The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-08-14
A REMARKABLE CAREER.
THE LIFETIME WORK OF MIS-
SIONARY CROSSETTE.
Devoted to Doing Good TO the
Poorer Classes of Chinese. He
Taught Pure Love of God and
GSOdIineSS with Telling Effect.

6OuIlueSS Will CAAlIlS E.hCSN'
WAsnINGroN, August 13-Thc Depart
mcnt of State has received from the lie
CATION at Pekin, China, under date OF
the 3rd Of July, an account Of the death,
and extraordinary life work of the Rev.
J. Crosscttc, an independent American
missionary in China. His carccrappcars
to have been a very remarkable one, char
actcrizcd by absolute selfdevotion. lie
died ON the steamer III Dorado, Ell, route
from Shanghai to TicnstSin on the list OF
June last. He leaves widow living at
Schuylersville, N. Y.
In speaking of Mr.. Crosscttc, Minister
Father Damien, the French missionary
who lately died on the Island of Moloka,
and says:
"CroSsettcs life was devoted to doing
good to the poorest classes of Chinese.
He had charge of Il winter refuge for the
poor at Pckin. During the severe win
tcrs he would 90 out on the streets the
coolest nights and pick up destitute beg
gars, and convey them to a refuge where
he provided them with food. He also
buried them at his own expense. He
visited all persons, and often procured
the privilege of removing the sick to his re-
| ugc. The officials had implicit confidence
| in him, and allowed him to visit at pleas
urc all prisoners and charitable institu-
tions. He was known by the Chinese ns
Christian Buddha." He was attached
to no organization of men. He was a
missionary, pure and simple, devoted
rather to charity than to prOScIytiSm
He literally took Christ as his cXcmplar
| lie Travelled all over China and the East
He took no care Of his expenses food
and iOdgiuS were voluntarily furnished
him. Inn keepers would take no pay
from him, and private persons were glad
to entertain him. 1t must he said that
his wants were few. lie wore the Chi
ncSc dress, had no regular meals, drank
only water, and lived ON fruit with little
rice or milIct. He aimed at translating
his idcll christ, into reality. lie wore
long auburn hair, parted III the middle,
50 as to resemble the pictures of Christ.
Charitable people furnished him money
for his refuge; and he never seemed to
want for funds. He slept on board or
on the floor. Even III his last hours, be
ing a deck passenger on the FL Dorado, he
refused to be transferred to thccabin, but
The kindly captain, SOmc hours before he
died, removed him "a ii berth where he
died. still speaking OF going to heaven,
and cntrcating the bystandcrSto love the
Lord, As IN instance of the character of
the man, | will state when on one OCCa-
sion, gave my annual dnnCrOn Thanks
giving day to the Americans, MIR,
CroSscLIc wrote Lu me bcSccching
that would have no dinner,
but would give to the poor, He
attended the dinner but touched nothing
but water and rice" In theology, he
can hardly he said to have been ortho-
dox. lie found good in all religions
After long conversation with him one
day, told him he was not Christian
but buddhist. He answered that there
were many good things in buddhism.
The last important work OF Mr. CrOSettc
was an effort to provide for the deaf and
dumb. To further this project, he tray
clcd to IlaSkard and thence to Canton,
establishing everywhere schools for these
unfortunatcS.- lie was successful where
ever he went, This man taught pure
love God and Of Godincss, lie com
plctcy sacrificed himself for the good of
the poor. lie acted out his principles to
the letter. lie was as poor and lived as
plainly us the poorest of his patients. On
charitable subjects he wrote well. The
ideal to him was practical. Let this
American then be cnshrined along with
the devoted Frcnchman i'll the annals OF
men who loved their fellowmen.