DR. GOODRICH (Congregational) DR. MATEER (Presbyterian) M. BALLER (China Inland Mission)] That meeting by actual experience brought out distinctly not only the difficulties of necessity arising from the translation of particular books of the Bible, and indeed of every verse; but also others of a more general character, some of which had previously been more or less clearly seen. Should the new version take as its basis one or more of the translations already in existence; or should it go back straight to the original Greek, and use the existing translations merely as helps? In any case, constant reference to the original was a necessity. For this, which of the published texts should be accepted as the standard? The meeting also disclosed a wide divergence of opinion as to the style of Mandarin that ought to be employed. On that subject in 1900, Dr. Mateer expressed himself fully and strongly, in an article published in the “Chinese Recorder.” He said: The Mandarin Bible, in order to fulfill its purpose, should be such as can be readily understood by all when heard as read aloud by another. The fundamental distinction between Wen-li and Mandarin is that the former is addressed to the eye, the latter to the ear. In all Protestant churches the reading of the Scriptures has, from the first, constituted an important part of public worship. In order that this reading may serve the purpose intended, the Scripture must be so translated as to be intelligible to the common people. Only thus will they hear it, as they did its Author, “gladly.” It is not enough that those who know “characters” should be able to read it intelligently, but rather that those who do not know “characters,” and who in fact constitute by far the greater part of the Chinese people, should be able to understand it when it is read to them. Here then is the standard to be aimed at,—a version that represents the Chinese language as it is spoken, and addresses itself to the ear rather than to the eye.