The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1896-08-18
A $1,000 TESTAMENT
Presented to the oowager Impress
Of China on Her Birthday.

Toanyu Kangi Chaoyu Chuang
Cheng Shokung Chinien Chungshi,
dowager Empress of Chino, who
died few days ago, the Christian
women in the empire presented to
that royal lady a splendid edition Of
the New Testament translated into
the Chinese language, in token of
their regard for her The book was
highly decorated with silver and
gold, and was placed in the casket
of silver, in which it was presented.
1t cost was about 81, 200
When this elaborate volume was
printed in China, few additional
copies we're run off the press, and
one of these copies without the gold
and silver decorations was given to
the American Bible Society last
week, to be placed on the shelves OF
that institution, already filed with
a valuable and curious collection OF
specimens of the Holy Scriptures
in every tongue and OF every age.
In preparing the gift for the EN-
press the committee having the
matter in charge decided that it
would be better to present only the
New Testament, rather than the
whole Bible, and selected the whole
version known as the Delegates" as
the most scholarly of all the classical
versions Of the New Testament in
the Chinese, and as the most suit
able for the purpose.
The book is royal quarto size,
10x13:2, is printed on the finest
paper procurable and in the largest
movable metallic type. The border
around each page is of gold. The
volume given to the Empress was
bound in silver boards; that belong
ing to the society is bound in costly
black morocco. The ornamentation
is that of birds and of bamboo in re-
lief. The name of the book, "Com-
plete New Testament" is in large
characters of gold, and in the center
is a gilt plate, on which is the inscrip-
ton, "Classic of Salvation for the
World" According to the Chinese
the bamboo is an emblem of peace
and the birds are messengers; the
design on the covers, therefore, con-
veyed to the dowager Empress a
message of peace" from her Chris
tiar subjects.
In the memorial address which
accompanied the gift was the fol-
lowing:
Among the many just laws which
your Majesty has established, not
the least is that which commands
the same protection to your Chinese
subjects as to those of all other re-
ligions; therefore, we, a few thous-
and Protestant Christian women
throughout the various provinces of
your empire, though mostly poor,
cannot let the suspicious occasion
of your Imperial Majesty's sixtieth
birthday pass without testifying our
loyalty and admiration. We do so
by presenting your Majesty with the
New Testament, which is the prin-
cipal classic of our holy religion,
namely, the religion OF Jesus Christ,
which is salvation of the whole
world from sin and suffering. The
truth in this volume have brought
peace Of heart and purity Of life,
with hope of everlasting happiness
to countless millions. 1t has also
given to Christian nations the just
laws and stable government which
are the root of their temporal pros
perity and power. On this account,
we hear it is custom in the West
to present expresses, queens and
princesses with copy Of this book
on happy occasions in their lives"
The Empress graciously accepted
the gift, and to the women who had
done most in arranging for the gift
she sent great rolls OF silk and rich
cloths. 1t is a curious fact, how
ever, as told by missionary who
was racantlv in this ,city. in snaakinp