The following testimonial was presented by H.E. Li Hung-chang Pexine, Curva, 12th April, 1897.
To Rev. GILBERT REID, Founder of the Mission to the Upper Classes of China, Peking.
Der Sirj—Having on various occasions gladly shown my interest in the good work recently organised by you among the educated and official classes of China, through whom the masses may be readily enlightened by means of Western knowledge; and knowing also of the many years of self-denying labour you have devoted to the welfare of the people in various parts of China,—it is with much pleasure that I offer you this testimony on the eve of your departure for the United States.
I have admired the bold and tireless energy with which you have faced the difficulties of your present task. It is unfortunately true that suspicion, prejudice, and self-sufficiency are peculiar traits of educated Chinese, especially noticeable in their estimation of other countries—perhiaps because of the isolation of China from Western influence for so many centuries; but whatever may be the case, the lamentable effect is seen in the present backward state of China among the nations of the world.
The social educational, and official systems of China have tended to give to the educated classes control of the destinies of the nation. Whether such a monopoly of power be good or bad need not now be considered: it exists, and the practical question is how to turn it into beneficent and useful channels, You have set about solving this problem in a way that should commend itself to every friend of humanity. Unquestionably, if you can give to the blind leaders of our people light and learning enjoyed in the West, they, in turn, will lead our people out of their darkness. I think I may claim to have many friends in the United States where you now go. The cordial reception I met with wherever I went there made a deep impression upon my heart and has greatly endeared your people to me. If it would interest them to know that I regard you highly and will give you a helping hand in your future efforts to bring more light into the world and encourage higher aims for aspirations, you may use for that purpose this letter from Your friend, (Signed) LI HUNG-CHANG, Senior Guardian of the Heir Apparent Classical Reader to His Majesty the Emperor Senior Grand Secretary of State Minister of the Foreign Office; and Earl of the First Rank.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.