cathedral would be completed in the lifetime of the generation of William T. Manning, present Bishop. And as lists of donors were published, folk noted the absence of many non-Episcopalian philanthropists. And especially they asked: "What about John D. Jr.?"

Then, with the suddenness of breakfast, folk discovered last week, that the great Baptist billionaire would contribute $500,000--a sum more than twice as great as that given by any other individual.* The prospect changed. The Cathedral fund jumped to nearly half, the requisite. It might be built in the Bishop's life time.

On the day following, an exchange of letters between Baptist and Bishop was published less conspicuously. The Baptist wrote with infinite tact on the subject of Church union, suggesting that those who stood outside the Episcopalian fold should be given a share in its governance. He concluded:

Should such a step be deemed desirable, any legal action that may be necessary to that end will be more readily obtainable if the favorable attitude thereto of contributors has been registered. Therefore, in making my pledge of $500,000 to this great enterprise, I am venturing to add this clause:

In making this gift, the undersigned desires to express the hope that, if not now, in the near future it may be deemed right and fitting to invite representatives of Protestant communions other than the Protestant Episcopal Church to a share of the control and direction of the erection, maintenance and management of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine; and neither the execution of this agreement by the undersigned nor the making of the donation aforesaid by the undersigned shall be considered or construed to prevent the amendment of the charter, constitution or statutes of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in such manner as to bring about the accomplishment of this result.

It may be well that other subscribers to this fund who are not members of the Episcopal Church and possibly some who are would be glad of an opportunity to register their approval of this further step toward Christian unity by signing such an expression.

In the earnest hope that the fullest measure of success may attend the efforts which are being put forth in this lofty enterprise, I am, dear Bishop, with sentiment of high regard, very sincerely,

(Signed) JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER JR.

The Bishop also wrote with infinite tact, but nevertheless rejecting the proposal in terms more absolute than those in which the proposal had been couched. After expressing his conviction in the validity of prayers for union, the bishop pronounced:

"The time has, however, not yet arrived when the different churches can function in one organization and any attempt prematurely to force such an arrangement would retard the cause of unity rather than aid it ....

"... the clause which you add to your gift makes no condition as to its acceptance and imposes no obligation, legal or moral, upon the Trustees of the Cathedral to take any action. . . .

"This being the case, we accept more gratefully your generous pledge of $500,000. . . ."

*The second largest individual gift is $201,000 from Miss Mary Gardner Thompson, an Episcopalian of Manhattan.