Abstract: The “Movement of Writing Up-to-day Novels” initiated by English Missionary John Fryer has always received high evaluation in the research of novels in modern times. By analyzing John Fryer’s articles for soliciting and the articles he received, this thesis is aimed to reveal that this movement was quite religious, most of the authors who participated in this activity were Christians, most of the articles they wrote were not novels and consequently this movement did not have great influence on the development of novels in modern times and was not related to the “new novels” thereafter. However, these articles have a high value as historical documents, from which we can know about the thoughts and activities of foreign missionaries, the operation of religious organizations in different areas, the psychologies of Christians, the middle and lower classes’ understanding of the current situation and future of the nation and their understanding of literature, etc.