t? ^''tSCiCALSl^^ The PREPARATION of MISSIONARIES for LITERARY WORK / BOARD OF MISSIONARY PREPARATION 25 Madison Avenue, New York THE BOARD OF MISSIONARY PREPARATION The Board of Missionary Preparation for North America was created in 1911 by the Foreign Missions Conference of North America to make a thorough study of the many prob- lems involved in adequate preparation for foreign mission- ary service in all fields. It consists at present of thirty-six members, soon to be enlarged to forty-eight, representing Boards of Foreign Missions, general as well as candidate secretaries, professors in theological seminaries and in spe- cial schools and departments for missionary training, and others whose study of the missionary enterprise or of edu- cational methods especially qualifies them to advise. The Board has issued reports of its annual meetings and of conferences on special problems of preparation. It also issues several series of pamphlets, carefully revised at in- tervals, on the many phases of missionary preparation. These pamphlets are widely used by Boards for the infor- mation of their foreign missionary candidates. It is be- lieved that they meet adequately for the first time the needs of such candidates for suggestions which may help them to make the wisest use of their opportunities during their col- lege and professional study. Other series render the same sort of helpful guidance to the young missionary on the field during the first term of service and in anticipation of the first furlough. The Board holds from time to time conferences at which those who are responsible as administrators or as educators for the promotion of proper policies in missionary prepara- tion are brought together with missionaries of experience and with specialists to unite in their formulation. The Board also employs a Director who gives his entire time to correlating and extending its activities. Candidate secretaries of Foreign Mission Boards, teachers in schools which train missionary candidates, and others interested in special problems of missionary training are invited to cor- respond with him at the office of the Board of Missionary Preparation, 25 Madison Avenue, New York City. THE PREPARATION OF MISSIO FOR LITERARY WORK THE REPORT OF A COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF MISSIONARY PREPARATION Professor Edmund D. Soper, D.D., Chairman The Reverend Sidney L. Gulick, D.D. The Reverend Fred P. Haggard, D.D. The Reverend S. G. Inman President Henry C. King, D.D. D. Willard Lyon, D.D. The Reverend D. MacGillivray, D.D. The Reverend J. Lovell Murray Miss Elizabeth C. Northup, M.A. Mrs. Henry W. Peabody The Reverend S. H. Wain weight, D.D., M.D. The Reverend Stanley White, D.D. Dean Talcott Williams, LL.D. Dean Walter Williams, LL.D. Professor Clinton T. Wood, M.A. The Reverend Samuel M. Zwemer, D.D, Board of Missionary Preparation 25 Madison Ave., New York City BOARD OF MISSIONARY PREPARATION Prof. Frederick L. Anderson, D.D. The Rev. James L. Barton, D.D. Prof. Harlan P. Beach, D.D. Dean O. E. Brown, D.D. Prof. Ernest De Witt Burton, D.D. Miss Helen B. Calder Prof. Edward W. Capen, Ph.D. Prof. W. O. Carver, D.D. Rev. Wm. I. Chamberlain, Ph.D. Rev. George Drach Rev. James Endicott, D.D. Prof. Daniel J. Fleming, Ph.D. Rev. Arthur R. Gray, D.D. Miss Margaret E. Hodge Pres. Henry C. King, D.D. Prof. Walter L. Lingle, D.D. The Rev. R. P. Mackay, D.D. Pres. W. Douglas Mackenzie, D.D. Prof. Paul Monroe, Ph.D. John R. Mott, LL.D. Rev. Frank Mason North, D.D. Principal T. R. O’Meara, D.D. - Pres. C. T. Paul, Ph.D. Prof. Henry B. Robins, Ph.D. Rev. Joseph C. Robbins, D.D. Prof. T. H. P. Sailer, Ph.D. Miss Una M. Saunders Prof. E. D. Soper, D.D. Robert E. Speer, D.D. Pres. J. Ross Stevenson, D.D. Fennell P. Turner J. G. Vaughan, M.D. Prof. Addie Grace Wardle, Ph.D. Rev. Charles R. Watson, D.D. Rev. Stanley White, D.D. Pres. Wilbert W. White, Ph.D. W. DOUGLAS MACKENZIE, D.D., Chairman REV. WILLIAM I, CHAMBERLAIN, Ph.D., Vice-Chairman FENNELL P. TURNER, Secretary REV. FRANK K. SANDERS, Ph.D., Director 25 Madison Avenue, New York PREFACE The following report has been prepared by the Board of Missionary Preparation in response to the urgent plea of a conference held early in 1915, under the auspices of the Committee on Literature of the Continuation Committee of the World Missionary Conference. It was thought at first that a brief statement to be appended to a general report on the Preparation of Educational Missionaries would suffice. The Executive Committee of the Board of Missionary Preparation appointed, at its meeting held March 23, 1915, a special committee to formulate such a statement. This committee, composed of Dr. T. H. P. Sailer, Chairman, Dr. J. P. Jones, Mr. D. W. Lyon, Mr. F. P. Turner and Dr. S. H. Wainwright, together with the Director, held a meeting on April 24, 1915. After full discussion, the committee made the following recommen- dation : After thoughtful consideration of the request of the Executive Committee of the Board of Missionary Preparation, it is the judg- ment of this special committee that the end in view will not be most helpfully attained by the modification of the report on the preparation of educational missionaries. The committee, therefore, recommends that the Executive Com- mittee of the Board of Missionary Preparation take steps to organize a special committee to report on preparation for literary work, possibly dividing into two sections on vernacular literature - and on literary work in English. Acting upon this recommendation a committee was duly organized with membership as given on another page of this report. This committee completed its first report in the fall of 1916, and presented it at the annual meeting in December. The Board gave it a general discussion at iii that meeting and ordered its printing for more adequate criticism. It was presented also at the January, 1917, meet- ing of the Foreign Missions Conference and later given the personal attention of most of the Foreign Secretaries and of the specialists of the Mission Boards of North America. Meanwhile, each member of the committee, which in itself represented a wide range of literary experience, was urged to give the report most exacting consideration. Out of the many suggestions thus obtained the basis was laid for a thorough-going revision. As a result of additional inter- views and correspondence in 1919 and 1920, the report has been finally revised and is now sent out as the judgment of the committee, based on all the light which its members have been able to secure. The questions which this report seeks to answer are very perplexing. They cannot be treated dogmatically. It is hoped that such a conservative presentation as that made herein by the Committee on Preparation for Literary Work will, on the one hand, guard against the natural impulse of candidates with literary ability to wish to specialize in literary work too soon and, on the other, conserve such ability, when coupled at least with the requisite qualities and experience, for this highly needed type of specialized missionary service. Frank K. Sanders, Director of the Board of Missionary Preparation. July, 1920. IV CONTENTS I. The Need for Literary Work and Workers 1 1. The Function of Literature in Missionary Work 3 2. The Present Opportunity and Need 5 3. The Forms of Literature and Kinds of Workers Needed. . 10 II. The Qualifications of the Literary Worker 13 1. The Great Essentials 14 2. The Literary Gift 15 3. The Special Knowledge Necessary for the Literary Worker 16 III. The Selection and Designation of Literary Workers. . 18 IV. The Preparation of the Literary Worker 21 1. Before Going to the Field 22 2. During Early Years on the Field 23 3. The Use of the First Furlough 25 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/preparationofmisOOboar THE PREPARATION OF MISSIONARIES FOR LITERARY WORK The following report was undertaken in response to the request of those who are deeply interested in the right solution of the important problem of producing a true, Christian literature in lands now quickening into self-con- sciousness, studying their own ideals and interpreting their own history. It is unique in that it touches on the activity of a comparatively small number of those who devote them- selves to the missionary enterprise. Literary work at its best is a highly specialized form of missionary activity. Every missionary recognizes its importance; many, con- scious of a real message to their people, have been notably successful in meeting its demands, even when bearing other burdens. There is a growing feeling, however, that the needs of the future will call for an increasing number of men and women, set apart by their mission or by several missions acting together for this important work, either for short periods of time or permanently, as ex- perience or circumstance may dictate. The whole task of literary production is becoming standardized and coopera- tively managed in the greater regions of missionary activity, so that an opportunity is offered to one with literary power which has in the past been almost unknown. I. The Need for Literary Work and Workers No man or woman who is a candidate for the mission field is, as a rule, given an immediate appointment to literary work. A literary worker develops into that activity on the mission field. But while this is true, the choice of the man or woman to do literary work must proceed on certain recognized principles. With these we may attempt to deal. 1 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK The first question concerns, naturally, the meaning given to the terms “literature” and “literary work” on the mis- sion field. Without question the Bible takes its place of preeminence as the supreme literary need of all the peoples to whom missionaries are sent. To provide the Christian Scriptures in the vernacular is the first concern of the missionary purposing to plant his faith firmly in any land. This has been recognized from the very beginning of Prot- estant missionary enterprise. The result has been that the whole or parts of the Christian Scriptures have been trans- lated into all the important languages of the world and into many of the dialects. The work is by no means com- plete. Not only are many peoples unreached by the entire Bible or even by the New Testament, but the needs of care- ful revision are so insistent that much energy must be expended for many years to make the pure Word of God available in such form as shall carry its message clearly to the minds and hearts of waiting peoples. But while we as Christians are “people of the Book,” and are vitally interested in the work of the Bible Societies and of all other agencies employed in the translation, publica- tion, and dissemination of the Scriptures, that is not the problem we are asked to face in this report. The purpose here is to deal with literature in its widest meaning. All that is needed to nurture Christian faith and make it intel- ligent, to train in Christian service, and to stimulate growth in grace is of the greatest importance. But this is only one phase of the task. Many kinds of literature, more or less secular in character, form a part of the provision to which the Christian forces must devote their attention if they are to do their full duty by growing peoples who look to them for guidance. It is “literature” then in a very broad sense with which we deal. The field of the literary worker is as wide and as important as the intellectual and spiritual needs of the people among whom he works. 2 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK 1. The Function of Literature in Missionary Work The spoken word of the Christian preacher and the printed page are both essential to the full proclamation of the message of the missionary. While the emphasis should be laid upon preaching as the main agency for reaching the non-Christian population, the effectiveness of the printed page cannot be overestimated. In the words of Dr. Ritson, “The printed page alone is the ubiquitous missionary.” It is to be found where the missionary cannot go. It has cer- tain advantages over preaching, especially among thoughtful people. What is read can be reread and pondered; it can be read to others; it can be made the basis of discussion between friends who would not have it known that they had the slightest interest in the claims of Christ. The rapid transformation of society in Asia by Christian prin- ciples and ideas, even where there has been no discernible movement toward the Christian Church, is due far more widely than can be estimated to the influence of literature which is distinctively Christian or at least Christian in tone. It was once stated by Dr. Charles R. Watson that “No agency can penetrate Islam so deeply, abide so persistently, witness so daringly, and influence so irresistibly, as the printed page.” What is true of Mohammedan peoples is true of adherents of other faiths. Christian literature ministers to the intellectual and re- ligious needs of the growing Christian community. The promotion of worship, the conduct of Sunday-schools and other agencies of the Church, the interpretation of the Bible, and the building up of the Christian life, all demand books and periodicals and various other forms of literature with which we are familiar. Direction must also be given in the practical affairs of daily life and in Christian and social service. A literature for women is almost non-ex- istent. Books, pamphlets and periodical literature dealing 3 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK with their special problems are even more needed than among us. Children must have stories and books of in- struction in nature study and in useful crafts and arts, while those who are older demand many of the forms of reading which come crowding daily into our homes and which in most cases we merely take for granted. One of the immediate and growing effects of the introduction of Christianity into any country is the liberation of the human mind, involving the creation of an insatiable desire for knowledge and the raising of ideals and desires. This must be met by the Christian Church at the peril of losing its hold on the intellect of its converts just at a time when all the world seems new and when the mind must be fed or else relapse into apathy or, worse still if possible, be ruined by the flood of pernicious literature which lies ready to hand. Educational work is making it necessary to provide many books and other printed matter for schools and colleges. These volumes are partly religious, but are more largely on the various subjects taught in the schools. To some extent this need is met through secular channels which, however, can at best only issue books colorless religiously. Hence the conviction is strong that the missionary has a distinct responsibility to provide many of the books to be used in educational institutions. Our schools must be held to high academic standards; they must also be unmistak- ably Christian. The whole problem involved in this double demand is voiced by Dr. Ritson in a pregnant question, “Has a missionary Society which takes no responsibility in providing healthy Christian literature any right to assume the task of education?” Christian literature should make an important contribu- tion to the formation of the new world order. Such prob- lems as those of social and economic reconstruction, the relationship of capital and labor in the new industrial life 4 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK of the peoples of the East, the race problem, which raises its head wherever white man and oriental meet, the de- termination of the meaning and rights of nationality — these and a host of other questions are bound to arise wherever the Christian message is preached and men begin to feel after a new social and political order. Christian literature must not fail at this point. It aims not only to evangelize, but to impregnate all the relationships of life with the spirit of Christ. In some backward countries conditions are as yet too primitive to present a demand for the interpreta- tion of the new age, but these sections are few indeed as compared with those where the seething masses of humanity are laying a heavy hand on Christianity to interpret its life in the midst of their confusions and uncertainties. What of Christianity itself? All the forces of unbelief and evil are seeking to undermine its influence. A literature must be built up whose function is to present the faith in its true light, defend it from attack, show its relation to the great non-Christian religions, and thus make its appeal clear and strong to those who otherwise might be led to believe that Christianity could not stand up under strong opposition. Many questions arise in the minds even of the most faithful Christians which demand an answer. Above all else Christianity must not be obscurantist. It must frankly face all the problems of life and provide the Chris- tian interpretation. More potent than any other agency is the printed page to present the case for the faith and cause it to appear in its true light. 2. The Present Opportunity and Need All that has been said concerning the function of litera- ture relates, of course, to the opportunity and need of the present day. But from the beginning of the modern mis- sionary period literature has been produced to meet the needs of the Christian society and the individual believer. 5 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK In pointing to the needs of our own day no word must be spoken in disparagement of the past — that is secure. Some of the best work of the past century has been literary, and can never be surpassed. Robert Morrison, the first Prot- estant missionary in China, was perforce almost exclusively a literary missionary. William Carey has as one claim to distinction the reputation of being the creator of Bengali prose. Dr. James C. Hepburn was the author of the first great Japanese-English dictionary, and Dr. W. A. P. Mar- tin’s “Evidences of Christianity” has been marvelously effective in commending Christianity to the Chinese and Japanese. Robert Moffat, by his translation of the Bible into the speech of the Bechuana nation, started a movement which has given to hundreds of African peoples portions of the Scriptures in their own tongues. These are but a few of a large number who have heard the call of God to literary labors. The complete catalogue of books and other literature in various tongues would provide impressive evidence of the need and place of literary work in the missionary enterprise. But no one can be found who believes that the present condition is satisfactory. The exact reverse is the case. Literary work is one of the neglected fields and alarm is felt because of the dangers involved. The parable in the Gospel of the man whose house was swept and garnished, but whose last state was worse than the first, is suggestive here. The devils of foul literature and antichristian polemic are becoming very bold in mission lands. The young men and women in our schools must read, and if we do not pro- vide reading of the right sort, the other kind is not far to seek. This is the most serious aspect of the situation, and it is very real. One is amazed to find displayed in book stalls in the East all kinds of antichristian literature. In large part these are translations of works of German, British, French and American writers, and they are widely 6 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK read. Another class of literature, so-called, is in the form of pictures and printed matter which at its best is indecent, but which frequently descends to the lowest levels of lewd- ness and shame. Comparatively little has been done to meet this need positively through wholesome, well illustrated and uplifting reading matter for both old and young. Leaving aside this more tragic aspect of the need, the fact emerges in studying the titles of the literary material now being provided that much is obsolete and ill-fitted to present needs. This is true of all forms of literature. In the case of translations, it becomes increasingly apparent that the work in many instances was not well done. Lack- ing clarity and not being presented idiomatically, the works are not liked; there is little danger of their becoming “best sellers.” In other cases only selections have been translated, giving the impression of scrappiness in the final result. But apart from the defects of what we already have, even the best books grow old, especially in the long-worked fields, and new books are therefore constantly demanded. And finally, when one compares the titles now available, which are suitable to the needs of today, with the vast extent of the demands and the needs, the disparity is appalling. A quotation from Dr. Ritson again will make the real situa- tion clear. “If a farmer began to count the seeds in a sackful, his brain would begin to reel. But if he were set down with his single sack on the limitless prairie of North- western Canada, it would be the greatness of the field that would stagger him, and not the multitude of seeds in his sack. The number of human beings in the world who know little or nothing of Christ is more impressive than the annual output of all literature agencies combined, even if the output be expressed in pages. The existing organiza- tions with all their activity have only touched the very fringe of the world’s need.” As every one knows who has any acquaintance with 7 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK world conditions and their relation to the Christian propa- ganda, a new situation has developed in recent years, for the most part since the opening of this century. We are face to face not only with more people accessible to the gospel, but with people whose whole idea of life and out- look on the future is new and strange to themselves. The world in which they live is far different from that of even a generation ago. The old landmarks have in many places almost disappeared. The counties of eastern and southern Asia and certain sections of Africa are being born anew intellectually, economically, and socially. A liberation of the human mind is taking place. Old formulas do not speak the truth for today. An eager search is being instituted for what will give the needed satisfaction, but alas so many know not where to turn. This heightens our responsibility at the same time that it opens up a marvelous vista of opportunity. We are bound, as we have been so largely responsible for this awakening, to provide food and nourish- ment in every needed form for these growing peoples. The rapid increase in the number of readers in all these coun- tries is one of the most significant phenomena of our times, a renaissance fraught with the greatest possibilities of good and also of evil. They demand something more than a handful of tracts. We must give them works worthy of the greatness of our religion. While peoples remain illiterate and during the years when the Church is being planted, the problem of literature does not press for solution. This accounts in large measure for the relative neglect of this arm of mission service in the past. But in most countries the old stagnation is gone. More and more the common people are becoming readers, and the church is an established fact in the community. No longer is there any excuse for neglect, and yet relatively speaking, very little, if any more literary work is being done now than formerly. One reason for this is at once sug- 8 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK gested, the missionaries are so fully occupied with itin- erating and preaching, taking care of converts and young churches, managing institutional work and attending to numerous distracting calls that there is no time for the slow, patient and laborious literary task awaiting them. The missionaries are overworked, that is true, yet this work must be done. In the fine words of the late Dr. J. P. Jones, “It is the highest branch upon the missionary tree, and will become the most fruitful and possessed of the most valuable fruit, if the enterprise is properly conducted.” We are led to the conclusion that the missionary for lit- erary work must be recognized as having a distinct and important function. This has not been sufficiently recog- nized in the past, so that men have not been given their chance to make what might prove to be their most valuable contribution to the uplift of the people of the world. It does not mean that they are to be withdrawn completely from other forms of missionary activity. Inefficiency and even failure are likely to follow the literary missionary who gets out of touch with his fellow missionaries and out of sym- pathy with the native church and its growing needs. The difficulty is that other work so fully occupies the energies of the missionary force that to use Dr. Ritson’s words, “It is increasingly difficult to find missionaries with sufficient knowledge of native languages and adequate ex- perience, either for translation or original work.” The fault lies not with the individual missionaries, but with the lack of a policy which takes account of and makes adequate provision for the future and its needs. To plan adequately for literary work means taking the “long view,” it means faith and courage to detach men from aggressive evangelism or from students clamoring for instruction, to devote them- selves to a form of service which is so different from what one ordinarily conceives as missionary work. Yet this is one of the imperative demands of the hour, and Dr. Ritson puts 9 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK it in the plainest language when he says that “the time has fully come for the missionary Societies to take direct action in regard to Christian literature.” ^ 3. The Forms of Literature and Kinds of Worker's Needed In view of the statements relative to the function of literature, it is quite evident that many kinds of litera- ture are needed. When we not only consider the immediate needs of the Christian communities, but attempt to plan a literature which shall provide such guidance that they may if possible be saved from the mistakes, the schisms and the heresies which have marred the history of western Chris- tendom, we are solemnized by the scope as well as the ex- ceeding delicacy of the task. To summarize the issue briefly, as the Church in any land develops the need for any new form of literature, this must be provided. In the end this will mean a complete inventory, from the Bible on one hand to leaflets on all sorts of practi- cal matters on the other. In the volume entitled “The Con- tinuation Committee Conferences in Asia, 1912-13,” full lists, emanating from many different groups on the mission fields, are given which shed much light on this problem. Even a casual survey of these reveals the wide scope of need. Without any attempt to be exhaustive, we introduce here a summary giving the kinds of literature for which an increasing demand is felt. Theological literature — a very broad field in itself. Apologetics — the defence of Christianity and refutation of the various forms of unbelief. Commentaries and other Biblical helps. Sermons by well-known preachers. Literature to assist in evangelistic campaigns. ^ For a i^ery competent survey of the existing situation on the mission field as regards Christian literature, see Dr. Ritson’s “Christian Literature in the Mission Field,” published by the Continuation Committee of the World Mis- sionary Conference in 1915. Reference is made frequently to this valuable survey in the present report. 10 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK Christian experience and conversion. The life and work of Christ. History — Biblical, church and secular. The comparison and the history of religions. Works on missions — the whole movement of the expansion of Christianity. Biographies — of great men and women and of saintly characters. Devotional literature. Translations of the Church Fathers and of the great religious and literary classics. Philosophical and scientific works, both technical and popular. Sociology — community betterment, etc. Works on reforms — temperance, purity, etc. Fiction and stories with a Christian tone. Sunday-school literature. Art and music and poetical works. Special literature for women and children and their interests. Medical literature, technical and popular — personal hygiene, sani- tation, etc. A list could not be much more inclusive. To put it briefly, what we in Canada and the United States need in our church and community life, the peoples who are inquiring about Christianity and western civilization and are pushing into the churches in the non-Christian world will need also. As we have felt the obligation to evangelize so we must feel the need to nurture and educate. Our aim does not stop at heralding the name of Christ; it pushes on to Christianize completely all the relations of life. We want to see Christian communities in every land which are intelligent as well as godly, which feel a sense of obliga- tion to make their lands thoroughly Christian as well as to lead blameless lives themselves. The part to be played by Christian literature in this whole movement must be of tremendous importance. This literature will be multiform. Books come to mind first. The more fundamental works will inevitably take this form. But we must not imagine that the work is done when 11 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK an adequate output of books is provided for. Periodical literature is greatly needed. The call comes for the more technical theological journal and for the popular, illustrated monthly magazine. The weekly paper is as much needed on the field as at home, and the same is true of periodical literature for women and children. Leaflets and tracts for free distribution and quick reading are everywhere in use, with increasing demands for a larger output. Another avenue of approach which is now open in Japan, and to a certain extent in China, is the willingness of the secular press to receive Christian articles. This fascinating approach to the mind and heart of a people is known as “Newspaper Evan- gelism.^ Much work in some lands remains to be done in reducing languages to a written form and in providing dictionaries and grammars. This is the case notably in pagan Africa and in other sections where men live in the savage or semi-savage state. Even such a short survey as we have provided empha- sizes the range of ability required to provide an adequate literature. In the words of Dr. S. H. Wainwright, of the Christian Literature Society of Japan, “Under literature as a missionary vocation such forms of work are included as (1) supervision of printing; (2) publishing, involving the art of book-making; (3) office and sales management; (4) editorial supervision, which includes proof-reading, compari- son of translations with the original, examination of manu- scripts and suggestions to authors; (5) translation; (6) and lastly, authorship.” An exceedingly important question is the relation of the missionary and the native writer in the production of literature. Is the literary work of the future to be done by foreign missionaries or by native Christians? The outstanding fact in most countries is that at present and ^ For an adequate description of this form of special enterprise see the article by Dr. Pieters, in the Report of the Foreign Missions Conference of North America for 1920. 12 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK for some time to come the brunt of the undertaking must be borne by foreigners, yet not by foreigners alone. The cooperation of capable and trained native writers is con- stantly needed, and the encouragement of natives to write is a most necessary feature of the literary worker’s task. Wherever the natives work side by side with missionaries the closest cooperation is possible. Not only can the mis- sionary be of the greatest assistance to the native, but the native can make himself indispensable to the foreigner. The outcome is clearly seen. The time must come when natives of each country shall bear the full burden of pro- viding a Christian literature for their fellow Christians. But this day is far off, so in the meantime it becomes neces- sary for missionaries to do this work, at the same time training natives to work with them, that in the end they may assume the whole. The existence of Christian Literature Societies in various countries is a great boon. Intelligent direction is now being given to the output of the presses, overlapping is avoided, the most gifted writers among missionaries and native Christians are being discovered and given tasks in view of the actual needs as they appear. Under such direc- tion the work of the literary missionary is enhanced many times over, for actual needs are met in a far more satis- factory fashion than could be true where haphazard methods are still in control. II. The Qualifications of the Literary Worker The first fact to be kept in mind is that, like all his fellow workers in the mission field, the literary worker is a mis- sionary. He is one with them in every essential, different only in the form of activity. If he devotes himself exclu- sively to his appointed work and becomes a recluse, he will not succeed in the work to which he is assigned. So great is this danger that in the opinion of some, no one should 13 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK devote himself exclusively to literary work for a long period of time. He must be with his fellow workers in their councils; he must understand their problems by actual contact with the work; he must know the life of the people by sharing it with them. This would indicate that back of the special qualifications which should be his, must be found those which obtain in the case of every true missionary. In the remarks that follow, emphasis will be laid on the special qualifications of the literary worker, but not to the neglect of several general qualities which should always be mentioned in considering the question of the appointment of missionaries. 1. The Great Essentials. The first is personal religious experience. That experi- ence may vary all the way from a lofty mysticism to the simple faith of a very practical man or woman, but the one essential is that it should be vital, an experience of fellowship with Christ. This means a growing knowl- edge of the Bible, a veritable love for its message; it means that prayer is no mere form, but a living fellowship with Jesus Christ; it means also a growing sense of horror of sin in all forms, and a life of increasing victory over temptation. Loyalty to Christ is the deepest motive to service, and unselfish devotion to the coming of his King- dom the center of all life’s thoughts and activities. In addition to all, there must be strong conviction concerning the great Christian verities. For no one is this more true than for the literary worker, who must be employed con- stantly in inculcating positive truth through the written word. The character of God, the person and work of Jesus Christ, the authority of the Bible, the nature of sin and its consequences, and the issues of life and death will demand of him a personal viewpoint from which he may make all these doctrines telling messages to the hearts 14 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK and minds of sin-sick men and women, whose great needs are the joy of forgiveness, the peace of deliverance, and the hope of a purer life now and hereafter. In addition to the primary qualification just mentioned several other qualities are particularly needed in the literary worker. An excellent summary is made by Dr. Stanley White : Broadmindedness Sympathy A readiness to recognize the good in existing religions. An absence of the spirit of attack in dealing with other religions. Scholarship of the highest quality. Linguistic ability. Spiritual insight. Courtesy and refinement, the spirit of the gentleman. And some would add that the saving sense of humor should not be omitted when the special qualities of the lit- erary worker are mentioned, 2, The Literary Gift. Here we come to a dividing line between missionaries in other forms of activity and the literary worker. In this respect a literary man must be born and not made. We can do no better than listen attentively to Dr, Talcott Williams, of the Columbia University School of Jour- nalism : “No training, no preparation will enable a man to do literary work unless he has the ability for it. The task requires certain adaptation. In the School of Journalism we weed out without hesitation the men without this adaptation, even if they learn their lessons. Any man can be trained to write mechanically a grammatical sentence and to paragraph his work. It is practicable by a somewhat wearisome drill to secure the accuracy of the multiplication table. By a great deal of correction and patient supervision a moderate degree of clarity can be secured. Beyond that training cannot go. The work such a man turns out will never be read by anybody except as men read railroad reports 15 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK or text-books. There the output of such a man will end. It cannot be raised above it unless there is the capacity to write. If he has this capacity all that I have outfined will be of the greatest value. “In order to put ‘thoughts into effective form for proper use’ or to act ‘as editor of periodical literature’ a man needs ‘news- paper initiative,’ the capacity to write and not simply to frame sentences. Without this he will turn out the same dull stuff which renders shelves full of books unreadable.” These wise words sum up about all that needs to be said on this point. The literary worker of the type so highly desired has “ink in the blood.” A most difficult question arises at once: How can a man himself, or others for him, determine whether he possesses this peculiar gift? His own liking and taste should lead him to make the attempt, but further than this the only test of the pudding is the eating. A man can show that he possesses the literary gift only by writing so that people will read what he writes in spite of themselves. 3. The Special Knowledge Necessary for the Literary Worker. Considerably more is demanded of the literary worker by way of exact knowledge and cultural background than of any other missionary. What he writes and what he edits must be suited to the peculiar environment — his- torical, ethical, ethnic, geographical, social and religious — of the people for whom he writes. This requires capacity for long-sustained reading and investigation, innate sym- pathy and love for the people and all that concerns them, and the perseverance and faith required to perform the difficult task imposed on him in face of unfavorable cir- cumstances and in view of other calls more clamorous and appealing to a man’s sense of immediate need. It is more necessary, if possible, for him to master the language than for any other worker. This means, then, unusual linguistic 16 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK capacity, but even more the patience to acquire the ver- nacular and the literary language so that he may be able to write directly to the hearts of the people and cause them to desire to read what he prepares for them. The immensity of this task is such as to make the stoutest hesitate, yet it is an absolute sine qua non. Mr. D. Willard Lyon, of China, takes us a step further : “To me the chief incentive to press forward in my linguistic studies is the need of being so thoroughly in touch with Chinese thought as to be able to sense the needs of the hour and to make sure that these needs are being met. This demands a far more thorough type of linguistic training than is required for dictating ideas to a Chinese writer who has become accustomed to one’s vocabulary.” The man chosen for literary work certainly faces no easy task. In closing this section, a word from two success- ful literary missionaries may be quoted. First that of Dr. S. M. Zwemer, of Cairo: “As regards special qualifications, the man who engages in literary work should above all have a broad cultural outlook. All literary work done on the foreign field should be free from sec- tarian prejudices or narrowness of vision. The broadest possible education, therefore, is essential. Literary work, however, on the foreign field also includes the laying of foundations for the ethical and spiritual faith of millions. Needless to say the one who undertakes this task must himself be thoroughly grounded in the faith once for all delivered and come to his task, not with the interrogation points of doubt, but with positive convictions of truth.” The second quotation is from Dr. D. MacGillivray, written with China in mind, but readily adapted to the situation in any other country: “Naturally he must have good eyesight, as he will constantly need to be reading Chinese, which puts a big strain on the eye- sight. . . . Confinement to the office during stated hours, rain or shine, suggests that he should possess a robust constitution. 17 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK The literary worker leads a life of exacting strenuousness. He will probably be much in demand on committees and for public addresses in English and Chinese. If he is working at a station in the interior he will be able to vary his work by occasional ex- cursions into other kinds of work. But if in association with other workers, these opportunities will be few. . . . What leisure he can find he will devote to studies in English and Chinese. This he must do, or he will become dry and uninteresting. . . . His aim should be to train his Chinese writers so that they may gradually emerge from the status of employees into that of col- leagues. This training calls for the highest qualities on the part of the literary worker.” III. The Selection and Designation of Literary Workers The feature of greatest practical difficulty is now to be faced. When and upon what principles shall literary workers be selected and designated to their specific task? Is it possible, as in the case, for example, of the medical candidate, for a student in college to choose to devote him- self or herself to literary work on the mission field and to prepare for it through a course of years with the certainty that, other conditions being met, a literary appointment will be forthcoming at the very outset of the missionary career? Clearly not. There must be no misunderstanding at this point. It is the almost unanimous opinion of experienced missionaries that no young missionary, however talented and well trained, can qualify as a literary missionary until aftei he has passed through a term of service on the field in evangelistic, educational or some other work. In addition to his literary training, it is an absolute requirement that he master the language and be perfectly familiar with the life of the people. This involves years of missionary service, at least the period before the first furlough. It clearly demands the use of that furlough for special prepa- ration for definite literary work. In tropical countries, 18 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK where the time of service between furloughs is short, the testing period may even last until the time of the second furlough. How, then, in actual practice, is the literary missionary led into his task? Again there is an answer that is almost unanimous. Men and women should be set aside for longer or shorter periods for definite literary tasks. This means, in the first place, that when a missionary has shown him- self to possess literary ability and tastes, he should be relieved temporarily of other duties in order to translate or write some book, and upon the completion of the task should resume his work in the regular ranks. Such expe- rience in literary work temporarily may lead to his appoint- ment to regular work along literary lines, which shall become his work for the remainder of his missionary career. A number of men are in such lines of work at the present time, and the number must be increased to meet the needs now arising. The British Societies have done better than the American in the support of literary work. According to Rev. Jacob Speicher, of the China Baptist Publication Society, the British Societies support sixty per cent, of the literary missionaries in China, the Continental and Canadian twenty-three per cent., while the American support only seventeen per cent. It is very clear that this is one of the great unused opportunities lying before our Amer- ican Societies. Notable progress has been made by the International Committee of the Young Men’s Christian Associations by the setting aside of trained men for this work. Their example must be followed far more widely by other American Societies. The call thus to designate missionaries already on the field to literary tasks was voiced in almost every conference held by Dr. Mott in Asia in 1912-13. Is there anything, then, a student volunteer can do 19 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK during the period of his training? He surely may consider literary work as a possibility, and keep it in view in his preparation. This would lead him to broaden his view and to cultivate his literary gifts, neither of which would be a loss should he never have the call to devote himself to literary work. Of course, it will be the exceptional man who will take this long view, but it is exceptional work we are dealing with, and it demands just such a man, one with determination, forethought, and patience. There are missionaries, however, who refuse to believe that a young candidate at home may not look forward with confidence to literary work and make very definite prepara- tion for such a task. There may be difficulties in the way, but if the call is clear and insistent the candidate should give himself to special training before his first term of service on the field. Dr. D. MacGillivray, of the Christian Litera- ture Society of China, speaks with conviction on this ques- tion: “You observe that in my judgment no missionary candidate should enter at once on this work, and yet it is of such transcend- ent importance that its claims ought to be presented early to the minds of some men, who have special leanings or special leadings toward newspaper and literary work. It often happens at college that there are some young fellows who are turning to journalism, and they often take the college paper as a starter. I think it would be a good thing if Christian young men of that type were made acquainted with the possibilities of a rich investment of their lives in China along their favorite line.” Another class of writers is in the mind of Mr. Kenneth J. Saunders, of the India Young Men’s Christian Association, when he writes: “It may be well to add that the ranks of the younger men and women who have already made a name in the world of letters should provide recruits for this work of the Church abroad. Does the world of letters yet realize what fascinating pioneer work awaits it?” 20 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK IV. The Preparation of the Literary Worker The discussion of the preparation of the literary worker is affected by what has been said in regard to his selection and designation. It must be remembered, as already stated in the section on qualifications, that the preparation he plans to secure in common with the regular missionary receives incidental mention only. Keeping in mind the varied forms of activity which are demanded, it is impossible to be definite and detailed in out- lining the preparation of the literary worker. Practical ex- perience in printing and publishing and in the sale and dis- tribution of literature is the essential equipment for these lines of activity, and what is said relative to preparation for the actual production of copy does not apply. A term of years spent in a printing establishment at home is the best imaginable preparation for those going to the mission field to do this practical work. Let it be said that so much will be expected of such a worker along every line connected with his work that he should not fail to touch in a practical way every feature of work. He should, above all, be a re- sourceful man, not easily discouraged and able to meet a try- ing situation with cheerful ingenuity and enterprise. Again, there is a difference between editorial work and the production of books. In the words of Dr. Wainwright, of Japan: “For editorial work, one must be set apart with all his time, if the best results are to be obtained. Authorship and translation are not inconsistent with other occupations. Authors and trans- lators on salaries, either native or foreign, do not always produce the most effective type of literature, and this is the most expensive way of producing books. It is better to purchase manuscripts, in fields where they can be acquired, and thereby enlist a greater number of writers and command a wider range of talent.” From this standpoint the true literary missionary is the editor who devotes his entire time to his chosen form of 21 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK activity. But in general direction may be given to the can- didate which will not be amiss. 1. Before Going to the Field In common with other candidates, the literary worker should secure college and theological training. In college special emphasis should be placed on English literature and composition. Beginning thus early he will observe the rule, “Write, write, write,” as the only method of acquiring style. He should keep in mind such experiences as that of Robert Louis Stevenson, who found it necessary to spend years in constant practice to develop style. He was in the habit of writing and rewriting his compositions — occasionally as many as ten or eleven times over — to satisfy his own conscientious sense of fitness. There is no royal road to the work of a successful literary worker. During these days, with a good library at his disposal, he should form the habit of wide reading. His interests will be varied if he proves to be a successful literary worker, and the foundations of his knowledge on most subjects must be laid in these early days or never be laid at all. One of the points where the literary worker may fail in his exacting task is in regard to knowledge and accuracy of statement. He may find himself ignorant at a place where if he only knew more he might increase his efficiency manyfold. It is suggested that he secure, if possible, an appointment on the college paper and make the most of the opportunity. In these days he may be able to test himself out and discover his fitness or unfitness for such work from the advice of his friends and critics and his instructors. While college courses in general education and pedagogy would prove valuable, “so as to know the best way of presenting the truth to different classes and ages,” he should know as many languages as possible. For those whose call is to Biblical translation 22 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK and the preparation of commentaries and other helps which demand technical and exact linguistic skill, a knowledge of the Scriptures in the original Greek and Hebrew is essential. Of modern languages, French and German are well nigh indispensable. This is true of Spanish or Portu- guese, of course, for Latin countries. If a theological course is important for the evangelistic missionary, it is even more so for the literary worker who is to write on religious and theological themes. His work will lead him into theological and religious channels constantly. Christian apologetics, as well as Christian doctrine, will be a kind of reservoir from which he must draw copiously. Theological emptiness would be a calamity in a man of this particular work more than in any other. At some time in his preparation a good course in com- parative religion or the history of religion should be taken, on which further studies in the religion of a par- ticular country will be based. Even more fundamental are courses on the psychology and philosophy of religion. So much is clear and may be recommended without hesitation. It is about all that can be said to the missionary candidate who has had no experience on the field. 2. During Early Years on the Field The next stage in the evolution of the literary missionary will be on the field during his early years of service. But, paradoxical as it may appear, the literary worker should not be in literary work at all during this time. He is a regular missionary doing work just like his fellows. Of course, he has a special appointment, but it is not to literary service. Whether he be placed in educational work or in the more general evangelistic or administrative service, his chief task is to learn the language and to orient him- self in the country. In every respect the embryonic literary worker must prove himself to be an efficient missionary 23 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK in some other field than that of literary work. This is a prime requisite. He must be a missionary of proved worth, first, in some other line, if he is to qualify as one fit to be designated to literary work. He must become a real missionary in spirit and in practice. Even more thor- oughly than is essential for the “regular” missionary, he must lay deep foundations in the vernacular and in knowl- edge of the life of the people. All their interests must be in a sense his — their customs, mental outlook, historical development, social organization, economic condition, and religious life. Failing here, he can never realize his ambi- tion to help provide a Christian literature for the people. He may be a man of great literary promise, but this will not save him. He simply must know the people and their language to be called into this unique literary field. But while literary work will not be his province during this period, the literary worker will be in a very real sense in the making. During this term of service he will inevi- tably be differentiated from others. Gradually it will become clear that this man or woman will find the broadest field of usefulness along literary lines. This process of differentiation is in no sense arbitrary. His literary gifts and his bent of mind will become evident to all, and he and his fellow workers will realize that everything in his work on the field leads to but one conclusion, that he should turn his energies to literary tasks. While others are spend- ing their spare time, such as a missionary has, in the lines of their particular interest, he has it on his heart increas- ingly to preach his message through the printed page. Not exactly in spite of, but through, all his regular work this tendency will develop until it becomes a foregone conclusion to his coworkers that this man has made it inevitable that he be assigned to literary work. And thus he becomes a literary worker. His reading, his delight in writing, the ability he shows in producing readable 24 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK material, and his vision of the possibilities of this form of service — all these are factors in the final conclusion which is reached. He has won his literary spurs and can safely be designated to that work. 3. The Use of the First Furlough The first furlough is of great importance, as it provides the man or woman set aside for whole or part-time literary work the opportunity of making special preparation for his specific task. He should be allowed by his Board so to plan his stay at home that all needed training may be secured. It may be necessary for him to lay aside for a time all other work on the field to make a special study of the language or of some subject on the field itself — with a native scholar or at a university. He may seek guidance in the technique of writing or editorial work. Either of these can be secured in this country at several centers. The Columbia University School of Journalism, for example, offers facilities of the widest range to all who are to be connected with journalism in any of its branches. It would be wise for most to pursue such courses where at the same time a first-hand study could be made of printing, publishing and distribution of literature. Not that in all, or even many, cases will the literary worker engage in these practical activities, but that all knowledge he may possess along these lines will never be amiss, and may prove to be of the highest value. Aside from these fields for training the range of subjects is almost limitless. It may be theolog}^ or history or soci- ology or education or household economics. The furlough is his great opportunity for study at one of the educational centers of the country, and he should make the most of it. Is the literary worker to.be such exclusively, or, if he be assigned to a special literary task, shall he return to his regular work when that task is completed? Or, again, will not most men who write do so in connection with other 25 PREPARATION FOR LITERARY WORK work? Most probably the last description will cover the actual experience of the larger number of men and women engaged in this task. But however that may be, the prin- ciples stated hold quite as well for them as for others who may be called to give all their time to literary work. They must have certain aptitudes or they would not be chosen to devote even a part of their valuable time to writing, and they need training to make themselves more effective. In many ways the part-time literary worker has an advantage. He is in the closest touch with the people and the church and the life of the community, and nothing can compensate for any lack here. * * * Only a single final word is needed. All that has been said in this report must be interpreted in the light of the necessity of a sense of Divine guidance in entering and con- tinuing in literary work. No higher form of service can be imagined. This makes it imperative that the literary worker carry with him at all times a deep sense of the Divine call to that particular form of service. If other workers stand in need of this conviction in immediate contact with the puls- ing needs of humanity, the more so does the literary worker, partly isolated as he is and compelled to struggle with his problems alone. Only the consciousness of God’s presence will provide the patience and the energy to enable him not to be ashamed as he handles aright the word of truth. 26 PUBLICATIONS OF THE BOARD OF MISSIONARY PREPARATION 25 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY REPRINTS AND REPORTS On Preparation for T5rpes of Missionary Service The Preparation of Ordained Missionaries (revised) . .Paper The Preparation of Medical Missionaries (revised) .. .Paper The Preparation of Educational Missionaries (revised) Paper The Preparation of Women for Foreign Service (revised) Paper The Preparation of Missionaries for Literary Work. . 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Paper The Presentation of Christianity to Hindus Paper The Presentation of Christianity to Moslems Paper On Themes of Specicd Importance The Specialized Training of Missionaries Paper Reports of Conferences The Report of a Conference on the Preparation of Ordained Missionaries Paper The Report of a Conference on the Preparation of Women for Foreign Missionary Service Paper The Report of a Conference on the Preparation of Medical Missionaries Paper The Report of a Conference on the Preparation of Edu- cational Missionaries Paper 10 cents 10 cents 10 cents 10 cents 10 cents 10 cents 10 cents 10 cents 10 cents 10 cents 10 cents 50 cents 50 cents 50 cents 50 cents 25 cents 25 cents 25 cents 25 cents