Thus Spoke Bates
The Centennial Anniversaryofthe Establishment of Kwansei Gakuin College

November 2011

Kwansei Gakuin Archives

Kwansei Gakuin Archives

Kwansei Gakuin College, Literary and Commercial, wasestablished in 1912 and C. J. L. Bates, a Canadian missionary,
became the first dean. The first graduates were in the classof 1916.
In order to remember the great efforts Bates and hiscolleagues made in those early days, I have tried to collectthe messages Bates gave to the graduates.
Bates left Kwansei Gakuin in 1917 but came back in 1920
as the fourth president and served there for twenty
years. I was able to find one message he gave as dean andten messages as president from the Commercial College
graduation albums.
I also picked up two graduation addresses, from 1938 and
1939, and his farewell letter to the graduates, from 1940.
I hope you are interested in his words and photographs.
November 10, 2011
Yuko Ikeda
Special thanks to Mr. Takao Abe for his kind support.

Matsushima, 1937 (Watercolor by C. J. L. Bates)-2-Thus Spoke Bates

To the graduates of 1917
My dear friends,
You are going forth into the life of the world. Do not forgetyour “Alma Mater;” nor the ideals that she has awakened in you.
Be men of vision, men of courage. Be pure. Be true. Be faithful. Be
loyal.
You have a work to do. Do it. The world is waiting for you. Be
leaders; not mere followers. Be creators; not mere imitators.
Do not stop studying. Do not forget your soul.
It has been a joy to work with you these past four years. It will
always be a delight to remember you.
If you think of me in the days to come, please do so as “thestudents’ friend.”
With every best wish,
Sincerely yours
C. J. L. Bates
College Day, Feb. 11, 1917

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To the Commercial College Graduates of 1922
Dear friends:
It is with mingled Emotions that we bid farewell to you as you
pass from the halls of your Alma Mater into the business world.
The days of your schooling are over, but not the days of youreducation for in the days and years ahead of you there will bemany experiences which will draw out of you
what is within.
I hope that you go out into the world asstrong man, strong in body, strong in purpose,strong in capacity to deal with whatever
experiences may await you.
We send you forth as missionaries as ambassadors of lightand righteousness and truth. Have courage I beseech you tostand for the highest and best. This is a great day to be alive. It isa glorious privilege to be a young man in this day of the rebirth of
the world. Commerce politics social organization, international
relationships are all to be reconstructed on a new basis, and thatmust be the basis of confidence of co-operation of brotherhood.
Do not forget that Commerce is based on credit, credit on
confidence, confidence on character, and that the best basis forcharacter is Christianity.
With every best wish
Sincerely Your friend
C. J. L. Bates-4-

Thus Spoke Bates

To the Commercial College
graduates of 1923
Dear friends:
Four years ago you stood on
the threshold of Kwansei Gakuin
wondering how you would be
able to spend four long years of study in the Commercial College.
To-day you stand on the threshold facing outward. The secretof the last four years has been revealed, but another source ofwonder is aroused. It is wonder as to what the years that lie
beyond may hold, - not four years but forty.
The answer to that question depends very largely upon how
you have used the last four years, and upon the attitude you takeand the decision you make as you step out into the great world.
Your predecessors, the former graduates of Kwansei Gakuin
Commercial College, have done well. They are elder brothers towhom you may look with confidence and respect. Now you join
their ranks.
To our graduates we must look in the future for many things,
for advice and for support. This is your school. Do not forget yourAlma Mater. She will need your love and loyalty more and more as
the years come and go.
This school has a great mission to fulfill. You are ourmessengers--messengers of truth, of honesty, of industry, offaithfulness. We send you forth with high hopes and confidence.
Goodbye. God bless you!
Sincerely yours,
C. J. L. Bates-5-

Kwansei Gakuin Archives

To the Graduates of 1924
Jan. 22, 1924
Dear Friends:
After four years of faithful work you have reached the goal
which has some times seemed so far distant. You have graduatedand are about to step worth into the world of practical affairs to
try your mettle, to test your knowledge in the lifelong struggle forsuccess in business.
I know that you go forth from Kwansei Gakuin with highideals of life and conduct, and that you are anxious to put inpractice what you have learned in head and heart.
You will meet many difficulties, but do not be discouraged.
Let every one of you try to do his part and to make his
contribution faithfully and courageously.
The great need of Japan, and of the whole world in fact isreconstruction. Great and terrible forces of destruction have been
at work. War, revolution, earthquake and fire have done theirworst, and have left the world in terror and in tears. Constructive
forces material and spiritual are now needed to repair the ravagesof destruction. It is a wonderful thing to graduate at such time, if
one have the vision and courage to meet so great an opportunity.
I pray that God’s richest blessings may ever protect andprosper you.
Most sincerely yours,
C. J. L. Bates-6-

Thus Spoke Bates

To the Class of 1925
Dec. 17th, 1924
My Dear Friends:
It is with mingled feeling of pleasure and pain that I write thisparting letter to you. Just as a father rejoices to see his sons stepout bravely into life, and at the same time sorrows at the parting,so do teachers feel when their students leave the school.
We are filled with mingled hope and anxiety. We expect greatthings from you, and at the same time we know that you will meetmany severe temptations. We expect you to realize the ideals
which you have received in this school, ideals of personal purityof life, sincerity of purpose, honesty in business and helpful
service for humanity. Remember that business affords great
opportunities for the expression and realization of the highest
ideals of life, and is not simply a means of making a living or
amassing wealth.
Put your best into your work. Render to your employers more
service than they expect, and greater opportunities will come toyou.
This is a day of social and industrial unrest. We need men ofsound commonsense, of clear vision and of unselfish spirit tosolve the problems of the present. You may be such men. Keepyourselves pure. Be obedient to the heavenly visions that you
have received in Kwansei Gakuin. Be loyal and true and yoursuccess in life will be great and lasting.
With your graduation the number of our Commercial College
Alumni will reach eight hundred. What a splendid army of young
men fill with the spirit of the new age. We hand the torch of truth
to you. Bear it forth and let it shine wherever you may go.
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We shall not forget you. Will you also remember us who
continue to live and labour in your Alma Mater. And may theblessing of God that maketh rich and addeth no sorrow therewith
always be with you.
Sincerely and Affectionately
Your friend,C. J. L. Bates-8-

Thus Spoke Bates

To the graduates of 1926
Toronto, Canada, Nov. 21, 1925
My dear friend,
It seems strange to be addressing you from so great a
distance, but although we are on opposite sides of the earth with
the Pacific Ocean and most of the continent of America between
us, we are as closely united in heart as ever. We belong toKwansei Gakuin and in that splendid brotherhood have found amost satisfying fellowship.
Kwansei Gakuin is a little world in itself with different
departments and with different nations working together,---“working together” ”co-operation” that is the great principle thatmust rule the world in the future if mankind is to have prosperity
and peace. Competition must give place increasingly to
co-operation as the ruling principle of life, of business, ofstatecraft, of international relations.
Competition leads to jealousy, suspicion, fear and ultimately
to war, destruction and sorrow. Co-operation leads to confidence,
mutual respect, prosperity and happiness. This is what we call“team play” in College and is one of the greatest lessons that
College has to teach us.
As you go into the practical world, do not fail to carry withyou the great principles for which your Alma Mater stands.
“Character” and “Co-operation.” These two words express thefundamental principles of our life on the individual and socialsides, and may be the keys to open the doors of happiness andsuccess throughout our entire lives.

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May God richly bless you all and may you a great blessing inJapan and the whole world.
Sincerely your friend,C. J. L. Bates

Donated by C. J. L. Bates

Graduation ceremony, March 8, 1926
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Thus Spoke Bates

To The Graduates of 1927
Dec. 28, 1926
MY DEAR FRIENDS:
The circumstances of your graduation differs in one respectfrom those of any previous graduates of Kwansei Gakuin College.
You are the first to graduate in the new era of “Showa” which has
been translated as “Brilliant=peace” that is surely a fact of interest
and great promise for your life work.
You have received your education during the era of “Taisho”
or “Great righteousness,” and you go out into the practical worldin the era of “Brilliant Peace.” There is a great lesson for you in this,the lesson that peace must be based upon righteousness.
The accession of a new=Emperor opens up a new [era] and wetrust a still greater period in the life of Japan, and you are to becongratulated upon the glorious opportunity that awaits you.
SINCERELY YOUR FRIEND,
C. J. L. BATES

President’s Office- 11 -

Kwansei Gakuin Archives

Farewell to graduates of 1930
Kwansei Gakuin, Jan. 16, 1930
Gentlemen:Your graduates of 1930 have the distinction of being the firstclass to graduate since the removal of Kwansei Gakuin to
Uegahara.
You are witnesses to the form that although the old body of
your Alma Mater has been left behind, the Kwansei Gakuin spirit
continues though in a different place and in another form. I
believe that this spirit will ever abide in your hearts.
You are graduating and going out into the practical world at avery difficult time. It is a period of unexampled commercial
depression

followingaperiodofunparalleledeconomic

prosperity. This is true not only in Japan but in America andEurope as well.
In this difficult period you must have patience, you must
continue to study, you must be willing to do any honest work thatcomes to your hand, you must be faithful to your employer, andyou must seek to find ways of rendering service to humanity.
Remember the world will ask of
you not “What do you think?” but “Whatcan you do?”With every best wish for yoursuccess and happiness.
I am sincerely your friend
C. J. L. Bates- 12 -

Thus Spoke Bates

To the graduates of 1933
My dear friends:
The four years of your College course are drawing to a close,
and you will soon leave the sheltered life of your school days to
try your fortunes in the world of practical pursuits.
If you follow the principles of industry and integrity,
enterprise and thrift your lives will be filled with the joy of effort
and achievement.
Be patient in adversity and humble in prosperity. Never be
discouraged by difficulties and never compromise with wrong.
The world needs men of pure hearts, clean lives, unselfish
thought, kind actions and adventurous spirit, and is waiting foryou.
With best wishes.
Sincerely your friend,C. J. L. Bates
Christmas 1932

Ethics class- 13 -

Kwansei Gakuin Archives

To the class of 1934
“Be faithful.” That is my parting
word to you. That is the sure road toreal and lasting success. The world
needs men who can be trusted, menof moral courage who are ready for
new adventure and enterprise.
Do not forget our College Motto“Mastery for Service,” and may theservice motive rather than the profit
motive be the rule of your lives.
Sincerely Your friend,C. J. L. Bates
Jan. 18, 1934

To the Graduating Class of the Higher Commercial
School of Kwansei Gakuin [1938]
On behalf of the whole school I extend to
you the heartiest congratulations. A great future
awaits you. You are to be the members of a newworld in the Far East. May God ever give you
wisdom and strength for your great task.
Sincerely Yours,
C. J. L. Bates
Dec. 22, 1937
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Thus Spoke Bates

Graduation Address, March 12, 1938
Our distinguished guests – Teachers, graduates, students.
Once more we meet in our annual graduation ceremony torecognize and reward those who through years of faithful work
have been able to complete their courses of study and present
themselves for their certificates of graduation today.
This is a day of great significance for your new graduates, aday to which you have looked forward throughout your years ofstudy. Now that day has come and I congratulate you on yoursuccessful achievement.
You feel I am sure a mingled sense of satisfaction and regret,satisfaction with what you have accomplished and regret that you
have not made still better use of the opportunities that presented
themselves to you. But this is not a day for regret but for highresolve. In America graduation is called “Commencement.” That is
at first sight a strange word to use on such occasion, but it is asignificant word. It implies a forward rather than a backward look.
Today you finish one stage in your life’s career. Now for the next
adventure.
Life is a procession, a march, a movement. We cannot standstill we are carried onward to some goal with or without oureffort.
To every man there cometh
A high way and a low,
And some men choose the high way
And some men choose the low
And in between on the dusty flats
The rest drift to and fro.
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But to every man there cometh
A high way and a low
And every man much choose
Which way his soul shall go.
You young men go out into the world at a very difficult time,
just how difficult only time will tell. Economically, socially, morally,
religiously, politically, internationally it is a time of great difficulty.
It is a time that calls for leaders in the thought life and thepractical life of the world who will be men of sincerity of heart,purity of life, unselfishness of character, clarity of mind, strengthof purpose, magnanimity of spirit, impartiality of judgment, men
who are loyal to the core of their being, patriotic men, industrious
men, men of wisdom and common sense who are not blown
about by every fresh wind but are established on the fixed rock ofprinciple.
Many thought currents are moving through the world atpresent and greatly disturbing the minds of men and nations.
There may be some value in these but there is much danger. The
wisest way is to be guided by the living spirit that has been
expressed in the traditions, the history and the progressive
development of your country.
The great Imperial declarations of the Meiji Era especially theFive Articled Oath, the Imperial Edict on Education and theImperial Constitution which was promulgated just fifty years ago,
are the characters of the national security and the personal
liberties of the Japanese people. I hope that Kwansei Gakuin
students and graduates will always study and be true to the spirit
and teaching of these great documents.

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Thus Spoke Bates

From the beginning Kwansei

Gakuin has had threefundamental principles of education. I wish to state and reaffirm
these today. They are first loyalty and patriotism, second intimate
friendship between teachers and students and third union of
education and religion. In the long years of the history of Kwansei
Gakuin, almost fifty years no question of loyalty has arisen in thisSchool so far as I know. It has always been our purpose to instill
into our students a strong sense of duty to the nation andreverence for its traditions, symbols and sovereign. Kwansei
Gakuin has never been a center of revolutionary activity and I
trust never will. We believe in government and in progressive not
revolutionary change in national customs and laws.
Secondly Kwansei Gakuin has never been satisfied to be a
training school or an education factory. Its ideal has always be an
Academic home for its students. There are many elements, many
offices in a large school. All are important, none more so thanothers and in mutual respect, confidence and co-operation there
is more pedagogical efficiency than in aloofness of the teacher, inthe maintenance of dignity and the exercise of authority. Kwansei
Gakuin is a family and we are all friends and brothers.
Thirdly Kwansei Gakuin was established by the power ofreligious faith forty nine years ago and has been maintained bythat same faith throughout all these years. We believe that
education is not simply intellectual, but physical, moral andspiritual, that in a very real sense to know the will of God is thehighest knowledge and to do the will of God the greatest
achievement of which mankind is capable. We believe that a true
Christian faith and experience are the best equipment of young
men going out to face the difficulties and fight the battle of life.
We are not interested in mere nominal religion but we know that- 17 -

Kwansei Gakuin Archives

man needs help as he faces life and death and that faith, prayer
and surrender to God give us comfort, courage strength andwisdom to bear the sorrows of life, fight its battles, bear its
burdens and solve its problems.
Kwansei Gakuin education must be moral education. It must
fit men to make a living, but still more it must help them to live
happily and helpfully in society, to be better citizens and moreloyal subjects. Too often education is simply intellectual training.
With that alone Kwansei Gakuin can never be satisfied.
Japan is engaged in a great struggle that calls for sacrificial
service on the part of all loyal subjects of His Imperial Majesty. In
the unity loyalty and unselfishness of the people are to be foundthe nation’s strength. The Imperial army has shown its courage,
its loyalty and its strength. I hope that all Kwansei Gakuin
graduates whether in business, in journalism, in law, in theteaching profession or in the Christian ministry will do their full
duty in the same spirit of courage, loyalty and sacrifice.
On Mar. 4, 1865, on the occasion of his second inaugurationas President of the United States, President Lincoln gaveutterance to words which have become classic in the literature of
the world.
“With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness
in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive to finish
the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care forhim who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow andorphan; to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting
peace among ourselves, and with all nations.”- 18 -

Thus Spoke Bates

The lofty and sublime thought here expressed exercised a
powerful and healing influence upon the minds of the American
people in those closing days of the Civil War. It may be that they
have a message for us in this Far Eastern World seventy three
years after, and indeed in other parts of this fear-stricken,
sin-stricken, war-stricken, troubled world.
I congratulate you young men upon your graduation but I
tremble for you as I bid you farewell as you launch your ship oflife on the world’s troubled sea. Let me say to you, never be
discouraged, never be afraid. Remember Browning’s last words:“One who never turned his backbut marched breast forward,
Never doubting clouds would break,Held we fall to rise, are baffled to fight better
Sleep to wake.”
Young men, we have given you our best, our thought, ourlove, our life and now we send you forth as graduates of Kwansei
Gakuin with our heartfelt prayer that God may richly bless you
with health and happiness, and give you the Spirit of service, andof sacrifice that will make you loyal Japanese subjects, and useful
citizens of the world, and successful bridge builders among thenations that surround the Pacific Ocean.
You are joining a large group of over 7,000 graduates who
have brought honour to their Alma Mater and to whom we arealways grateful for their loyalty and help. The growth of oureducational institution depends to a very great extent on theloyalty, unity, and support of its graduates. We hope and expectthat our loyal sons will help us and those who come after us to- 19 -

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realize in ever increasing measure the ideals with which thisinstitution was founded.
Next year we shall celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of theestablishment of Kwansei Gakuin. This school has been greatly
beyond through all the years of its history and with your loyal
cooperation. We look for still greater things in the years to come.
This year we have to report with great regret the retirement of
two of our deans, Mr. Hori as dean of the Theological Department
and Mr. Manabe as principal of the Middle School. These
gentlemen have rendered many years of loyal faithful service tothis School and we are deeply grateful. We are very happy to havefound suitable successors among our graduates in the persons ofProf. S. Matsushita of the Theological Department and Mr. T.
Tanaka who has been principal of Lambuth Women’s Training
School. We believe that under their leadership these two
departments will continue their work with the same success thathas characterized them hitherto.
May the blessing of God ever rest upon this School that it may
continue faithful to its sacred trust.

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Thus Spoke Bates

Address at Graduation Ceremony, March 11, 1939
Honourable Guests:
Another year has passed and again we have come to the time
when we must say farewell to several hundred members of ourKwansei Gakuin family. It is with mixed feelings of congratulation
and regret that we bid goodbye to you members of thegraduating classes. We rejoice with you in your success incompleting successfully your years of study. When you looked
longingly and wonderingly over the years of your courses of study,
they seemed very many and long. Now as you looked back they
seem very few and short.
Now you look out into the future with wonder. You who are
graduating from the Middle School will for the most part go intohigher schools of various kinds, and you who gave finished the
University Preparatory Course will enter the University. Your
course is decided and you will have several years of peacefulstudy and preparation for life.
You who are graduating from the College and University
departments will leave the school for the most part and go out
into the practical life of the world. I hope that the education you
have received in Kwansei will help you to meet the problems anddifficulties of life bravely and successfully. Life is full of difficult
problems. It is hard to live a noble, moral and religious life. But
we must not be afraid of hardships. We must have moral courage
to face the realities of life and do our duty at whatever cost. Keepin mind our School Motto, “Mastery for Service” which means, Be
strong in order that you may help others. The greatest need ofour times is the reorganization of life on the basis of- 21 -

Kwansei Gakuin Archives

unselfishness. Many of the evils of our day are the result ofindividual selfishness, which has let to confusion and crisis in
economic, political, and international affairs. And today in many
parts of the world we are reaping the harvest of the seeds ofselfishness that have been sown by our predecessors in manylands.
As a Canadian I must express my sincere repentance for theselfish attitude taken by the government, Business men, andother people of Western countries toward Oriental problems.
When I was in Canada last year I told our people that thedifficulties of Far East are the result not only of the sin of the
Oriental Countries but of the sin of the West as well. We must all
repent of our sin and seek to find what is the will of God for
ourselves, our countries, and for the world.
Last September Lord Baldwin, former Prime Minister of GreatBritain, together with several other leading men in England issued
a significant statement which contains a message for all people
everywhere. In it are the following arresting and thoughtprovoking sentences.
“Today all are anxiously asking to what is the world
heading? What is the future of civilization?”“The world cannot for ever continue plunging fromcrisis to crisis. We must act before crisis ends incatastrophe; we must use the present breathing
space, which may be brief, to penetrate below
systems into their causes and initiative that
fundamental change which alone will break a vicious
circle. In the words of the leader of a great nation, ‘It- 22 -

Thus Spoke Bates

is an entirely new spirit which must be acquired andenthroned.’”“The strength of a nation consists in the vitality ofher principles. Policy, foreign as well as domestic, isfor every nation ultimately determined by thecharacter of her people and the inspiration of her
leaders; by acceptance in their lives and in theirpolicy of honesty, faith and love as the foundations
on which a new world may be built. Without thesequalities

the strongest armaments, themostelaborate pacts, only postpone the hour of reckoning.”“The real need of the day is, therefore, moral andspiritual rearmament. A growing body of people inthis and other countries are making it their aim. It isa work in which all men and women in all countries
and of all races are called to share and have power tohelp. Were we together with our fellow men
everywhere to put the energy and resourcefulness
into this task that we now find ourselves obliged to
expend on national defense, the peace of the world
would be assured.”“God’s living Spirit calls each nation like eachindividual to its highest destiny, and breaks down
the barriers of fear and greed, of suspicion andhatred. This same spirit can transcend conflicting
political systems, can reconcile order and freedom,can rekindle true patriotism, can unite all citizens inthe service of the nation and all nations in theservice of mankind. ‘Thy will be done on earth’ is not- 23 -

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only a prayer for guidance but a call to action. For
His will is our peace.”
God’s living Spirit, I believe, has called Japan to a high destiny,
to a place of leadership in the civilization and culture of this great
Eastern World. And within that place Kwansei Gakuin has a highdestiny. For in Kwansei Gakuin – I say this with deep humility – werecognize and acknowledge the guiding hand of God, eventhough we may not always follow the Divine guidance as faithfully
as we should.
When I first came to Japan there was a member of our Mission,
Mr. Emberson by name who died several years ago. He had asaying which he often repeated and which I have never forgotten.
It was “I have a place in God’s plan”. That is a great conception oflife. I hope that every Kwansei Gakuin graduate will have thatconviction and will find his place in God’s plan. Then and then
only will he realize the high destiny to which God’s living Spirit
has called each one of us.
During the past year some of our teachers and students andmany of our graduates have been called to serve their Country
and some have made the supreme sacrifice. We have observedwith solemn ceremonies the death of seventeen of our graduates
and we unite with the friends and relatives of these young men
who gave their lives for Japan in gratitude and sympathy.
A new order in Asia is being born, and its birth is with great
suffering and cost to both Japan and China and the end is not yet.
More sacrifice and service will be called for before a lasting peace
will come. But come it will and when it comes may we be ready tocultivate the arts of peace with the same faithfulness with which- 24 -

Thus Spoke Bates

the heroes who have laid down their lives have done their duty.
This year Kwansei Gakuin celebrates the fiftieth anniversaryof her foundation.
In the spirit of faith and adventure our school was founded by
Dr. Walter R. Lambuth fifty years ago. And with great faithfulness
Dr. Newton, Dr. Yoshioka, Dr. Haden, Dr. Matsumoto, Dr.
Armstrong, Dr. Woodsworth and many others, some of whom
have left this world, and others who are happily still with us, have
served Kwansei Gakuin until this day and under the blessing andguidance of God have brought this school to its present condition.
It was a small but living seed that Dr. Lambuth planted fifty years
ago, but it had the life in it and it has grown to be a great tree.
May God protect the life of Kwansei Gakuin forever.
During the last few weeks our hearts have been greatly
sorrowed by the sudden death of Dr. Woodsworth, Dean of the
Literary College and the University College of Law and Literature.
Dr. Woodsworth was over twenty five years in Kwansei Gakuin andrendered a great service to this school by his high Scholarship, hisnoble character and his faithfulness to duty. He had a genius forfriendship and won the love of all teachers and students.
During the year the Kwansei Gakuin Alumni Association has
been organized with all former departmental graduates societies
united. We hope for the great success of this association. The
future of Kwansei Gakuin depends to great extent on the loyalty
and support of her graduates.
May God’s richest blessing rest upon you all.
Japanese translation: Archives Newsletter, no. 19, May 28, 2004, pp.5-8.

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Farewell letter to the Graduates
Dec. 15th, 1940
To the Graduates of Kwansei Gakuin,
My very dear friends:The time has come when I must say “Goodbye.” On November
22nd it was decided that Mrs. Bates and I should sail for Canada at
the end of December. We deeply regret this decision. It is a greatsorrow for us to leave Kwansei Gakuin which has been our homefor nearly thirty years. We feel that we are leaving home. But it isright that we should do so. My work at Kwansei Gakuin is finished.
I have done what I could under the guidance of God, and with theloyal cooperation of teachers and students. What a wonderfultime we have done together. Confidence, mutual respect, andsincere affection have governed our relations with one another.
We have lived and worked together unconscious of differences
and with a deep sense of unity in ourcommon task. I think that the spirit of
our Lord Jesus Christ has been present
with us and helped us.
You

who

have

been

students

during our life at Kwansei Gakuin havebeen very kind to us. You have shown
us every courtesy. We have lived in an
atmosphere of peace and good will.
Now that we are leaving I ask that you
will give to the new President and theDeans the same help that you have
Last Lecture- 26 -

Thus Spoke Bates

given me throughout these many years. We belong to a great andgrowing family and are bound together as brothers by golden
chains of confidence, cooperation, and love. My God bless you allin your hearts, in your homes, and in your work.
It is very hard for us to leave Japan and to return to Canada
permanently. We came to this beautiful country thirty eight years
ago, and life here has brought us many joys. Four children havebeen born to us in Japan. But they are now on the other side of the
Pacific Ocean, and as we are growing older it seems but naturalthat we should be nearer them; especially in view of the fact that
our health, as you know, has not been good for several years.
We shall carry precious memories of our life in Kwansei
Gakuin in our hearts forever. I have loved you all very much. You
have been my own dear boys. I think you have felt this, because
your attitude to me has been always lovely. I wish I could visit you
in your homes and meet your wives and children, and talk withyou about the problems of life great and small. That is now
impossible. But in our hearts we can be together in the Spirit. We
have a great task. It is to spread abroad the spirit of unselfishness
throughout the world, which is the only hope for our selfish sinful
world.
May God bless you in all your life,
Sincerely and forever,Your friend,C. J. L. Bates
Japanese translation: Kwansei Gakuin Koho, no. 75, May 31, 1983, pp. 2-3.

- 27 -

Kwansei Gakuin Archives

Commercial Club, 1912

Madame et Monsieur Bates approchent la maison
par la nouvelle porte.
- 28 -

Thus Spoke Bates

C. J. L. Bates (1877-1963)- 29 -

Kwansei Gakuin Archives

Karuizawa, 1932

Kwansei Gakuin Archives
Nishinomiya 662-8501 JapanFirst edition: June 2011, revised: November 2011- 30 -