LIFE AND LETTERS OF JOSEPH HARDY NEESIMA

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150 FIRST VISIT TO EUROPE. the Minister of Public Instruction this morning. In the afternoon we went to the exposition held presently in the city and have spent there the whole afternoon. I felt very much wearied after my return, but I could not forget my best American friends, so I began to write these lines to express my greatest affection and respect to both of you. Allow me to assure you that I ever appreciate your kindness shown to me more and more by visiting the institutions of learning in Europe and finding the great value of education. I never can feel that I can repay to you for what you have done for me, but will try with my utmost power to conform my whole future to your chief object, that is to say, that I should preach the crucified Saviour in whatever condition I may be. I begin to see a great obstacle before me in the way of my prea~hing, for the most of our educated men in Japan are falling into the infidelity. But I am happy in a meditation on the marvelous growth of Christianity in the world, and believe that if it finds any obstacles it will ad­vance still faster and swifter, as stream does run faster when it does find any hindrances on the course. Oh, what pleasant thing it is that we can rely on the hand of the living God. He will make a great use of us humble vessels in his household if we simply remain faithful to Him. I wish you would render my compliments to all my American friends. My health is improving very much. I shall be always happy to hear from you. On the return of the commissioner to Berlin Mr. N eesima had again to meet under another form the question which had perplexed him at vV ashington. It had been his intention to resume his studies at An-

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