The gold leaf., 1898-02-10

'oA VIZ tSiiiOiS SNiiS "ui\l ItOw uOiO
the people Of this country in the grip
Of death. We believe. sir, tha, in the
early days of the Christian Church
he great highways of the Roman En-
Dire were specially prepared by God
to be the highways Of the Gospel
Now, no less, DO we believe, that the
highways of commerce are the high
ways Of the Gospel Of the Son of God.
And, furthermore, do we believe, that
most important duty is laid upon
you and other officials in a similar ca
paclty in assisting the great missionary
enterprise Of this country as you can.
BY using your official power and intlu
ence TO protect the missionaries and
their converts, you will have a large
share in the Inauguration Of the reign
of righteousness, and in securing the
triumph of Christian civilization over
the forces of heathenism, which every
wellwisher Of the human race SO
greatly desires to see established
throughout the whole world. You
have shown most unmlstakably that
you had this most important part of
your official duties at heart, and We
most sincerely thank you for it. Fur
thermore, | am glad to be able to as
sure you that not only have you won
the respect and esteem of all the mis-
sionaries in your consular district, but
also those Of all foreigners of all ma
tionalities, who have come to know
you throughout all China (Hear,
hear
"lt is therefore with unfeigned re-
gret that we now take leave Of you.
In the exigencies of the quadrennial
elections and political upheavals
which characterize the democratic in
stitutions of our native land, it has be
come necessary for you to give over
your office to the charge of another,
and while we are bound to give all
due respect to your successor, we must
also 6 i've expression to our sincere sor-
row for the necessity which takes you
away from us. (Hear, hear.( We
bid you Godspeed, and fervently hope
that wherever your lot may be cast,
you may find numerous friends, as
warm and appreciative as those you
leave behind in this land. l."
Mr.. Jernigan, who was evidently
much moved by the apprecative terms
in which the written address was
Couched and by warm sincerity ex-
hibited by DR.. Parker in making the
presentation, as we'll as by the hearty
and manifest concurrence of all pres
ent, in the eloquent eulogy Just deliv-
cred, said in reply:
"Gentlemen, | receive this address
from you with a feeling of pleasure
which | am unable to express in words
If during my term OF office any act OF
mine merits the approval OF my coun-
trymen, am sensible that it should
be attributed to the encouragement of
their loyal support. The friendly re-
lations between us have not only been
a source of encouragement and great
pleasure to the, but have guided me
in the formation of an opinion as to
your work, as to more accurate con-
clusions. | shall avail myself Of this
occasion to say that no subject relating
TO the Christian churches in China has
come under my consideration but that
it did not appear that the representa-
tives of the churches were actuated by
the principles Of justice and charity;
and i is your conservatism which
has won from the Emperor of China
the edict granting the building Of
churches and teaching Christianity
anywhere within the borders of this
Empire. Such is the Christian relig-
ion-teach;ng that justice is the es-
sential Of good government, elevating
all who come within its influence, and
securing for woman her proper place
in the household of the human family.
There is not a missionary home in
! China around which are not seen evil
dences of the good influences which
20 out from it. Wherever church or
a schoolhouse is found, there will be
found in that neighborhood the living
proof Of more intelligent conception
OF duty; and such magazines as are
edited by Dr. Allen and others are
doing more for the cause of progress
in China than armies of diplomats
The sphere of the diplomat is neces'
sarily circumscribed, but that Of the
editor is wider; and the literature o.
the Mission Presses reaches all home:
and 6resides and prepares the founda
ton for successful diplomacy. Were
| asked to name one agency more infu
entail than another in the permanen
preparation of the changes in Chin;
foe which we all hope, / would with
OFT hesitation name the agency o
souxd literature. The strokes Of Pas
chai proved more potent than the de
crees Of kings; and when Europe wa
,rembsaog before Napoleon, it was III
remembrance of their Christian home
,ha. made the British squares invlnci
BILE at Waterloo. The victories tha
: you are winning are the victories c
l peace, which elevate and bless man
kind, and a.e more lasting than IN
= ephemeral triumphs Of a hero Of blood
| Continue the auspicious work that er
5 cages YOU The march Of events WI
; impose upon you new duties and re
= sponsbili,ies, bat these you can met
= and discharge if yos will continue
: conservatism, respecting the opinion
E of others, while holding opinions