Literature as a Pioneer in Establishing Modern Missions

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 26, 1908

Literature as a Pioneer in Establishing Modern Missions

ROBERT MORRISON, the pioneer missionary to the Chinese, realizing the power of the Scriptures in all mission work, devoted himself untiringly for twenty-five years to the translation of

the Bible into the Chinese language and to the stupendous undertaking of making a Chinese dictionary. His translation, which was the first Bible given to the Chinese, was first issued in fifteen volumes, at a cost of seventy-five thousand dollars. This patient work by Morrison became the foundation of all succeeding missionary effort in China.

In opening the mission work in Burma, Adoniram Judson devoted many years to the translation of the Scriptures into the Burmese, translated several valuable books, and wrote many tracts. The natives were so desirous of learning from the Scriptures and tracts which Judson had prepared, that some of them, he says, came two or three months’ journey from the borders of Siam and China to inquire after the books, saying, “Sir, we have seen a writing that tells about an eternal God. Are you the man who gives away such writing? If so, pray give us one, for we want to know the truth before we die.” Others came from the interior of the country, where the name of Jesus was little known, and asked, “Are you the Jesus Christ man? Give us a writing that tells about Jesus Christ.”

When John Williams, the pioneer missionary among the islands of the Pacific, entered upon his life-work, which was to be devoted to giving the gospel to the natives of the islands, who were all heathen, he realized that they must have the Scriptures. Few men have issued literature under greater difficulties, as the islanders had no written language. It was necessary, therefore, for Mr. Williams to learn the spoken language, reduce it to writing, make his own grammar and dictionary, and then translate the Scriptures.

His work progressed slowly at first; but when he could place the Scriptures in the hands of the natives, and teach them to read, they more readily accepted the gospel, and many whole islands renounced heathenism, and accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Literature, and especially the Bible, has lost none of its power since the days of these pioneer missionaries. The printing-press is becoming more and more the great agency by which the gospel message is being carried to all parts of the world.