Results of the Circulation of Literature in China
By A. C. Selmon
From the northeast part of the province of Quangtung, in what is known as the Swatow district, there are ten companies that are calling earnestly for some one to be sent who can stay with them and teach them the truth. In some of these companies there are only a few persons, in others there are a score or more. In the province of Honan there are companies numbering, all told, more than one hundred fifty persons who are sending appeal after appeal for workers to be sent them at once. In the province of Hunan there are companies sending similar appeals to the brethren in Chang-sha. Such were the reports rendered at the session of our mission committee just closed. Inquiry being made as to how these people, most of whom are hundreds of miles away from any of our mission stations, had learned of the truth, the answer in every case has been that it was through our literature. Our monthly paper, Shi Djao Yueh Bao (Signs of the Times), together with tracts and pamphlets, have been the silent messengers to carry to these hundreds of souls the warning message that Christ is soon to return, and that there should be no delay in preparing for that event. The sowing that has brought about this interest has been done almost entirely the past two years. During this time we have worked under great difficulties, both in manufacturing and distributing this literature. We have been sending men out to sell it who have had no training, because there has been no one to train them. Experienced canvassers are needed who will set themselves to master the language, the same as any other evangelistic worker in the field. And with a command of the language, such a canvasser could go out with companies of Chinese evangelists and colporteurs, and teach them how to sell literature. We have been calling now for years for some of our successful canvassers to come and help us. Why will no one answer the call? I would that you might be where you could hear the call that we hear, and see the wonderful opportunities that are awaiting us in China. May God stir the hearts of those who can and should come. Brethren, why will you leave us short-handed, and cause us to struggle on, and attempt work for which we have not had a training? One thing I believe is true, and that is that some one's indecision in offering to come and enter into this work heart and soul, is greatly delaying the advancement of the message in China. Months ago we called for eight men to come out and take oversight of the canvassing work in our various mission fields. We have waited and waited, and now we are making as earnest an entreaty as love for souls can lead men to make, that at least one general canvassing man will speedily come—one man to direct in distributing literature to a population of over four hundred thirty millions. We now have a union training-school, where the most promising young men and women in our churches are receiving a training to give the third angel's message. Brighter and more promising students can not be found in any school in our ranks. Is there not some one in the home land who would esteem it a privilege to teach these students how to sell papers and tracts? While doing this, such a man would be helping us solve the as yet unsolved problem of how to get some form of industrial work that will enable the students to help support themselves, also that other problem of how our literature work may be carried on without the heavy financial loss we must now bear each year. During 1909 the total sales of our Chinese Signs of the Times were 47,800 copies, or an average sale of 3,900 copies a month. During 1910 there were 138,400 copies sold. During the last eight months of the year the monthly sales averaged 12,840 copies. From this it is seen that the average monthly sales of 1910 were treble the monthly sales of 1909. The year 1911 starts out with a promise of greatly exceeding the record of 1910. The second issue of our paper this present year was a New-year's special, for which we had orders for over sixty thousand copies.