April 11.
In the 120 years since the publication of the first Chinese New Testament, the total circulation of Chinese Scriptures by the British and Foreign Bible Society exceeds hundred million copies. The year 1934, of which an account will be rendered at the China Agency's annual meeting to-day, saw no less than 4,296,495 copies circulated.
With the figures for the American Bible Society and the National Bible Society of Scotland the total circulation in China for the year comes to 9,708,818 copies. A mai ed increase has attended the sale of complete Bibles. In 1927 the three societies sold 22,419 Bibles; in 1931 the number had risen to 61,190.
1934 the figure of 74,481 is recorded. The Chinese Bible has come to be a standard book of modern Chinese Uterature, The other day a leading Chinese publishing house in issuing an anthology of acknowledged masters of style, included two selections from the Chinese Bible without note or comment. Here, again, is evidence that the Bible in the East has won the same recognition for its literary excellence as it has long enjoyed in the West. But the Good Book has not commanded the veneration of the world on that ground alone. Mere literary excel-Jenee does not explain its appeal, although it may be well argued that the qualities of scholarship _an¢ simplicity of style which have passed with the Bible in its progress through the tongues of the na~ tions, have acquired transcendent merit from the inspiration of the Book itself. For, in its wealth of comfort, guidance and exhortation, the Bible finds contact with the spirit in man; provides the common denominator for humanity. In essence it is the Book of the Christian religion, but even non-Christians may be found to agree that it can fitly be regarded as a gift made by that religion to the general enrichment of mankind's spiritual equipment.
The romance of Bible-distribution in China is yearly reviewed when the Societies render account of their stewardship. So, once again, attention is drawn' to. the amazing heroism and steadfastness of the Chinese colporteurs through whose agency the Book is brought to the uttermost regions of this vast country. It is not easy for the layman to understand the influences which are let loose in insistent demand for the Chinese So How, for example, can he explain the "mysterious order" for Gospels received from Fuyuanhsien on the Amur River's junction with the Sungari? The order (with Payment in advance) came from a man who had received a Bible a present from a friend in the of Sanhsing, 300 miles awa easusal visit from a Korean stirred the recipient's business instincts; finding the book was worth $6 to the Korean, he grew cautious and refused to sell on the off-chance of making a better bargain. First of all he decided to read the Book from cover to cover, from Genesis, to Revelation. This. put all thoughts of commercial gain from his mind. "He had discovered a new Philosophy. He journeyed the 300 miles to Sanhsing to inquire of the donor of the wonder-book. He stayed to study and then, after three months, a confessed Christian, he returned to Fuyuanhsien, determined to distribute his knowledge to his fellow-citizens. Hence came the order which, until inquiries had. "unveiled the story, was looked upon as "mysterious", if not suspicious. The point to note is that the Bible had asserted its influence without any of those aids to understanding which assist the Christian in organized religious societies. The reader was without a teacher other Such experiences are not the the Treaty of Versailles. Sir John—in now moderated tones—will would be prepared to show a products of superstition or magic; Simon's subsequent failure to obtain call attention. Until the final as-reasonable trust in each other's they cannot be explained away os from Germany satisfactory assur sessment of the Stresa Conference essential friendliness, if some the figments of a fanatically devout ances regarding her ultimate inbe attempted on the basis of guarantee of good faith could be imagination. There is more solid tentions seemed to make it imthe official statements which will forthcoming. In the process of reason for them. And it finds re-possible to ascertain the reality of presumably be forthcoming, it is, righting themselves after the con-infareement from the currents of German bond fides. Now Herr not possible to arrive at definite, clusion of their insensate upheaval, world-opinion as they madly twist Hitler lays welcome stress on the conclusions. The impression thus they have devised innumerable inland twirl through the bewilder-need for establishing the sincerity far given is undoubtedly favourstruments for the conduct of their ments of distraught nations to-day. of signatures to international agree able. The three Powers appear to affairs, but they have found them-New defiances of old creeds have ments.
In such a light it should have faced the situation with a selves confronted by awkward re-been lately flaunted beside des-be possible to arrive at a faithful remarkable sense of corporate udiations. So, the signature of perate professions of belief in understanding of Germany's desire responsibility and in a realist spirit one pact has led inevitably to the fantastic mysticism. Just as states-for permanent peace in Europe—|of friendliness toward a colleague desire to form another in order to men, trying in vain to attune In fact, the German declaration whom once more they desire to see prevent a breach which, it is policies to the growing complexities brings the League and its machinery sitting beside them in Geneva. alleged, has been incumbent on the of the tasks before them, so the more firmly into view. Obligation breaker. That is the issue which thought of man is bemused by the rests on the British, French and teally comes before the Council of conflict of rival nostrums and Ttalian representatives at Geneva the "League. When, in dissatis-[competitive shibboleths. The calm to show that the League, whatever sanity of a wisdom, which never may have been the significance of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.