About 50 per cent. of the literature is distributed in the latter way; a large portion of these pamphlets is free, not even the cost of postage being covered. The replies would indicate that not even 10 per cent. is paid for. It is significant, however, that some of the larger Societies are now beginning to make a small charge, which, instead of limiting their output, rather increases it. While as an advertising medium it would probably be legitimate to send out free literature on the ground that it will be paid for in enlarged contributions, the danger on the other hand should be avoided of cheapening the literature to such an extent that people consider it worthless. The destination of the unsealed envelope is liable to be the waste-paper basket. What people pay for, they are apt to value. When people look upon missionary literature as advertising material, its influence will be broken and its virtue destroyed. Probably this difficulty cannot be wholly obviated, although there are some Women's Boards in the United States that have succeeded in putting their special missionary literature upon such a business basis that the income from sales has almost, if not quite, covered the cost.

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

This entire subject is one that is worthy of exhaustive investigation upon the part of the Missionary Societies in each country. Probably little that is international can be done in the way of combination that will be of value, but the figures given at the beginning of this paper cannot but give the impression that there is now great waste in the production of special missionary literature. If some method could be devised for following up these publications, the Societies would probably be astonished to find how little is read, or accomplishes anything whatever for the cause it is supposed to serve. From many sources the suggestion has come that the Missionary Societies should give more

expert attention to their general and special publications in the way of better editing and especially in the line of elimination. Inferior publications bring discredit upon the Society whose imprint they bear and awaken prejudice against all missionary literature.

Not more but better missionary literature of all classes is needed. In fact, there is a general opinion that the quantity should be diminished, while the quality, both in matter and in form, should be greatly improved. This can mean nothing less than expert editorial supervision. Missions have now reached a stage when only the best will meet the requirements of the case.

We would not be misunderstood. No one would recommend extravagant expenditure in the production of the most highly artistic leaflets and small books. But there is a demand for such a literature that, when it falls into the hands of a person of taste and refinement, the first inclination will not be to cast it into the waste-paper basket, and when it comes to the home of the less educated it will in itself be an element in the general education and refinement of all.

It is believed that if the same amount now expended by the Missionary Societies of the world in the production of literature, some of which is excellent but which includes at the same time an enormous amount of poor, inartistic, and even slovenly leaflets and pamphlets, were used with skill and discretion it would be ample to provide a special literature of far greater value to the cause.

A matter that needs careful attention in the production of pamphlet literature is that there should be close co-operation between those who produce and those who have to use the pamphlets supplied-in other words, between the editorial and the organising side of the staff. Those responsible for the production ought to keep closely in touch with what the home workers are doing. They should not consider only whether a manuscript is good from a literary standpoint, but whether it is the kind of thing that is needed by those

who are responsible for organising the Society's efforts in the constituencies.

The question of the adoption of new and modern methods is one which suggests at once the idea of unification and combination. Is there any opportunity for inter-denominational advertising and inter-denominational distribution of missionary information? When so much progress is being made in this direction both on the mission field and in the Home Church, it would seem that there might be a chance for the Missionary Societies to get together and so save both money and labour in this matter of the production of literature.

It has been suggested that there should be a combination among Missionary Societies working in the same country in the preparation of a missionary literature. common to all, to which each denomination can add its own features before distribution among its constituency. In this way much first cost of preparation and production might be saved and probably a higher grade of literature produced. This plan might apply to the preparation of large and small outline maps, picture cards, general descriptions of countries, the story of the Christian conquest of the world, the preparation of lantern. slides, and much other matter of this type. The Young People's Missionary Movement in the United States and the United Conference on Missionary Education in Great Britain are doing a measure of this work, especially in the preparation of mission study text-books.

CHAPTER V

THE PROMOTION OF MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE THROUGH MISSION

STUDY CLASSES

In addition to the diffusion of general information. IN through newspapers and periodicals and the preparation of special literature for the general reader, it is essential that there should be a large body of Christian people who, by a systematic study of the subject, have passed beyond the stage of persons merely interested in missions, and have become intelligent and enthusiastic advocates of the cause.

A movement for the promotion of such systematic study has developed in recent years in America and Europe, and has gained acceptance with remarkable rapidity. The present section of the Report will be devoted to giving an account of this movement and of its aims and methods.

The aims of the movement here set forth derive great reinforcement from the present missionary situation. The pressing and immediate opportunities abroad, and the lack of a sufficiently widespread spirit of sacrifice at home to give an adequate response, constitute a serious position. The need is for something to produce a zeal among home workers which shall be deep, permanent, and impelling, because based upon a true and honest study of the question. The Mission Study Movement attempts to meet this situation.

1. In the first place it stands for intensive as opposed

to extensive work. It stands for consecutiveness and concentration, for serious study and discussion. It deals with only a few people at a time, but it undertakes to give those few an intelligent interest in some part of missionary work. In these days of superficiality in religious education, there is a place for an agency that seeks to supply the Church with a few workers who have deep convictions and clear knowledge on the subject of foreign missions. For the great majority of persons, the study class will be the principal dynamo of missionary enthusiasm, and an instrument by which there shall be provided means for more effective missionary instruction in every organisation of the Church.

2. In the second place it stands for the application of educational principles to the study of missionary work. The field is so vast and so remote from the experience of most persons that clear and deep conviction can only with difficulty be attained by the casual and superficial methods often employed.

A vast amount of literature now exists on education, and some principles are well established, such as the value of stimulating self-activity and self-expression, the value of definite aims in study, the need of utilising existing interests to create new ones, and the need of training the intelligence and active powers concurrently. In the study class method all these are being applied, and are taught in an elementary manner in the Manuals and Helps provided for the leaders of study classes.

3. In the third place the movement stands for training the younger generation. The ages of youth and young manhood are the great formative periods of life. It is then that the ideals are formed and the intellectual powers are at their keenest for learning. This movement aims at presenting missionary ideals during the decade of enthusiasm. It would teach young men and young women to see the world as Christ sees it, and feel for it

1 In America, the term "class" is in general use; in Britain, "circle" or "band."

COM. VI.-5