To Our Missionary Translators by William Ambrose Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 11, 1909

To Our Missionary Translators

By William Ambrose Spicer

THE Mission Board has within a few mails received word from mission fields where workers who have been studying local vernaculars are taking up the preparation and translation of literature in various languages. With one accord the missions in heathen lands seem just now pressed into this work as never before. We thank God for it.

But in entering upon the work it is necessary, in fairness to all, to have some understanding with authors and publishers as to the use of their publications. It seems impossible to give counsel in detail to our workers abroad. In recent letters we learn of this missionary and that who have already been long working on some translation. The quickest way I know of, as secretary, to communicate the facts, is to say here to our missionary translators that the Mission Board is taking this matter up with publishing houses and authors. The following action has just been taken:—

Inasmuch as our missionaries giving their lives in service in the dark corners of the earth and acquiring various languages, are being moved as with one accord to get out literature in the vernaculars; and inasmuch as they are now frequently reporting that they have begun the translation of this or that tract, pamphlet, or book, in whole or in part, or are making an abridgment or compilation from selected chapters of our books, to adapt the matter to the needs of their people; and inasmuch as this production of literature in the languages other than the leading languages of Europe must be a labor of love with no financial profits as a whole, but sustained by our missionary contributions,—

Resolved, That, in order that our workers in these fields may not move forward in this matter without proper arrangements with publishers or authors, we ask our publishing houses and authors to grant as a gift to our mission fields the privilege of making translations of our books, pamphlets, or tracts, in whole or in part, or preparing compilations or adaptations, in all languages other than the leading languages of Europe, such permission being granted only to the regularly appointed committees in general charge of our missions in the various fields.

It is essential, with our missionaries entering so many languages, that we have a clear understanding before going forward in this matter, to prevent confusion and careless work. The responsible committees in the fields must give authorization and counsel to local workers to guard against wasteful duplication of effort, or the issuing of work which would not properly represent the message.

We shall soon let the field committees know what general arrangement is made, and feel assured it will provide a wide range of selection for our mission fields. The fields can then confine themselves to such permission, save as special arrangements may have to be made in special cases. W. A. SPICER, Secretary.