Smyrna times., 1859-06-09
a Strong Testimony to the Use of Mis-.
siOns.


Hon. VIM. D. Reed, who was sent by Presi-
cent Buchanan, Minister Plenipotentiary 10
China, a"d who returned recently, after most
successful completion of his mission, was hon.
ofed last week with complimentary dinner by
the citizens Of Philadelphia, at which he made
an address, reviewing the history Of the events
OF his diplomacy, and closing with the follow
lag strong tribute to the missionary cause:
"One other word, and have done. 1t has
reference 10 higher thoughts than any connect.
ed "lti political or diplomatic success. No
one can pass even as short a time as have
! done, IN the dark, cold shadow of Pagan ciyii-
zallon such IS found in China or among what
VIC may hope TO be the ruins of Hindu or Ma.
nomean superstition, without new gratitude
that his lot Is cast in Christian land, and with.
out the conviction that there can be no true.
/ elective cnlIghi eminent without Christianity
and, to speak more practically still, no one can
see what have, without recognising the duty
VI acknowledging the enormous debt of graft
lude 10 thOse devoted men and women who as
missionaries, are struggling for the conversion
and education oil the heathen, and our ohIiga-
ton to sustain them. | went 10 the East with
no enthusiasm as 10 missionary enterprises. /
come back with fixed conviction that, in IFS
true ana harmonlz'ng power, and in its increas.
ing Influence on commercial adventure, il is.
under Providence, the great agent of civi!lza-
tlon; and feel Il my duty to add, that every
where in Assn and Atrca-among the Calfes in
NataI; on the continent of India among the
forests OF Cry lon, aud over the vas. eXpaDse of
Chlnd, the testimony TO Il e zeal and success Of
our cOuntrymCn as missionaries Of truth is ear.
nest and concurrent | heard it everywhere,
and from high authority. Their praises greet
ed me when, after the dreaTiness of a long vow
age, put my foot ashore at the Cape OF Good
tt0pe; and when, nearly two years afterwards,
| bade farewell to Eastern lands, my last dc.
lIgh!tu duty was 10 visit, and tor myself see,
the largest missionary school in Egypt, kent
and admirably administered by an American
4 Philadelphia woman (Alss Dales), at Alex.
lndra.
Watching too, as have done, the jealous,
earnest cooperation of missionaries of all ma
lions and all chrstian creeds in the East, have
earned lesson Of federation and respect for
All, and tor all equally. On the same day.
nave visited ard watched with interest, the
hospitals and Protestant schools of Shangbae.
nave seen Chinese converts saying mass as
priests in the Catholic church and
Of Sl-ka-wa, and have felt more sem
'lbly than | ever thought should, the truth of
~hag | remember to have read on the pages
missionary travell9rs-I mean
Dr. Livingstone who, speaking of the missions
ou the easI coast of Africa, says that "all classes
If Christians find that sectarian rancor soon
lies out when they are working in the presence
)f the real heathen." Sectarian spirit does
,ts nd rebuked and 1t is matter of more exul.
alton than can well express, that the first abb
'ouLe recognition by the heather of Christi
lnity, as profcssed by Catholics and Proteslants,
md "a principle Of truth aud purity, and the
complete liberation Of its ministers, is to be
ounl in the American treaty with China. 1t
S wonderful proof of progress in the right
llrecton-most wonderful in It's contrasts with
he past Sixty-two years ago, in 1885, we
made treaty with a "retched African satrsp,
he Bey of Tunis, by which we paid price for
'eace, under the guaranty of another Power
Ong since passed from existence, the most
Potent Dry ard Regency of Agiers, and in
which we reclted a reason for meagre toll
,ration, that the Government of the United
States is not in any sense founded on the Chris
ian religion Contrast that degrading record
vI;h the treaties of 1858, and you will see the
rogress have referred to-"