p. 634 | The Missionary by James White

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 20, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 40.

The Missionary.

By James White

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MISSION.

I HAVE now been in Basel long enough to have some idea of the work, its condition, its wants, and its difficulties; and not so long but I can look upon it with the eyes of an outside observer. I had considered the subject of this mission so much that I was quite well prepared for what I found. There are in the mission house those who speak only English, some who speak only French, and some only German. And yet, as type-setting is all done in one room, these have all to work in concert. Of course there are some who speak two languages, and some all three; but there are none who have a good knowledge of all three. There are more who have a knowledge of both French and German than who have a knowledge of English and any other language. Printing is done in other languages, but these are the three spoken in the house.

The greatest work to be done in this mission is among the German-speaking people, as they are far the most numerous. They are in Switzerland, Austria, Prussia, and Russia. In the past the work has most largely been in the French. For this there are several reasons: The work here began among the French. Elder Andrews paid his chief attention to the French. The only paper published was the French. The difficulties even up to the present time have not been so great in that language as in the German, as Brother B. L. Whitney and family are quite proficient in the French tongue. They could exercise an oversight in this that they could not in any other. To these reasons may be added: The German version of the Scriptures differs more from the English than do the French versions. The Germans have such a reverence for the name of Luther (they are fast losing their reverence for the truths he taught), that they would accept no version but his. The French have the benefit of revisions and later versions.

In all languages they have labored under these serious difficulties: The translators had but little practical knowledge of the English, from which all the translating had to be done, and but little experience in the faith and doctrines of the denomination. And this led to serious troubles among the translators and proof-readers, as to the style to be adopted, etc. And even where they were acquainted with the ecclesiastical style of the churches of the continent, it was easy, and quite natural, for them to misapprehend the ideas of the writers of our faith. We have established ideas, common among us, of which they have no knowledge. These are plain to the understanding of our readers in America, but the translators had difficulty in comprehending them, and still greater difficulty in rendering them so as to be comprehended by their people. And the communication between them and the English was often so imperfect that the necessary explanations could not be made.

Under all these circumstances it is rather surprising that there has been as much done as there has, and that the success has been as great as it has. I am assured by the managers that a great change has been made for the better, and the work is now in a much more satisfactory condition than formerly. Steps have been taken to harmonize the work of the translators and proof-readers. Everything to be translated is carefully examined and revised, and all Scripture texts are compared with the Bible of the language into which the translation has to be made. Where they differ greatly the original is made to meet the reading of the foreign Bible before it is given to the translators. As much as possible, this revision and comparison is made with the translators, that they may fully understand the case. And there are those here now who have knowledge of the English, and experience in the doctrines of the denomination, who can give attention to this work. The resolution has been adopted to give no work to the printers until there has been a revision of the original, and it accepted in the translation, by the best counsel that can be obtained. This prevents a great deal of trouble and expense to which the work has been subjected, mainly because there was not sufficient experienced help. Our people will never be able to realize the manifold burdens that have fallen upon Brother B. L. Whitney. Often when assured by authority which seemed to be reliable, that the translation was correct, and it was put in type, another would come and utterly condemn it, and this would lead to endless perplexities, and the multitude of corrections would make the work a thing of patches.

For some time past changes have been made which beget confidence, and the work seems to be looking upward. The Lord is blessing it in every department: canvassers are having excellent success; the "Life of Christ" in German is selling unexpectedly well. This will very soon be issued in French, which will open the way for more extensive labor among the French. All this is encouraging to the mission at large, and to the office.

As all translations have to be made from the English, and our denominational literature is mostly in that language, it is very desirable that the knowledge of that language be increased in the office. To this end there are two classes a week, instructed in English grammar and language, and two lessons a week given in Bible study, the exercises being all in English. By this means a number are being trained to a knowledge of the expression of the English as found in the Bible, and to a knowledge of the Bible itself.

The interest in the work seems to be increasing generally in the office. The fruits of Sister White's labors are now being seen, and her labor is doubtless appreciated more than when she was here. It is not surprising that they have been rather slow to realize and thoroughly accept so much that was new and strange. Perhaps the best indication, to one who is comparatively a stranger, is found in the good courage of those who have been longest acquainted with the work here. There is one thing I find: there is real self-denying interest among those who have burdens to bear. They necessarily have to work for small compensation, and the living is not correspondingly cheap. In economy on every point, even to small things, it is more like our experience in this cause thirty to thirty-five years ago. This mission, if any in the world, needs the prayers and sympathies of the people of God. There is a great work to be done here, and it will be done.

To those who understand the case, it is not surprising that Brother B. L. Whitney is entirely broken down; we are glad that circumstances are such that he can go to Battle Creek to the Sanitarium. May the blessing of God be with him there; we shall pray that he may be restored to health, and as speedily as possible returned to the work in Basel. J. H. W.