Peter Parker: Minister of Good Will

It is both a privilege and an honor for me, as the representative of His Excellency Dr. Sao-Ke Alfred Sze, Ambassador of my country to the United States, to attend this celebration and to speak before this distinguished audience. After hearing the interesting addresses by Dr. Harvey and Professor Latourette, it is evident that I cannot add to what has already been said about Dr. Peter Parker as a physician, a missionary, and a diplomat. Nevertheless, I may be permitted to make certain observations, and to convey to you certain impressions which I have on this occasion. As we are gathered here tonight in celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Canton Hospital established by Dr. Parker, each of us may well experience feelings quite apart from those imposed upon us by virtue of professional interest, as a representative of a government, a physician, a professor, or a missionary. For this reason, while speaking as a representative of the Ambassador of my country, I take the liberty of expressing at the same time my feelings as an individual of the Chinese people, as a friend and well-wisher of the United States, and as a citizen of the world. If the greatness of a man is measured by the influence he has exerted toward the mutual understanding of two peoples, and if the importance of an institution is appraised in accord with its contribution to the welfare of humanity at large, it is fitting and proper that we should join in commemoration of both Dr. Peter Parker and the hospital which he founded in Canton. With the spirit of sacrifice, with the eagerness of serving his fellow-man and his Divine Master, and with the determination of establishing the bond of friendship between the two great nations bordering the Pacific, Peter Parker ventured to go to China and opened the Canton Hospital on November 4, 1835. The good effect and influence brought forth by him and by his institution are probably not fully recognized, although on this day the centennial celebration here at Yale is not the only one in honor of this great man and in recognition of that important institution. Similar celebrations are being held in Canton , in New York, and in other cities of the United States and China.