The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-12-18


paid. Opening Remarks by ID. Willis
James and w. M. Hughes, ID. ID.
The public meeting held in the First
Presbyterian Church on Friday even
ing last, at which the Rev. DR.. Charles
Cuthbert Hall made one of his elo-
quent and instructive addresses, de-
failing his experiences in India and
Japan, was a gathering long to be re-
membered. Mr.. ID. Willis James pre-
sided and introduced the speakers in
few well-chosen words. He said in
part:
"All of us have the privilege OF aid
ing this missionary work by helping to
lay securely the great foundations of
Christian civilization in the East Ac-
cording to my way of thinking there
has never been nobler band of mar
tyrs anywhere than those who have
sacrificed their lives and gained the
martyrs crown in the far East. DIR.
Hall calls on us to be up and doing.
The Rev. Dr. William NJ. Hughes
NdS oiiiS uidtly IdPpJ ~ iiio iNhieVA Nd.
He began as follows AS an honest
confession is good for the soul, might
as well be frank with you in the be-
ginning and acknowledge that ! fail to
see any reason why ! should be called
to speak before you tonight other than
as an appetizer for the good things to
come. One who performs this func-
tion of appetizer must necessarily be
careful that he does not spoil the feast.
Ny greatest danger lies in speaking in
behalf of the people of MorristOWn, it
having been the scene of my work for
the past sixteen years, so that if my
tongue once gets loose there is no
knowing where | shall stop. Perhaps
then | should resemble the Cheshire
cat who, when his bodily presence fad
ed, left behind him broad smile. In
deed, should be unfair to myself and
to you should | attempt to treat this
subject in any light manner
When a Christian comes in vital
contact with pagan life he experiences
shock but when he has learned to
know it better he feels glad
that he is a Christian, and fears not to
grapple with the great problem of
missionary effort. 1t is reported that
the bubonic plague has again got a
foothold in India and that all the
forces of sanitary science and the
powers of the British Government
have seemed to be unavailing. Ac-
cording to the vein of pessimism
which is rife among all classes in the
East the scourge is supposed to be
unable to be stopped.
Here in town there is a correspond
ing vein of pessimism and desire to
escape from the reality confronting
us. The town runs to idealism as it
were, principally because of the
wealth and plenty on hand here. To
get the resources of the place to work
there must be brought here something
new in addition to enthusiasm, and
when once our ideals get on fire there
will be no end as regards the capacity
of the town to support any work. -
Mr.. Chairman: am most grateful
for the esteem and kindly words with
which ] have been made welcome here
this evening, and | cannot forbear
expressing my gratitude not only to
the Chairman and to DIR. Hughes,
representing the people of Morristown,
but to the members of this choir who,
! think in a way that j have rarely
heard equaled in this country, or in
any other country, have interpreted
to us the true spirit of this occasion.
have been asked, and with great
gratitude and willingness have re-
sponded to come here this evening and
make a statement, in your presence
gathered here in public meeting,
recording some impressions which
have been formed in nay mind in the
course of recent experiences in India
and in the far East. And in order
that the basis upon which 1 venture
to present these impressions may
more clearly be understood by this
asSemblage, it is perhaps not improper
that should diverge from the main
thought of my address and briefly re-
hearse the conditions under which
this visit was paid. AS the Chairman
has intimated | went to the East,
commissioned by the University of
Chicago, as the.incumbent of a lecture
ship founded in the University of
Chicago by a Christian lady, the late
Mrs. Caroline K. Haskell, OF Chicago,
who, with many others, was deeply
impressed, at the time of the Parlia-
ment sof Religions in Chicago with
the culture, personal power and charm
of the representatives of the greater
Eastern faiths who appeared in the
Parliament. Many Americans, doubt
less, up to that time had shared
vaguely in the belief that the East is
barbaric and that the West possesses
monopoly not only of civilization, but
of intellectual power: and it has been
to such, a source of astonishment,
when there came forth from the East.
men of extraordinary personal charm
and wide and mature culture, of wide
acquaintance with the world, and Of
profound spiritual earnestness, the
representatives of non-christian faiths,
and of faiths for the most part far
more ancient than the Christian re-
ligion.
1t was the desire Of Mrs. Haskell,
in making use Of the wealth with
which she was intrusted, to do some
thing that might bring us into more
cordial understanding of one another,