2o 4 DA VID LIVINGSTONE. [chap. x. 



Next day, 16th December, Dr. Livingstone had his 

 reception from the London Missionary Society in Free- 

 masons' Hall. Lord Shaftesbury was in the chair : — 



" What better thing can we do," asked the noble Earl, " than to 

 welcome such a man to the shores of our country 1 What better than 

 to receive him with thanksgiving and rejoicings that he is spared to 

 refresh us with his presence, and give his strength to future exertions ? 

 What season more appropriate than this, when at every hearth, and in 

 every congregation of worshippers, the name of Christ will be honoured 

 with more than ordinary devotion, to receive a man whose life and 

 labours have been in humble, hearty, and willing obedience to the 

 angels' song, ' Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good- 

 will towards men.' " 



In reply, Livingstone acknowledged the kindness of 

 the Directors, with whom, for sixteen years, he had never 

 had a word of difference. He referred to the slowness of 

 the African tribes, in explanation of the comparatively 

 small progress of the gospel among them. He cordially 

 acknowledged the great services of the British squadron 

 on the West Coast in the repressing of the slave-trade. 

 He had been told that to make such explorations as he 

 was engaged in was only a tempting of Providence, but 

 such ridiculous assertions were only the utterances of the 

 weaker brethren. 



Lord Shaftesbury's words at the close of this meeting, 

 in honour of Mrs. Livingstone, deserve to be per- 

 petuated : — 



" That lady," he said, " was born with one distinguished name, 

 which she had changed for another. She was born a Moffat, and she 

 became a Livingstone. She cheered the early part of our friend's 

 career by her spirit, her counsel, and her society. Afterwards, when 

 she reached this country, she passed many years with her children in 

 solitude and anxiety, suffering the greatest fears for the welfare of her 

 husband, and yet enduring all with patience and resignation, and even 

 joy, because she had surrendered her best feelings, and sacrificed her 

 own private interests to the advancement of civilisation and the great 

 interests of Christianity." 



A more general meeting was held in the Mansion 

 House on the 5th of January, to consider the propriety 



