Views from China by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 22, 1910

Views from China

By Editor

An Unfortunate Fire

As intimated in our last, the office of our Chinese press in Shanghai was recently destroyed by fire. Fuller particulars have come to hand. The typeroom and pressroom of our printing plant are not located in our own building, but in rented buildings, buildings belonging to the Commercial Press. Neither did the fire start on our own premises, but on adjoining premises. The Chinese buildings are generally very inflammable, and the means for putting out fire was quite inadequate. This has given our workers much anxiety in the past; and therefore tho insurance was high, it was carried on the machinery and stock, yet every precaution possible being exercised to prevent a fire.

The fire occurred the 27th of December, and it looked for a time as if the whole great establishment of the Commercial Press would go. Fortunately the night was very still, and the little water that could be gotten through the nearest hydrants succeeded after a time in checking the flames. The Chinese type was a total loss; it melted. The English type was saved. A large stock of paper was also saved. The presses were somewhat injured, but it is thought that they can be easily restored.

Pressroom. Typeroom was above. F. E. Stafford and B. A. Roberts, "perplexed, but not in despair."

Dr. Miller writes us that at the present time he does not feel justified in buying new fonts of type and placing it in such dangerous buildings; and surely we sympathize with him in this respect. A building ought to be erected separate from others, airy, sanitary, clean, and practically fire-proof. Land is already secured for the erection of such a building, and what is needed is means. The financial loss to the printing plant is not considerable, but the hindering of the work is very great. Already the Chinese monthly Signs of the Times had reached a circulation of over 15,000. One of the presses was kept busy all the time in printing the covers for this edition. Colporteurs in the field were waiting to sell it when the fire came.

We wish here to thank Brother Stafford for sending us the pictures of the fire. He also writes that the work there is onward, and that those who have left this office for China—Brother and Sister Roberts—have hands and hearts full in working for those in need.

General view; composing-room with English type-cases left standing

The accompanying photographs will give something of an idea of what the fire did. Dr. Miller writes very encouragingly concerning the help that was arriving. Elder J. N. Anderson, for instance, had returned, and with him Mr. and Mrs. G. Herald, and Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Fisher. He soon expects Dr. and Mrs. Kay, and also Elder Westworth and wife. The aim is to as soon as possible place two in every province in China. The work which has already been done in getting out literature which the Chinese can read is having its effect, and good news comes in from all parts where the literature has been circulated. Surely if there is a need anywhere in this great world it is in China, where live—some barely exist—one fourth of all the inhabitants of the world. The one great agency above all others to reach them is literature, the printed page, telling the story of the cross and the power of Christ to save. Any of our readers who may wish to give to the Chinese press fund may forward it to us, and we shall be glad to see that it is used for its designed purpose. May God bless our workers in China.