LIFE AND LETTERS OF JOSEPH HARDY NEESIMA

354/372

336 LAST YEARS AND DEATH. "It is reported that Mr. J. H. Neesima died of heart disease on the 23d inst. in a hotel at Oiso. "There is nothing more lamentable in human expe­rience than death. But the death of Mr. Neesima is especially to be lamented as a loss to society. If we examine the state of society we see men attaching too much weight to everything official, as i£ there were no position of fame or honor outside of the government. This is the natural outcome o£ the feudal system. To be a government official is to be on the road to sure success. And because of this belie£ the avenues of official patronage are crowded. In education and re­ligion, as well as in politics and commerce, every eye is turned towards the government as the central source of prosperity. The existence o£ this tendency is disgraceful. Many things go to make up society, and of these government is one, but not the only one. In the lower stages of civilization extraordinary pow­ers are vested in those who govern. Such a state of things would, however, be a blot upon this enlight­ened century, and those interested in educational and religious movements should aim at independence both for themselves and these enterprises. But is this the fact with us to-day? How many men are there among us who, free from selfish interests, seek the true inde­pendence o£ society? Now and then we hear a re­mark on this subject; but of what avail is it unless accompanied by individual illustration and example? It is as if a man who himseli drinks to excess should preach temperance to others. Independent men make an independent society. Mr. Neesima, living in a corrupt age, was not corrupted by it. Working ear­nestly in the cause of education and religion, his pur­pose was ever single. He was indeed an example of

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