LIFE AND LETTERS OF JOSEPH HARDY NEESIMA

280/372

262 TO EUROPE AND AMERICA AGAIN. If the mind of our people be directed to the Hero of heroes, the greatest the world has ever produced, I am sure it would revolutionize the future of Japan. He is far above Socrates and Confucius, yet He is the friend of the poor. He is far above Alexander or Napoleon, yet He shed his own blood for humanity, in­stead of shedding that of hundreds of thousands of the innocent for his own gratification. He had no selfish aim in his life; He was perfectly holy, yet perfectly simple; He had no place to rest his head, yet He sits for eternity on the tln·one of the universe. If the J apanefle must have a hero, let them worship this one, the Hero of heroes. His worshipers will be tinted with the one best color, -the color of godliness. Within this bound there is ample scope for freedom: man can choose any profession except bad and harm· ful ones. In following Him we shall obtain true hu­man liberty and certainly preserve our individuality. 0 how I long for our people to turn towards this Hero, so far above weak humanity. "If I teach again I will pay special attention to the poorest scholar in the class. If I can do that I believe I can be a successful teacher. "A Policy for our Training School. Let us be like an unpolished diamond. Never mind the out. ward rough appearance, if we can have the shining part within. Let these tln·ee factors be our perpet· ual mottoes : 1. Christ as our foundation stone. 2. Well qualified instructors. 3. Well selected library and thorough equipment of apparatus. These three factors will be the true shining part of our school. Too much of brick and mortar does not suit my hum· ble taste. I am terribly craving for the inner polish. That will certainly command the respect of thoughtful Japanese far more than brick, stone, and mortar.

※このページを正しく表示するにはFlashPlayer10.2以上が必要です