Christian Literature Society of Japan

Christian Literature Society of Japan (CLSJ)[1] was a publisher of religious literature in Tokyo, serving as the official organ of the Federated Missions in Japan. The Committee on Christian Literature of the Conference of Federated Missions was established in 1912.[2] Its outgrowth was the CLSJ, the name change occurring in January 1913.[3] The CLSJ rendered a service for Japan much the same as similar societies organized years prior in India and China.[4] Its headquarters were in the Methodist Publishing House (MPH) building. The CLSJ used the MPH facility to publish and distribute its literature.[5]

## Early history[edit]

The best work in Christian literature in Japan had been effected by the regularly organized tract and literature societies. Those with headquarters abroad, in the U.S. and Great Britain were also helpful. Among these were the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, whose catalogue included Japanese editions of the Prayer Book, commentaries on books of the Bible, and volumes on the creeds and offices of the Church. There were also works, devotional, theological, historical and philosophical, translated from standard authors abroad. The American Tract Society began to promote Christian literature in Japan as early as 1874. The Religious Tract Society began work as early as 1837. It was the chief supporter of the Japan Book and Tract Society. Among the institutions which were cooperative in character and had their headquarters in Japan, the oldest was the Japan Book and Tract Society. The American Tract Society, which began work in the country in 1874. The Religious Tract Society planned its organized work in Japan in 1874 and established the Tokyo corresponding committee in the following year. On May 1, 1891 the work of the three committees was united under the Tract Societies' Committee for Japan, of which Rev. W. J. White was agent. In 1898, the designation of the committee was changed to "The Japan Book and Tract Society". The report of 1913 referred to a falling off in the sale of this society's own books, because increasingly, missionaries were finding it more convenient to have much of the literature they used printed locally, especially tracts. The Japanese YMCA Union issued occasional books on religious and Biblical subjects, and dealt with the question of purity and of physical development, especially with a view to helping young men.[6]

## Establishment[edit]

As none of these institutions were in a position to meet the demands for literature, the Conference of Federated Missions in Japan appointed a Committee on Christian Literature to consider mainly the formation of some permanent organization, in cooperation with the Japanese, to make more adequate provision for producing and distributing Christian literature. After three years of work by this committee, which included Professor Frank Müller, the Conference in 1911 resolved to appoint a Permanent Committee, (1) to report to the Japanese Church Federation on the proposed organization and to consult with it on finances and plans; (2) to invite the Japanese Church Federation to arrange for a Permanent Committee of nine of its members to co-operate with nine from the Conference of Federated Missions; (3) to ask the Japanese Church Federation to provide funds to support a Japanese man to give his whole time to this work in cooperation with a foreigner.[6]

The Japanese Church Federation was not finally organized until December 1911, so that it could not enter into the full plans from the first, especially in view of the financial responsibility. Five Japanese, however, were appointed to serve on the committee in an advisory capacity. This committee held its first meeting on January 5, 1912, and decided to make a systematic digest of the religious press of Japan, and to compile and publish a comprehensive catalogue of Christian books in Japanese. On July 21, 1912, the Rev. S. H. Wainright, D.D. (Methodist Episcopal Church, South), was appointed executive secretary of the Permanent Committee, his salary being fully paid by his own mission.[6]

It was proposed to form the Christian Literature Society of Japan, the object of which was to be the production and circulation of Christian literature suited to the needs of both Christian and non-Christian Japanese. Representing the Federated Christian Missions in Japan, the society was to be correspondingly catholic in spirit, and neither its members nor those supporting it were to be regarded as necessarily holding all the views presented in the books issued.[6]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Lodwick, Kathleen L. (1986). The Chinese Recorder Index: A Guide to Christian Missions in Asia, 1867-1941. Vol. 1\. Rowman & Littlefield. p. xxxii. ISBN 978-0-8420-2250-7. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
2. ^ Ostrom, H. C. (1918). "Christian Literature in Japan". Report of the Annual Meeting of the Conference of Foreign Mission Boards in Canada and in the United States. p. 108. Retrieved 9 April 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
3. ^ Harper, William Rainey; Burton, Ernest DeWitt; Mathews, Shailer (February 1913). "Literature". The Biblical World. XLI (9). University of Chicago Press: 263. Retrieved 9 April 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
4. ^ Hagin, Fred Eugene (1914). "V. Christian Forces At Work". The Cross in Japan: A Study of Achievement and Opportunity. Fleming H. Revell. Retrieved 9 April 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
5. ^ Methodist Episcopal Church. Missionary Society (1913). Annual Report of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Vol. 95\. The Society. p. 352. Retrieved 9 April 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
6. ^ a b c d Ritson, John Holland (1910). "Tract and Literature Societies". Christian Literature in the Mission Field: A Survey of the Present Situation Made Under the Direction of the Continuation Committee of the World Missionary Conference, 1910. Continuation committee of the World missionary conference. Retrieved 9 April 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.