As we go to press, everything promises well for a meeting of unusual interest and power. The people of Taunton are large hearted, and will be glad to have their hospitality taxed to the utmost.
—The new Chinese Ambassadors are men from whose intelligence, experience and wisdom we have much to hope. Chin Lan Pin, first ambassador, is a man of deep learning, being a graduate of the Han Lin College, of the highest class, and a man of extensive travel and observation as well. In 1872, he visited this country as Chief Commissioner in charge of the Chinese students sent to be educated in the Connecticut colleges, and he subsequently visited England and Spain on similar missions. In 1874, he was one of the three Commissioners who were sent by the Chinese Government to Cuba, to investigate the condition of the Chinese laborers there. After locating the several consulates appointed for the United States, he will visit Spain and procure the recognition of a Consul for Cuba, and thence proceed to Peru for a similar purpose. He will then return to Washington and take up his abode as resident Minister.
The Vice-Minister, Yung Wing, is even better known in this country. He was graduated at Yale College with high scholastic and literary honor, receiving the degree of LL.D. He subsequently devoted himself to awakening his countrymen to the needs of reform in education, and his efforts gained official recognition. He has been Commissioner of Education and in charge of the Chinese Educational Mission in Hartford, Conn., and of the 112 Chinese students connected with it.
We have been glad to read a very clear report published in the Inverness Courier of an address made by Prof. Spence, of Fisk University in that city, in Scotland. The many friends of the University and of Prof. and Mrs. Spence will be interested to know of the work they are doing in Great Britain, and that they are so fully recognized in the Scottish press. We learn from private advices, that they have been very warmly received and cordially heard, and from the places in which they have presented their cause, have reaped fair, if not large, results. What effect the recent failure of the Bank of Glasgow may have upon their future success we cannot tell, but we fear it may dry up many of the streams from which they had hoped to draw.
MR. STANLEY’S INTEREST IN CHRISTIAN MISSIONS.
It was a remark of Dr. Livingstone’s, that “the end of the geographical feat is the beginning of the missionary endeavor.” And, although all African explorers are not animated with the missionary idea, yet it is easy to believe that an over-ruling Providence uses their efforts for missionary ends.
Mr. Stanley asserts, that the object of his desperate journey was, “To flash a torch of light across the western half of the Dark Continent.” “If the natives allow us a peaceful passage, so much the better; if not, our duty says, go on.” “We are always under the eye of God.” “The one God has written that this year the river [Lualaba] shall be known throughout its length. ‘Think,’ he says, to Frank Pocock, ‘what a benefit our journey will be to Africa.’”