I can truly say that before I went to the conference I never even dreamed of what has come to pass. It never occurred to me, before the conference, that I should take any prominent part in the matter of Bible translation. I felt that education was the only field in which I should come to the front. I was never in my life so providentially led as I was in this matter. I was selected chairman of the Mandarin Executive Committee and have been pushing the getting of translators. The first few months were spent in corresponding and comparing notes as to men. We took a ballot recently, which resulted in the election of five, ... I being the only one who received a unanimous vote. We are now voting for the others, to make up the seven.... My book of “Mandarin Lessons” has no doubt brought me forward, and its preparation has in a measure fitted me for the work. My personal preferences are against the work of translation, and I would fain decline it, but I don’t see how I can in view of the circumstances. I feel my incompetency, especially in Greek and Hebrew, and you may be sure I am very loath to give up the educational and literary work on my hands. Much of it is half finished. But if the Mandarin Bible is to be made, some one must do it; moreover, the men who do it must have the confidence of the missionary body; otherwise it will be a failure. As it is, circumstances have led me to the position, and the strong opinion of the men on the committee, and of others, leads me to feel that I cannot lightly refuse. In November, 1891, the revisers met at Shanghai. Dr. Mateer, in a letter written in the following January, said: The scheme for the revision of the Chinese Bible set on foot by the conference is now fairly organized, and approved by the three great Bible societies. The work of pushing the organization has fallen largely on me, and I feel no small sense of relief now that it is successfully accomplished. Contrary to my own desire, I am compelled to lake a share as one of the revisers in Mandarin; not that I do not relish the work, but because it will of necessity interfere with many of my cherished plans. We had a meeting of all the revisers of the three versions, and it was a fairly harmonious and an altogether successful meeting. A great work is before us which I trust we may, in the good providence of God, be enabled to accomplish.