BIBLE DISTRIBUTION IN CHINA.
By John R. Hykes
THE total circulation of Scriptures by the American Bible Society in China has been over 8,000,000 copies, of which number more than 60,000 were complete Bibles and 400,000 New Testaments. In early days the work of Bible distribution was exclusively done by the missionaries, and they have never wavered in their faith in it as an indispensable part in their work. When their operations were restricted to Canton and its immediate vicinity, they regularly visited the hamlets and villages for the purpose of circulating the Scriptures. At that time the missionary had to give the Book away, and he was happy if, during an afternoon, he could find half a dozen people willing to accept. I have seen in the records of one of the oldest American missions covering this period, a report from one of its members of an itinerating tour which he had taken, in which it was stated, as a matter for devout thankfulness to God, that he had been able to give away more than twenty portions of Scripture during a week. One of the most interesting, and, as it was regarded at the time, important missionary journeys was the remarkable voyage of Dr. Gutzlaff along the coast from Canton to Shantung for the purpose of distributing tracts and portions of Scripture.13The treaties of 1842, which made "open ports" of Amoy, Foo-chow, Ningpo, and Canton, opened up a wide field for missionary operations, and resulted in a corresponding extension of this great work. So, after the treaties of 1860 had opened a number of other ports to trade and residence, the missionary always carried a supply of gospels with him on his preaching tours, and they were exposed for sale in front of many of the chapels and "preaching halls." At this period a change took place in the policy of the Bible societies. It was found that in China, as elsewhere, a man prizes what has cost him something, and just in proportion to the personal sacrifice which it has cost him to obtain it. The giving away of Scriptures was discouraged and gradually almost discontinued. They were sold at a nominal price, which did not place them beyond the reach of the poor, and this policy has been found to be eminently satisfactory. Immediately upon the opening of a new station the missionary selected a district for his operations, and, in imitation of the early Methodists in this country, became "circuit riders." They sold Scriptures far and wide over the country accessible to them, and the Bible societies owe much to these early missionaries for their gratuitous circulation of the Bible.—Dr. John R. Hykes, agent American Bible Society for China.