208 IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE-XVIII 



portant industries at the Diisseldorf Exposition proved 

 useful; but somewhat later other excursions had a more 

 direct personal interest; for within a few hours of each 

 other came two unexpected communications : one from the 

 president of Yale University, commissioning me to rep 

 resent my Alma Mater at the tercentenary of the Bodleian 

 at Oxford ; the other from the University of St. Andrews, 

 inviting me to the installation of Mr. Andrew Carnegie 

 as lord rector of that institution; and both these I ac 

 cepted. 



The celebration at Oxford was in every way interesting 

 to me; but I may say frankly that of all things which 

 gave me pleasure, the foremost was the speech of pres 

 entation, in the Sheldonian Theatre, when the doctorate 

 of civil law was conferred upon me. The first feature 

 in this speech, assigning the reasons for conferring the 

 degree, was a most kindly reference to my part in estab 

 lishing the Arbitration Tribunal at the International Con 

 ference of The Hague ; and this, of course, was gratifying. 

 But the second half of the speech touched me more nearly ; 

 for it was a friendly appreciation of my book regarding 

 the historical relations between science and theology in 

 Christendom. This was a surprise indeed ! Years before, 

 when writing this book, I had said to myself, i This ends 

 all prospect of friendly recognition of any work I may 

 ever do, so far as the universities and academies of the 

 world are concerned. But so be it; what I believe I will 

 say.&quot; And now, suddenly, unexpectedly, came recog 

 nition and commendation in that great and ancient center 

 of religious thought and sentiment, once so reactionary, 

 where, within my memory, even a man like Edward 

 Everett was harshly treated for his inability to accept the 

 shibboleths of orthodoxy. 



This reviving of old and beginning of new friendships, 

 with the hearty hospitality lavished- upon us from all 

 sides, left delightful remembrances. Several times, dur 

 ing the previous fifty years, I had visited Oxford and 

 been cordially welcomed; but this greeting surpassed all 

 others. 



