General Conference Bulletin, vol. 4

THE FOREIGN BOOK FIELD, AND ITS NEEDS

O. A. OLSEN

(Extracts from remarks by O. A. Olsen.)

The foreign book field is an immense one, and it has only been touched, as it were by the tip of the finger. In Europe alone we have a population of nearly four hundred million souls. Among these we have some one hundred different nationalities to which the truth is to go. At present we have publications in thirty-six languages and dialects, but in several of these we have only a tract or two. In the Scandinavian we have upward of fifty different publications, small and large, but these countries are the smallest in Europe. Scandinavia, containing three countries, has hardly ten million people. We have been able, through the different lines of publications in certain parts of Europe, to reach hundreds of thousands who would never have the opportunity of seeing the living preacher. I have held, and still hold, that the canvasser is just as much the servant of the Lord as the ordained minister. GCB April 2, 1901, page 13.8

As to the production of this literature, there are two ways,—writing and translating. But a fact not fully appreciated is that it is almost as difficult to translate a book freely as it is to produce one. You may be a scholar in foreign language, and yet not be able to produce a book for the people, because the literary language and the language of the common people sometimes differ. To be a good translator you need to live among the people and become acquainted with them from the home standpoint, in order to bring the truth into the proper translation for their comprehension. GCB April 2, 1901, page 13.9

When I was in Africa, I met a Kaffir minister of the Congregational Church who had translated “Steps to Christ” into the Kaffir, or Zulu, language. In talking with him, I asked him, “In what school did you get hold of the principles of the Kaffir language?” GCB April 2, 1901, page 13.10

He answered, “We have no schools; there are no schools that give that instruction.” GCB April 2, 1901, page 13.11

“How do you get it then?” I asked. GCB April 2, 1901, page 13.12

He answered, “We go out into the interior, among the natives, and stay among them, and talk with them at their firesides in their own country. That is where we get the language.” GCB April 2, 1901, page 13.13

In Sweden alone we have circulated forty thousand copies of “Bible Readings,” and about forty thousand copies of “Great Controversy.” “Patriarchs and Prophets” has also been gotten out in Swedish. Sweden has a population as large as Norway and Denmark together. During the past year in Sweden we have sold over twenty-five thousand dollars’ worth of literature. GCB April 2, 1901, page 13.14

We find that in some places we can do well with the large books, but many can not buy them, and therefore we are anxious to take books costing four or five kroner. (A kroner is twenty-seven cents.) GCB April 2, 1901, page 13.15

In Finland, we have had canvassers working the past year, and they have sold from seven to eight thousand dollars’ worth of books. “Steps to Christ” has been a standard book since it was first gotten out, and we are selling it continually. We have it in the Finnish, but we have gone over the ground so thoroughly that the canvasser can not make a living on that alone. The early part of last spring the canvassers began to call for “Great Controversy.” That was a book we had not put out for two reasons: first, we did not have the money with which to produce the book in one volume; second, we feared that so large a book could not be sold in that country. So we asked the privilege to divide the books into two parts. The first part was ready in July. The canvassers did well in taking orders and also in delivering their books. The second part was to be ready by the holidays. The canvassers wanted “Great Controversy” because it had sold well in Sweden, and also because it bore the same authorship as “Steps to Christ.” GCB April 2, 1901, page 13.16

By Elder Matteson’s death we have lost our author, and it is a much larger loss than any of you appreciate; for no one has been able to step in, and continue the work he was doing. The large books are all right, but smaller publications are needed, and I have for a long time hoped the way would open that this deficiency might be supplied. GCB April 2, 1901, page 14.1

We need God-fearing young men, who will go into a new country to learn the language, and become acquainted with the people, adapting themselves to the situation. We have young people among us who could do this. GCB April 2, 1901, page 14.2

The foreign book field is an immense one, and it needs publications adapted to the circumstances and habits and prejudices of the people, written or translated right where they are to be sold. GCB April 2, 1901, page 14.3