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A silver loving cup; the cup is in the shape of an inverted bell with two curved handles. The cup rests on three small feet in the form of animal hooves which in turn are mounted on a base in the form of an inverted bowl. The cup and base are engraved with traditional Chinese motifs of foliage [bamboo and peonies]. The cup is also engraved with Chinese characters which translate into English as: [top line] "To love others like oneself" [Right vertical line]: "To be graciously received by Mr Maijiashiqi [tranliteration for 'McCluskey'] [Left vertical lines]: "Respectfully presented by his Chinese friends resident in Wellington 1 October, 7th Year of the Republic of China [1918]". The cup is also engraved with English text which reads: TO MR F.W. McCLUSKEY "HE LOVES HIS NEIGHBOUR AS HIMSELF" FROM HIS WELLINGTON CHINESE FRIENDS 1 - 10 - 1918.
Mr F. W. McCluskey was a member of the Wellington Central Baptist Church who served the church's Chinese Mission for forty years. When he died in 1945 a packed Mission Hall bore witness to the respect in which he was held amongst the Chinese community who commemorated his work by erecting a headstone over his grave.