More Bibles is very Interesting fo note from the annual report of the Natiouat Bible Society of Scot-una, what the demand for the Scriptures hay Increased in China during last year, instead of having diminished, as might have boon ex-ceted from the difficulties of transportation and from the division of the country into occupied and unoccupied areas. In 1040 165,010, more Bibles, Testaments. and portions were Gistributed. than in 1099. When it is considered that one of the principal routes to the interior, through Indochina, was closed during' the year, the result Is remarkable. In spite of the roubles through which the Chinese people are passing, there seems fo be an increasing defi sand for the Scriptures. Or perhaps It is befeause of these troubles, that the Word of comfort is s0 welcome. In' addition to the horrors of war, China again suffered from the flooding Jot the' Yellow. Miver, destroying homes -and Fuining crops, with a" result that. thousands' of Chinese perished. Tu other parts of the country the population suffered from drought, and the political situation in many eases prevented. the ftsual relief organizations from functioning. In the stricken areas. 'There Wal. also alive op: Position on the part of some Japanese 10 the spread of Christianity. inthe. Interior. 'The maintained that the Christian doctrine wee compatible with their "new onder," which shows that either they have completely' misunderstood the Christian. doctrine with ile "render "unto Caesar the things which are Cresar'y", or that the "new order." as they interpret it! is sadly need of revision. A word that consianily Jeurs in the China section of the report lo "dit ficulty." Tu the main, however, most of the iticuities have been' overcome, "often after long delays. Through the ce-operation o¢ many helpers, the Scriptures have continued to reach every part of the country. Sometimes they have have had to be transported through beth the Japanese and the Chinese lines—but they have got there. The report refers to definite persccttion of Christians in some areas, notably Shanti. where conditions have been much dis turbed. On the whole, however, there seems to be a real increase in the demand for the Seriptures, "and. a persistent hunger for. spiritual things which missionaries and agents of the society have attempted to assuage. Colporteurs of the Society: have often been caught, in dis. {iets were hostilities have been aclive and have been forced thereby to blaze mew trail.
result has been that some cities in. the interior which were not on the regular routes have received the Bible and have shown great Interest. These cities, it is hoped, will in future be included in the regular Journeys made, and frequent supply of the Scriptures will be made available when possible
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.