“All the missionaries of Amoy and many Chinese Christians accompanied Mr. Stronach to the boat.  It is very sad to say farewell to those with whom we have been long and pleasantly associated.

“Mr. Stronach left England in 1837, thirty-nine years ago, to labor as a missionary in the East Indies.

“He came to Amoy in 1844, shortly after this port was opened to foreign commerce and missionary labor.  He was soon sent to Shanghai as one of the Committee of Delegates on the translation of the Scriptures into the Chinese language.  If he had done nothing more for China than his share in this great work, the benefit would have been incalculable.  After the completion of this work in 1853, he returned to Amoy, where he has labored continuously, with the exception of a short visit a few years ago to Hongkong and Canton, and a shorter one last year to Foochow.  Very rarely has he been interrupted in his work by illness.  In the history of modern missions few instances can be found of missionaries who have been permitted to labor uninterruptedly for nearly forty years, not even taking one furlough home.

“In the case of Mr. Stronach the language concerning Moses may be literally applied, ‘His eye is not dim, nor his natural force abated.’  He does not yet have occasion to use spectacles, and the route he has taken proves him still full of mental and physical vigor.  Think of the discoveries and inventions during the last forty years!  Will Mr. Stronach recognize his native land?  The good hand of the Lord be with him and make his remaining years as happy as his past ones have been useful.”

The other letter, to Rev. John M. Ferris, D.D., was written on the occasion of the death of the Rev. Carstairs Douglas, LL.D., one of the most accomplished and scholarly men ever sent to any mission field: 

“August 8, 1877.

“By this mail we have sad news to send.  It relates to the death of Rev. Carstairs Douglas, LL.D., of the English Presbyterian Mission at Amoy.  He was the senior member of that Mission, having arrived at Amoy, July, 1855, twenty-two years ago.

“Dr. Douglas, two weeks ago to-day, was in apparent good health.  On that day he made calls on several members of the foreign community.  To some of them he remarked, concerning his health, that he had never felt better.  That evening he was in his usual place in our weekly prayer-meeting.  The next morning at four o’clock he began to feel unwell, but did not wish to disturb others, so called no one until about half past six.  Then some medicine was given him and he sat down at his study-table for the morning reading of his Hebrew Bible.  About an hour after this he became much worse and the doctor was sent for.  On his arrival the physician pronounced his disease to be cholera of the most virulent type, and the case to be almost without hope of recovery.