In the course of the same month his foot was again on his native soil, and there his reception was remarkably cordial.  In Glasgow, the University, the Corporation, the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, the United Presbyterians, and the Associated Operative Cotton-spinners of Scotland came forward to pay him honor.  A testimonial of L2000 had been raised by public subscription.  The Corporation presented him with the freedom of the city in a gold box, in acknowledging which he naturally dwelt on some of the topics that were interesting to a commercial community.  He gave a somewhat new view of “Protection” when he called it a remnant of heathenism.  The heathen would be dependent on no one; they would depress all other communities.  Christianity taught us to be friends and brothers, and he was glad that all restrictions on the freedom of trade were now done away with.  He dwelt largely on the capacity of Africa to furnish us with useful articles of trade, and especially cotton.

His reception by the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons had a special interest in relation to his medical labors.  For nearly twenty years he had been a licentiate of this Faculty, one of the oldest medical institutions of the country, which for two centuries and a half had exerted a great influence in the west of Scotland.  He was now admitted an honorary Fellow—­an honor rarely conferred, and only on pre-eminently distinguished men.  The President referred to the benefit which he had found from his scientific as well as his more strictly medical studies, pursued under their auspices, and Livingstone cordially echoed the remark, saying he often hoped that his sons might follow the same course of study and devote themselves to the same noble profession: 

“In the country to which I went,” he continued, “I endeavored to follow the footsteps of my Lord and Master.”  Our Saviour was a physician; but it is not to be expected that his followers should perform miracles.  The nearest approach which they could expect to make was to become acquainted with medical science, and endeavor to heal the diseases of man....  One patient expressed his opinion of my religion to the following effect:  “We like you very much; you are the only white man we have got acquainted with.  We like you because you aid us whilst we are sick, but we don’t like your everlasting preaching and praying.  We can’t get accustomed to that!”

To the United Presbyterians of Glasgow he spoke of mission work in Africa.  At one time he had been somewhat disappointed with the Bechuana Christians, and thought the results of the mission had been exaggerated, but when he went into the interior and saw heathenism in all its unmitigated ferocity, he changed his opinion, and had a higher opinion than ever of what the mission had done.  Such gatherings as the present were very encouraging; but in Africa mission work was hard work without excitement; and they had just to resolve to do their duty without expecting to receive gratitude from those whom they labored to serve.  When gratitude came, they were thankful to have it; but when it did not come they must go on doing their duty, as unto the Lord.