The Printed Page in China by J. N. Anderson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 25, 1907

The Printed Page in China

By J. N. Anderson

It can scarcely be overstating the facts to say that China has more books and a greater respect for letters and literature than any other nation in the world. This is a very significant fact, and one that must carry weight in solving the missionary problems in such a field as China. Printing is said to have originated with this people, and the art of expressing ideas by means of written symbols dates from ancient times. When the nations of the West were barbarous and without letters, the Chinese were a literary and highly cultured race. They have continued to be such to the present time, and the situation becomes all the more interesting and important in view of the present educational ferment which is working among all classes. It is indeed the intellectual renaissance of the whole race, and the leaven that is working is the modern, Western ideas that today dominate Europe and America.

In view of all this, what is our duty as children of the light? The printing invention is doubtless one of God's special agencies designed to serve his purpose in carrying the final message of salvation to the ends of the earth.

If possible, the printed page has a larger field of usefulness in China than in any other country to which the message is being carried. We are more and more impressed with the necessity of having large, well-laid plans looking to this phase of our work. It is doubtless the most economical means of preaching the truth, and with the least effort it can become the most pervasive. By this means all our workers, and even our lay members can be fully enlisted, and so a perpetual campaign can be carried on.

By means of the printing-press other missionary societies have done a great and very far-reaching work in China. This is especially true of the three Bible Societies operating in this field. By these millions of copies of the Scriptures, as well as other Christian literature, have been scattered in all parts of this empire. It is impossible to estimate the magnitude and the influence of the work already done in this way. If we are wise, we shall not fail seriously to lay hold of this most important line of work. A good beginning has been made in creating a literature on the message for the Chinese people. It is indeed a mere beginning, but we are now in a position to push forward this work provided we are given financial support. Publishing and distributing literature in China when it has to do with Christian subjects, can be successfully carried on only so far as there are funds, since it is invariably the case that such work is done at a monetary loss. Generally speaking, all such literature is sold at a price that falls considerably below the actual cost of publishing, and then there is, of course, beyond that the expense of distributing the literature. Our aim is to sell all our publications at such a figure as to cover the cost of printing, but beyond that our literature is almost sure to be a mission expense. A good, liberal endowment for this purpose is needed, and we confidently look to our faithful people in the home land to raise us a fund for this purpose. This is one of our first needs, and all contributions to this work will be thankfully received.

A small printing plant is being equipped at Sin-yang Cheo, Honan, but this is to serve only temporarily until we can carry into effect our plans which look toward a central publishing house to be located at Shanghai in connection with our general headquarters. It is agreed that one well-equipped printing plant can serve this entire field, and to do so it must be located centrally. And there can be no doubt but that Shanghai is in every particular the most favorable place for such an interest. Already there are large publishing interests centered in Shanghai, and the demand for books and all kinds of literature is so great that these presses are driven to their full capacity.

Dr. H. W. Miller, who is to return to the States this summer in the interest of the publishing work in China, has undertaken to lead out in building up our printing work. We bespeak for him a hearty response as he seeks to further the interests of this branch of the work. This is a work to which we are all committed, and we in China feel free, and even glad, to lay our needs before you.

J. N. ANDERSON.