countries with that particular kind of literature which
is connected with the Christian Scriptures? How
ran we insure the triumphs of Christ over other
literature than our own ? This is the scope of the
question and indicates the metes and hounds of the
subject.
I. First of all it need not be argued that the Bible
itself is the greatest piece of Christian vernacular
literature and the natural basis upon which all lesser
contributions to it must rest. The history of Bible translation has its most bril- liant chapter since the organization of the great Bible
Societies of the world—British, Scotch, and American. The Historical Catalogue of Printed Bibles of
the British and Foreign Society is a work of learning
in itself, and it opens up what may fairly deserve to rank as a department of sacred letters. Each version
is a sun already formed, or in process of formation,
which must gather in its train the literatures which
are needed for the instruction of the Church and the
conversion of the nations. But I must pass over all this, although it is of prime importance, in order to speak of Christian
vernacular literature exclusive of the
Bible. One of the
difficulties is the
lack of interest and
of knowledge at
home. Tt is true we
have our Religious
Tract Society,
which has issued
three thousand, nine
hundred and fiftyfive millions of vari- ous publications in
two hundred and
seventy - three languages, and the
American Tract Society, which has is- PRINTING PRESS WORKED BY CHINESE PRINTERS AT T AICHOW,
sued seven hundred
and eighty-four millions in one hundred and seventyfive languages, and other like agencies; but they are not supported at all as they should be, and there is not in the minds even of missionary leaders an adequate conception of the need and the possibility.
II. Several things must be distinguished about
this secondary literature: (1) The purpose of a ver- nacular literature is not single but double. It aims
both at Christian nurture and the building up of the
body of Christ; and also at evangelization. Some
books are good for both purposes, but the distinction
must be kept in mind. The first hooks are many of
them very humble and unpretentious in character
tracts, hymn books, books for children, catechisms,
school books, primers, stories, with here and there a classic treatise that is good always and everywhere.
The effects produced by very humble hooks are often
very great. My colleague. Dr. Dwight, whose recent
story, "A Muslim Sir Galahad," has been referred to
in the Council, and who spent thirty years in the