The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-22
THE WAR CRY IN CHINESE
The Salvation Army'S Official
Organ in a New
Form.
All of the Religious News of the Ranks
Read by the Residents of
Chinatown.

The Salvation Army has begun to issue
Chinese edition Of the War Cry, and the
merchants buy it up like hot cakes and
read every letter and hieroglyphio that it
contains.
This is what the lasses who sell the War
Cry all over the Chinese quarter say, and
any one who likes can confirm their state
ment by locking into the stores, where it
is becoming no uncommon sight to behold
the portly proprietors immersed in the
study OF big sheet of printed Chinese,
quite unintelliglble to the average Ameri-
can reader. but which is easily distin-
guishable as the War Cry by very big
crown, surmounted by very little cross.
which adorns the title page. When the
members OF the army see the Chinese
reading this literature they ejoice greatly,
because after it has been read, marked
learnt and inwardly dieested they believe
that many conversions will result.
1t is only three weeks since Brigadier-
General keppel resolved to issue Chi
nese War Cry. There had been none be-
fore in the history of the army, for that
organization has not yet attempted to
gain a foothold in China. A number OF
difficulties lay in the way. the first and
foremost being that "war cry" CONVEYS
such an idea OF blood-curdiing horror TO
the Chinese mind that no one would have
had courage to read a paper with such a
name. 1t was absolutely necessary TO in
vent a new name, so the mild and pleas
ing one OF Salvation Army News was Sc
lected, and 1t has proved satisfactory to
all parties.
Among the converts are several literary
Chinese who were delighted at the idea of
issuing the War Cry in their own Ian
guage. zee Ling was made editor in chief,
because he was very learned and felt equal
TO arranging and adapting the American
War Cry to suit the needs of his own coun-
trymen. Under his directions a tasteful
and striking title-page was designed,
which included pictures and notices in
Chinese. The most conspicuous of the
latter reads, when interpreted: China for
the Lord"
The amount of labor which Yee Ling
has accomplished since he was prom oted
TO the editors chair is considered TO be
astonishing.
He has four large blanketlike pages to
fill with army news. and when the Ameri-
can version of the War Cry does not strike
him as being suited to the tastes and
spiritual needs of his fellow-countrymen
he rearranges and adapts. In many cases
he writes his own articles, and nearly all
the local Chinatown army news is of his
own gathering. Having composed his
paper, Yee Ling engrsves it all on one
stone, and, considering the smallness and
fantastic shapes OF the hieroglyphics, this
is tremendous undertaking. Chinese
presses are used for the stone-engraving,
and the firm to which they belong does
the work at half cost, as it has been firmly
impressed on the minds of the literary
portion OF Chinatown that the white magic
| contained in the Salvation Army News
will have an uplifting effect on the whole
| community.
Editor zee Ling is assisted to some ex-
| tent In his labors by 10 Kin, poet who
has already put whole book of HYMNS
into Chinese. 10 Kin only contributes &c
| the poets corner, however. The current
issue OF the Army News contains "Thers
| Is Fountain" translated into Chinese
| blank verse by him.
Captain Jones, one of the hardest
working lasses In Chinatown, spoke very
enthusiastically of her success in selling
| the Army News.
Il Lave been out this morning and have
done thriving business" she said
1.-THE people who buy the News read it
| too, and they never complain about wha
| they find in it. We give copies to all tn,
Chinese In the Broadway Jail, and las
night-the Lord be praised lone mar
who had read the War Cry n prison anc
had only come out that afternoon was a.
our meeting. That was beginning, ant
We believe that MANY conversions vii
come from our Army News"