248 OBITUARY 



saw the good in all ; there was no incongruity in flowers of different 

 hues growing together in the garden of God. His understanding was 

 nature trained and lacked the strict logic of the human mind. 



This general attitude of mind made him a worthy Representative 

 man. The approach was easy for him, the reception sincere from them. 

 A broad sympathy broke down barriers. The difficulties of colour, 

 language, custom, civilization vanished. There remained the cardinal 

 virtues and common sentiments. These were enough to begin and end 

 with. There was a great deal of the Tao idea in Dr. Richard's mind 

 and manner. Without pinning him to that sect in any way, there was 

 something of the true Taoist about him. Yet whilst he believed that 

 truth would spread by inaction nevertheless he was a man of im- 

 mediate action. The Kingdom of God therefore was for immediate 

 possession. He was not concerned with theology as such but the 

 immediate possession of the benefits of the Kingdom was an urgent 

 necessity. Let it be planted at once. Other great ideas followed, one of 

 which was International Peace. War was of the savage age. A United 

 States of the World and the Parliament of man was a favourite idea. 

 The savage state of the world was fed by ignorance. Therefore 

 education should be encouraged. That was the great panacea. There- 

 fore such an institution as ours would appeal to him. It was a link 

 between East and West : it was a centre of information and enlighten- 

 ment. It cherished the past and sought guidance for the future from 

 it. Possessing this temperament it is easy to see that he was also an 

 International man. This he was in feeling, in purpose, and knowledge. 

 He knew the leading men of Japan, and other countries. He was a strong 

 link in this human brotherhood. An official is an official, a merchant 

 a merchant, and the missionary is concerned with a propaganda; all 

 these are hampered by their professions. Dr. Richard without losing 

 his missionary identity in any way, yet soared beyond — the Taoist 

 Spirit again taking possession, and thus he became a valuable inter- 

 national asset. The Chinese appreciated Britain all the more through 

 knowing him. He was an ornament to his nation ; he was a com- 

 mender of the Christian faith. Thus without possessing dogma he 

 became a valuable factor in the work of mediation. 



He was a lover of Books. They w T ere his friends. This arose 

 from his catholic spirit, 1 imagine. He liked to hear other opinions. 

 Books spoke to him. They supplied him with fertile ideas. He had 

 always new ideas on hand. This ,catholicity and receptivity helped 

 to increase the comprehensiveness of his mind without anchoring him 

 to any fixed dogma. Evan Morgan. 



