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February 5th, 2010
Santa Cruz, California
Received by FAB
I am here, John D. Rockefeller Sr.
Yes, I prompted you because I want to convey a message regarding
my career. I know you lack clarity about how people like me have
fared on this side of life.
You are aware that I, like Andrew Carnegie, was very generous with
my money. I felt that I did what I did because it was natural and
appropriate. I did not think I was sinning in pursuing my fortune.
I considered myself to be a benefactor of humanity, as indeed I
was.
But all those generous things I did could not deny that I harmed
many in my pursuit of wealth, and for this, I had to suffer because
that is the law, which no one can avoid.
We are all bound by morality, regardless of whether we recognize
this or not. I found this out to my sorrow.
John Davison Rockefeller (July 8, 1839 – May 23, 1937)
was an American industrialist. Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum
industry and defined the structure of modern philanthropy. In 1870,
he founded the Standard Oil Company and aggressively ran it until
he officially retired in 1897. Standard Oil began as an Ohio partnership
formed by John D. Rockefeller, his brother William Rockefeller,
Henry Flagler, Jabez Bostwick, chemist Samuel Andrews, and a silent
partner, Stephen V. Harkness. As kerosene and gasoline grew in importance,
Rockefeller's wealth soared, and he became the world's richest man
and first American worth more than a billion dollars. He is often
regarded as the richest person in history.
Rockefeller spent the last 40 years of his life in retirement.
His fortune was mainly used to create the modern systematic approach
of targeted philanthropy with foundations that had a major effect
on medicine, education, and scientific research.
His foundations pioneered the development of medical research,
and were instrumental in the eradication of hookworm and yellow
fever. He is also the founder of both the University of Chicago
and Rockefeller University. He was a devoted Northern Baptist and
supported many church-based institutions throughout his life. Rockefeller
adhered to total abstinence from alcohol and tobacco throughout
his life.
He had four daughters and one son; John D. Rockefeller, Jr. "Junior"
was largely entrusted with the supervision of the foundations. (Source:
Wikipedia)
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