Legation of
the United States,
Bangkok,
Siam
,
February 23, 1884. (Received
April 10.)
No. 84]
[Inclosure in No. 84.]
Mr. Halderman to
the King.
Legation of the United States,
Bangkok, Siam
,
February 9,
1884.
Sire: The Reverend Doctor McGilvary and his
associates of the Presbyterian mission at Cheng Mai, desire permission
to establish a missionary station at Lakon, in the North Laos country;
to reside there permanently as teachers of the Christian religion; to
have protection and safe conduct at the station, and in transit to and
from the same; to buy houses and grounds for the necessary buildings; to
open schools; to establish hospitals, where the poor may be supplied
gratuitously with medicine and medical attendance; and to the end that
they may be aided, assisted, and protected herein, request, through me,
a royal letter of authority directed to the viceroy at Lakon.
In a late proclamation it was announced “that it is His Majesty’s
pleasure that all his subjects be allowed to choose their mode and
object of worship according to the dictates of their own consciences,”
and on a more recent occasion, when I had the honor of presenting, at a
royal audience, American men and women engaged in Christian missionary
work in Siam, your Majesty was understood to declare for “free
toleration in all religions that tended to the advancement of the people
and did not conflict with the laws of the realm.”
Upon these liberal and enlightened promises my constituents rely,
believing, as I [Page 454] do, that their
religion tends to the advancement of the people and does not conflict
with the laws of the Kingdom.
The petitioners are not political agents or Jacobins, but peaceable,
law-abiding persons desirous of doing good, who at all times and places
would be loyal to your Majesty’s Government, and to the constituted
authorities.
I have pleasure in commending them, and in making their request my
own.
I avail myself of this occasion to renew to your Majesty the assurance of
my high consideration.