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326 CHINA MISSION YEAR BOOK.numerous Christian publishing houses of England andAmerica. At this time the society began the issue ofgeneral literature written from a Christianwith standpoint,perhaps only one man, namely, Dr. Williamson,devoting his whole time to the production of it. Otherbooks were supplied by voluntary workers already heavilyladen with other duties.When Dr. Richard succeeded to the place of Dr.Williamson, he saw the great need of enlisting the wholetime of literary workers, and when, in 1899, he invitedthe Rev. D. MacGillivray to join him, this was thebeginning of the present free federation of missionaries,composing what for want of a better name is called theeditorial staff. Mr. MacGillivray issupported by theCanadian Presbyterian Church. The Church MissionarySociety for a time gave Rev. Gilbert Walslie, M.A.,who joined in 1900. The Wesleyan Missionary Societygave Rev. W. A. Cornaby in 1904, and the Baptist Missionary Society gave Rev. Evan Morgan in 1906; thisbeing in addition to Dr. Richard. Here with the utmostindividual freedom to follow one s leadings, all are loyallyworking together for one end. The society therefore isthe best example, as far as we know, in the missionaryworld, of a union effort to solve the problem of Christianliterature for a mighty Empire just awaking from sleep.The Conference of 1907 passed a resolution callingfor further efforts to unite the Christian LiteratureSociety and the Tract Societies, but, as a representativespeaker has said, that was a counsel of perfection whichmay be realized some day but not yet. As the C. L. S.is on the point of being incorporated under the Hongkong Ordinances, it is perhaps better for each society towork out its own destiny, especially as this can be donewithout overlapping. So broad is the field, and soinsistent the need, that it is the duty of all to standshoulder to shoulder in providing for it.Our programme then is ambitious enough for hundreds of workers where we now count ones.In common