LIFE AND LETTERS OF JOSEPH HARDY NEESIMA

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TRIBUTES. 331 In a letter addressed to his followers and family, a Buddhist priest wrote: -"Having learned from the papers of the death of your honored President, Mr. J. Neesima, I lament exceedingly. Being in my religious belief a Buddhist, I always opposed him and often attacked his cause. Meek, noble, patient, and earnest as he was, I doubt not he proclaimed what he believed, and this greatly helped to awaken the religious thought of our people. When I first met him I was moved by his kindness and love, and in two hours felt as if we had long been friends. Oh! had I not believed in Buddhism, I would have followed him and believed in Christianity. And I distinctly remember saying to myself, he that works for religion should be like this man. I had af­terwards several interviews with him, and each time I saw him my respect for him increased. On hearing this sad news his gentle face rose before my eyes, his words of love sounded again in my ears, deepening the feeling of loss. From the paper I learn he was of the same age as myself. This and many other thoughts come crowding upon me unbidden. I sent you a mes­sage of consolation by telegraph, but wishing to ex­press my feelings more fully, I send you these humble words." In the "Woman's Magazine" (Tokyo) Mrs. Toyoju Sasaki gives the following account of an interview with Mr. Neesima a month before his death:-"Mr. Joseph Neesima, the pole star of our reli­gion, the founder of the university in Kyoto, died Jan­nary 23d, in the 23d year of Meiji, at the age of 4 7. We sorrow over his death, not only on our own ac­count but for the education of Young Japan. He was overflowing with love, full of virtue and of the spirit

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