Did Christianity get a setback from the recent persecution in China? A letter from the agent of the American Bible Society in Shanghai, Dr. John R. Hykes, answers that question quite conclusively. He writes: “We issued more Mandarin Bibles in the last three months of last year than would have been considered ample stock for eight years a decade ago. The direct issues of Bibles for the year reached a total of 10,126, or just about one fourth of the entire number sent out by the American Bible Society from the time it began distributing Scriptures in China, more than forty years ago, to the end of year before last. The demand for Bibles and Testaments has not been confined to any district, but has come from all parts of the empire to which our missionaries have returned. . . . Never before have the colporteurs been so well received both in towns and villages as during the past year. Unlike past years, when we used to sell so many Scripture portions and very few Bibles or Testaments, last year they wanted the whole Bible or Testament, and very few portions, comparatively, were sold. Never before has there been anywhere in China such a spirit of inquiry and desire to purchase the Word of God; and not only to purchase, but to read it. From all quarters come tidings of men who have bought the Scriptures, and who have gathered together to read, study, and pray over them without any missionary to help or preach to them.”
