"Report From Underwood To Brown (19051115)"의 두 판 사이의 차이

Your letter of Sept. 27th addressed to the two representatives engaged in Bible translating, composed largely of quotations from letters from Rev. H. Loomis, D.D., was duly received, and we desire to jointly send our answer.

성경번역 관련 대표자 두 명에게 지난 9월 27일에 루미스 목사의 편지를 많이 인용해서 보내주신 편지는 늦지 않게 도착했습니다. 이에 저희는 함께 이 답신을 보내드립니다.

Having known Dr. Loomis for years, we knew that it was almost impossible for him to see more than one side of a question and that it would be extremely doubtful whether he could send a letter concerning work here that did not contain any mistakes; but we had no idea that it would be quite so full of misstatements of facts. This is largely to be accounted for by Dr. Loomis' not being on the field and from his failure in memory, and his inability to see things except in accordance with some preconceived idea. By way of illustration, some years ago when Mr. Pieters was first sent out to Korea by Mr. Loomis as a colporteur, one of the Secretaries of the American Bible Society wrote to Dr. Underwood, stating his doubts as the advisability of sending a European as colporteur to a place like Korea, and asked Dr. Underwood to look into the matter and report to Dr. Loomis. Similar letters were written to other missionaries, and when Dr. Loomis arrived here, Dr. Underwood felt that he must report adversely, and in a long talk with Dr. Loomis he did so. Yet Mr. Loomis' letter to the American Bible Society printed and reported that, he had been to and consulted with the missionaries, and without a single exception, everyone he had seen, approved of the plan. We do not suggest that, Dr. Loomis intentionally misrepresented, but his preconceived ideas were so strong, that anything said to the contrary not only had no effect, but was though as never said.

루미스 목사를 몇 해 동안 알아오면서, 그가 어떤 문제의 한 가지 측면밖에는 보지 못한다는 것을 알게 되었고 이곳 사역에 대해 과연 정확한 내용으로 보고를 할 수 있는 사람인가 하는 것에 대해 큰 의문을 갖게 되었습니다. 그렇지만 그 내용들이 사실에 대한 허위적인 진술로 가득 차 있다고는 생각하지 않습니다. 루미스 목사가 직접 사역 현장에 있지 않다는 점, 그 분이 정확히 기억을 잘 못하리라는 점 그리고 그 분이 어떤 대상이나 상황을 편견적으로 이해하는 경향이 있다는 점 등이 고려되어야 한다고 생각됩니다. 예를 들어 몇 해 전에 루미스 박사가 피에터스 씨를 권서(勸書)로 한국에 처음 오게 했을 때, 미국성서공회의 비서 한 사람이 언더우드에게 편지를 보내어 "한국과 같은 곳에 과연 유럽인을 권서로 보내는 것이 타당한 일인지 의심스럽다고 하며, 이 일을 잘 살펴보고 루미스 박사에게 보고 드렸으면 좋겠다”고 했습니다. 비슷한 내용의 편지가 다른 선교사들에게도 전달됐습니다. 그래서 루미스 박사가 이곳에 왔을 때 저는 그분의 계획과 반대되는 의견을 전해야겠다고 생각했습니다. 그리고 루미스 박사와 오랜 이야기를 나누며 그 뜻을 분명히 전달했습니다. 그러나 루미스 박사는, 미국성서공회에 보낸 편지에서, 자신이 이곳 선교사들과 직접 만나 상의한 결과 단 한 사람의 예외도 없이 만났던 모든 이들이 그 계획에 동의했다고 했습니다. 우리는 루미스 박사가 고의적으로 사실을 그릇되게 전했다고는 생각하지 않습니다. 그렇지만 선입견이 매우 강해서 그 분의 생각과 반대되는 의견은 그에게 아무런 영향을 미치지 않았을 뿐 아니라 마치 전혀 들어 본 적도 없는 것처럼 생각되었던 것 같습니다.

We are afraid Dr. Loomis has not cultivated a habit of careful exactitude, but spoke with positive certainty of matters he has partly or altogether forgotten or has never taken the pains to inform himself thoroughly, if at all. Those who have known him longest in Japan, China and Korea would we think all coincide in this Opinion, and probably were you to consult Dr. Ellinwood or Dr. Hepburn, they also would agree to this.

루미스 박사가 사실을 정확하게 이해하지 못한 채, 부분, 혹은 전체를 망각해 버린 일에 대해 자신있게 이야기하는 것은 아닌지, 어떤 사실을 자세히 파악하려는 노력은 전혀 하지 않으려는 것은 아닌지 염려스럽습니다. 일본, 중국, 한국에서 그 분을 오랫동안 알고 지낸 사람들은 모두 이러한 의견에 동의할 것이라 생각됩니다. 엘린우드 박사님이나 헵번 박사님의 의견을 물어 보신다면 그들 역시 같은 생각을 말씀하실 겁니다.

We should be sorry to seem to say anything which was an expression of resent ment, and we hope you will realize we are only trying to put you in the way of a clear understanding of the whole matter, but this brother has a wide reputation for writing letters to Boards about many individuals and matters far more foreign to his proper affairs than this of the Bible in Korea, in which he of course takes an interest.

저희의 불편한 심정을 말씀드리는 것 같아 죄송하지만 박사님께서 이 모든 일에 대해 명확히 이해하게 되시기를 바랍니다. 그렇지만 루미스 박사는 한국에서의 성경사업에 관한 것 이외에도 그분의 본연의 업무와는 전혀 관계없는 사람들이나 일에 대해 관심을 보이며 여러 본부에 서신을 보낸 것으로 널리 알려져 있습니다.

There is such a multitude of statements in Dr. Loomis' letter and such a lack of order, it is hard to know where to begin.

루미스 박사가 편지에 적어보낸 내용이 너무 많고 그 내용이 순서적으로 기록되지 않았기 때문에 어디서부터 시작해야 좋을지 모르겠습니다.

In regard to the plans in Korea, Dr. Loomis fails to take into account that a change in the personnel of Bible Committees, of missionaries, of agents and of the basis on which these Bible Agencies have united, has brought about from time to time changes in the plans of Bible translation, so that it cannot be said that in all the years of Mission work in Korea any one plan has been followed. One of the very items that has caused more or less delay has been, the not infrequent insistence from outsiders that plans and method should be changed, and whereas one committee have ordered a change in the plans of translation, the next committee, sometimes within a year, has urged a return to the original plan. Such difficulties have largely been overcome, more permanency is maintained in the Bible Executive Committee, and therefore in the Board of Translators.

이곳 한국에서의 계획에 대해 말할 때 루미스 박사는 성서위원회의 인원, 선교사, 요원들에게 변화가 있었고 성서기관들이 연합하는 기본적 원칙에도 변화가 있었기에 이러한 요인들로 인해 성경번역의 계획에 있어서 변화가 있기도 했다는 점을 설명하고 있지 않습니다. 한국에서의 선교 사역에 있어 줄곧 어떠한 하나의 계획이 변함없이 고수되어 왔다고 말할 수 없음은 분명합니다. 일의 진행이 지체되게 했던 것들 가운데 하나의 원인은 국외자들이 심심지 않게 ?방법에 대한 계획이 바뀌어야 한다고 주장했던 것입니다. 한 위원회에서 ‘번역에 대한 어떠한 계획의 변화를 시행해야 한다’고 명하면 그 다음 위원회에서 채 1년도 지나지 않아 다시 본래 세웠던 계획으로 되돌아가야 한다고 주장하는 일이 일어난 것입니다. 그렇지만 이러한 어려움들은 대부분 극복했고 성서실행위원회 그리고 번역위원회에서는 보다 확고하게 일관성을 유지하고 있습니다.

Dr. Loomis says, "The Missionaries in Korea have unfortunately adopted the plan that has been tried in China with practically the same results. It is now thirteen years since the appointment of a translating committee ‘to prepare in two years a tentative edition of the whole New Testament,' and not one portion yet has been completed in permanent form." (Page 1 bottom) and, "The missionaries in Korea adopted the plan originated in China and the result is that after fifteen years there is nothing but some unsatisfactory work yet published." (Page 7 bottom).

루미스 박사는 “한국의 선교사들은 유감스럽게도 중국에서 바람직하지 않은 결과를 가져왔던 그 동일한 계획을 채택했습니다. 번역위원회에서 2년 안에 전체 신약성경의 임시 번역판을 준비하겠다고 약속한 지 이제 13년이나 지났지만 아직 단 한 부분도 항구적 형태로는 완성하지 못한 형편입니다.”(1페이지 하단)라고 말했습니다. 그리고 “한국의 선교사들이 중국에서 시작된 계획을 채택한 결과는 15년이 지난 후에도, 미흡한 내용으로나마 출판된 몇몇 번역 이외에 아무런 것도 이루어진 것이 없다는 사실입니다.”(7페이지 하단)라고 했습니다.

In reply, as to the plan of the Board of Translators, in its translation work, from all that we have been able to learn, it follows the Japanese and not that of China with perhaps the one exception that the Missions have not yet seen their way clear to entirely release their representatives from all other work, and that the Bible Executive Committee who control Bible work, and appoint the Board of Translators, have generally felt that a more serviceable translation would come from men engaged in active work among the Koreans, than from those set apart solely to literary work.

이에 대해 답하려 합니다. 번역 사업에 있어 번역위원회에서 계획한 바에 따르면, 한국의 경우는 중국이 아니라 일본의 경우를 따르고 있는 것으로 알고 있습니다. 다만 선교부에서 번역 사업에 관련한 선교사들이 다른 사역에 전적으로 관여하지 않도록 확실한 결정을 내리지는 않았으며, 성경 사업을 관리하고 번역 위원회의 위원들을 임명하는 성서실행위원회에서 문서 사역의 책임만을 담당하도록 선별된 사람들보다는 한국인들 사이에서 활발히 일하며 일선에서 뛰고 있는 사람들에게서 보다 더 유용한 번역이 나올 수 있다고 생각하는 것은 다른 점이라 할 수 있을 겁니다.

As to the time taken by the Board of Translators, it has taken longer than was first anticipated, but it should be remembered that our Board of Translators was organized at an earlier stage in the development of Korea Mission work than was the case in Japan; and while the Korean translators had the labors of seven previous years to draw from for its work, that of Japan had fourteen year during all of which time, various tentative translations of parts had been made, Christian literature had been prepared and a Christian vocabulary in part settled. The Japanese committee was appointed in 1873, and completed its translation, Mr. Loomis says, in about six years. The Encyclopaedia says, it was finished March 30th, 1880, and first edition published the same year. The present board of Korean translators was appointed in the fall of 1893, and completed its work on the New Testament in the Spring of this year, 1905. The work of course would have been much more quickly accomplished had the Missions providing translators been able to relieve their missionaries from other work or at least have had them all living in one town. Of late years they have all been in one city, have been to quite an extent, set free from other work, and instructed to give Bible work first place.

번역위원회에서 소요한 시간에 대해서 말씀드리면, 처음에 생각했던 것보다 더 많은 시간이 걸린 것은 사실입니다. 그렇지만 우리 번역위원회는 일본의 경우에 비해, 한국에서 선교 사역이 개발되기 시작한 것보다 이른 시기에 조직되었다는 사실을 반드시 고려해야 할 것이라 생각합니다. 한국 번역가들은 번역 사업을 위해 7년 간 사전 작업을 할 시간이 있었습니다만 일본 번역가들은 14년의 시간이 있었고 그 기간 동안 성경의 여러 부분에 대한 다양한 임시 번역본들을 만들 수 있었습니다. 그리고 기독교 문학의 자리가 준비되었으며 부분적으로 기독교 단어집의 기틀이 잡혔습니다.

His statement therefore on your first page, "So far it has been largely individual translation that are still be unified and harmonised into one complete whole. How this will ever be accomplished remains to be seen." (Next line is typed over and unreadable---) is seen to be false. The present New Testament is the translation of the Board, and is looked upon by the members of the Board as practically its paramount version.

루미스 목사는 “일본의 번역 위원회는 1873년에 임명 받았으며 그 번역 작업을 약 6년 내에 마쳤다”고 했습니다. 백과사전에서는 번역 작업이 1880년 3월에 완료되었으며, 그해 초판을 출판하였다는 사실을 보여주고 있습니다. 현재 한국의 번역위원회는 1893년 가을에 임명을 받았고 신약성경에 대한 번역 작업을 올해 1905년 봄에 마쳤습니다. 번역가들을 보내주는 선교부에서 그 선교사들이 다른 일의 책임은 맡지 않도록 해줬거나 혹은 그들이 한곳에 모여 살도록 해주었다면 이러한 작업은 훨씬 더 단기간에 이루어질 수 있었을 겁니다. 최근 몇 년 전부터는 그들이 한곳에 모여 살고 있으며 다른 사역의 책임에서는 상당한 정도로 벗어나 있고 성경 사업을 가장 우선순위에 두라는 지시를 받았습니다.

In this connection on page 5 Dr. Loomis says, "The Korean New Testament is made up of the translation of five individuals, which differ so widely in style and phraseology that when the Translating Board began some months ago with the Gospels to make a thorough revision, they concluded that it would take two years of consecutive and hard work to complete it, and they decided to put it off." The truth is that, at Dr. Loomis' earnest entreaty the Board were persuaded to attempt a revision of the New Testament, but after going over the first five or six chapters of the Gospel of St. Matthew's Gospel (which being in the first place from a first draft prepared by one member of the Board, and in the second place the Board's careful preparation of a translation based on the first draft, it is hard to see how this would show wide differences, in "style and phraseologt"). The Board found that the translation was so near the original, and so easily intelligible to the Koreans, and the only work left for them was a possible polishing of literary style and as this would probably take a longer while, they decided to postpone it. They however after having prepared the New Testament for publication in 1904, did make a re-reading of the whole book, with the view to unify forms of translation and expression, and this has now been in the press for some months. The only reason why the term "tentative" applies to it in any way is, that the constitution of the Bible Executive Committee (not the Board of Translators), provides that," this translation shall be called tentative, and shall be revised in three years." Dr. Underwood has never advocated a revision (page 4 near bottom) of this edition after three years, and the Board of Translators are one in believing that the constitution should be changed, and the present version be made the permanent one in Korea.

그러므로 루미스 박사가 그 첫 번째 페이지에 “지금까지 대부분 개인적으로 이루어진 번역본들을 하나의 완성된 전체로 통합하고 조화시키려고 하고 있습니다. 이러한 작업이 언제나 완성될 수 있을는지 두고 볼 일입니다.” (다음 줄은 알아 볼 수 없음) ___________ 것은 잘못된 것입니다. 현재의 신약성경은 위원회에서 번역한 것이며 위원회의 사람들은 이것이 실제적으로 매우 뛰어난 번역이라 생각하고 있습니다.

Now after completing the New Testament, we are at work on a permanent version of the Old Testament. The first draft of a number of books are ready, the Board's translation of one book has been handed to the Executive Committee, and before this year ends we believe several others will be ready to be printed.

이것과 연결해 5페이지에서 루미스 박사는 “한국의 신약성경은 다섯 명이 개별적으로 번역한 것으로 이루어져 있습니다. 이것들은 각기 그 문체면에서나 표현상에서 매우 광범위한 차이를 보이므로 몇 달 전 번역위원회에서 사복음서를 철저하게 개정하고자 하는 작업을 시작했을 때, 2년 정도 계속 고되게 일해야만 이것을 완성할 수 있으리라는 결론이 내려졌습니다. 그리고 그들은 그 작업을 연기하기로 결정했습니다.”라고 했습니다. 사실은 이렇습니다. 루미스 박사가 간청하여 위원회에서는 신약성경에 대한 개정 작업을 시도해 보기로 했습니다. 그렇지만 마태복음 1장에서 5~6장 정도까지 검토해 본 결과, (우선 위원회 위원 중 한 사람이 초고를 준비한 후, 다음으로 위원회의 사람들이 같이 초고에 기초한 번역을 세심하게 검토했는데 어떻게 해서 “문체와 표현상에서” 광범위한 차이를 보인다는 것인지 납득할 수가 없습니다.) 위원회에서는 이 번역이 원문에 매우 근접하고, 한국인이 매우 쉽게 이해할 수 있기에 남은 일이라면 가능한 한 문체를 보다 가다듬는 일임을 확인했습니다. 이것은 보다 오랜 시간이 필요한 일이므로 연기하기로 결정했던 것입니다. 그럼에도 1904년 신약성경의 출판 준비를 마친 후에 번역의 형식과 표현상에 있어 통일성을 기하고자 신약성경 전체의 재독본을 만들었으며 이것이 최근 몇 달간 인쇄 작업 중에 있습니다. 어떻게든 “임시”라는 용어가 이것에 적용될 수 있는 유일한 이유는 성서실행위원회의 규정에-번역 위원회가 아니라-“이 번역은 임시적인 것이라 할 것이며 3년 내에 개정될 것이다”라고 되어 있기 때문입니다. 언더우드는 3년 후 이 판(版)을 개정하는 것에 전혀 찬성한 바가 없으며 (4페이지 하단 부분) 번역 위원회에서는 그 규정이 개정되어야 하며 현재의 번역이 한국에서 영속적으로 쓰일 수 있는 것이 되어야 한다고 모두들 생각하고 있습니다.

On page 2 second paragraph, Dr. Loomis says, "Instead of completing the New Testament first much time has been taken up by the individual translations of portions of the Old. Of how much value this will prove to be is yet uncertain." and on page 2 third paragraph, "I have continually urged that the translators make a permanent version of the New Testament before attempting other work; but they have decided otherwise and have been giving their time recently on Psalms and Pentateuch Comparing this with the statement of what has been done, as given above, will show how Dr. Loomis misapprehended the state of our affairs.

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Page 2, "Three years later Dr. Underwood came to Japan with a translation of the Gospel of Mark, and had it published by the Scotch Bible Society. The reason given for making only this and a rival version, was that the term that had been used for God did not have the proper meaning. I have not a copy to refer to now, but I am quite sure the term objected to is the same one that is used by all the missionaries in Korea except Dr. Underwood. It has been accepted because there is nothing better." Dr. Loomis says he is quite sure the term objected to is the same, etc. Here his memory fails him, and instead of looking it up, he affirms he is quite sure. Dr. Underwood has the copy in his library and we presume the American Bible Society has copies in New York as well as in Japan, and if looked into, it will be seen that the term used for God was the simple term Shin alone, a modification of which Dr. Underwood urged a few years later as the best to be used in Korea, but which the missionaries with but a few exceptions rejected. The term used in the Gospel of Mark and objected to is not used by any missionary in Korea. The Copy was prepared by Rejoutei at Dr. Loomis' request, and referred to by him in the paragraph immediately preceding that just quoted, was from a native standpoint defective in many ways, but especially because in the first verse of the first Chapter, the use of a simple unmodified character Shin, led to the impression that Jesus was a son of an ancient genii.

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In regard to translation of the Psalms, (See Dr. Loomis' remark on page 2 section 5 & 6 and page 5 last section) we have always been glad Mr. Pieters got out his version of the Psalms; but Dr. Loomis' statement, "Soon after this Dr. Underwood had a version made from the Chinese, and with Mr. Gale's assistance has gone over a considerable portion to prepare this also for publication." is not in concordance with the fact. Before Mr. Pieters began his translation, most of the Psalms had been translated by Dr. Underwood, not from the Chinese at all, but as far as he was able with critical helps, from the original. Just then several missionaries being desirous of speedy translation of some of the Psalms, (the Board at the time being engaged in New Testament work) asked Mr. Pieters to undertake the work, which he did. The present revision of the Psalms that is now before the Board of Translators, is based on Dr. Underwood's work, using of course any suggestions and help, Mr. Pieter's translation may give. Dr. Loomis suggests it would be a pity to, "have so many months of valuable work rendered useless." It certainly is a pity that there is so often re-duplication and overlapping of work on the Foreign Mission field, but it would also be a pity that a great many more months spent by Dr. Underwood in translation, revision and re-revision of the whole work of the Psalms should be wasted.

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As to the time spent in translating work, Dr. Loomis is wrong in saying that the translators have been giving three hours a day only. In Joint session they have been giving four hours a day, and at times when rushed with work, individuals have put in eleven and twelve hours a day, for a month and more at a time, and never does the four hours occupied in joint work, represent by any means the time spent by the translators on translation work, as each has own individual separate preparation, for the joint work.

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On page 5 Dr. Loomis says, "Mr. Kenmure (Agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society) told that in the course of their work, each member of the Board of Translators came to him, and said the translations made by the other members were satisfactory to no one but the author. I know that one manuscript was handed back to the translator to be corrected before the others would touch it at all. Some of the work was such a literal rendering of the original, that its meaning was difficult to understand. Others had aimed to make their work intelligible and adopted a different style. The spelling of the names and the terminology have since been rendered uniform, but with the exception of the portion from Romans to Second Thessalonians, the variety of style and defects of immature and hasty work still exist." This is entirely false. and it must be that either Dr. Loomis misunderstood Mr. Kenmure, or Mr. Kenmure made a mistake in quoting members of the Board, for each and all of us, deny ever having made any such statement. Such things never happened. We cannot imagine where Dr. Loomis got this idea.

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We do not at this time here want to quote Dr. Loomis' lengthy quotation from members of the permanent Bible Committee. You quote it in your letter and it comes half way down on page 6 of the same. In regard to mistakes in that edition of the New Testament, six sevenths of them arose from the fact that Mr. Kenmure does not understand Korean, without even the assistance of a Korean for proofreading, passed it through the press. There was not one serious mistake made by the Board, the few trivial errors that did occur, arose entirely from the fact, that in preparing the entire manuscript, at the request of the Bible Executive Committee, in a specified form of spelling, we were by the same Committee asked to change the form spelling while the Edition was going through the Press.

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A concise history of the translating work might be of assistance to you in coming to the right judgment about the work here.

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Before Korea was opened, Drs. Ross and McIntyre of Mukden had prepared a translation of the entire New Testament with the help of Korean converts, and in 1883 Mr. Loomis employed a Korean known as Rijoutei whose work was published in 1884.

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On our arrival on the field we tried to use these translations, but (there were) difficulties from the start. The version prepared by Drs. Ross and McIntyre was so full of Chinese terms, so badly spelt and badly printed, that while it might be of service on the immediate border of China, it was not found to be of use to us in the Capital. Rijoutei's version was also defective, and the misapprehensions it conveyed made it impossible for us to use it.

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In 1886 Mr. Underwood and Mr. Appenzeller prepared a version of the existing translations which was taken to Japan in the Spring of 1887 to be printed. It was hoped that the three Bible Societies would unite in this, but Dr. Loomis refused to have anything to do with the publication unless it were handed over entirely to the American Bible Society. If this were done he offered to publish at once; but having been instructed by the Korea Missionaries to have it published either by them or by the three Bible Societies, Dr. Underwood did not know what to do until Mr. Thompson of the National Bible Society of Scotland kindly stepped forward and said, they would provide the funds at once and that when published, it could become the joint property of the three Bible Societies or of any two of them, or the National Bible Society of Scotland would take the entire responsibility, or if this were undesirable, he offered to have his society provide the funds and without any claim upon the book, print the same for the missionaries in Korea. This generous offer was accepted and the book was put through the press by Mr. Thompson, and the expense I believe was jointly borne by the "British and Foreign" and "Scotch" Bible Societies.

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Immediately on Dr. Underwood's return Messrs. Appenzeller, Scranton and Underwood were asked by the missionaries in Korea to put considerable time on the translation of individual books. Not a little was done along this line, and a number of general principles to guide the efforts of the translators had been decided on and submitted to a larger (group) of revisors. Quite a considerable portion of the Gospel of St. Matthew was prepared by the Translating Committee and other books were well under way when Mr. Bryant, Agent for the British and Foreign Bible Societies have the translation of Ross and McIntyre used throughout Korea. It seemed evident the New Testament would take some time and there was great need for something at once, and the majority of the missionaries recommended that the Translating Committee turn their attention to correcting the spelling of two books of what was known as the Ross version, and that a trial be made by publication of these. Yielding to the will of the community, translating work was stopped and this was done. By the arrangement of the British agent the Committee was not allowed to do more than correct spelling, and the result was books that could not be read.

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All this time members of the Board and other missionaries were preparing translation. Mr. Fenwick's translation of John was published in 1892, and feeling the need of something being done immediately, Dr. Underwood on his return from America in 1893 brought with him funds for the publication of a version of the whole New Testament that he had almost completed before his return to America.

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However it was represented that individual translations or versions would only create confusion, and that a delay in the publication of the New Testament and the putting out of something with the sanction of the general committee would do more good in the end than the multiplying of versions, that might be caused by the speedy publication of what was ready. Knowing also that others had also done much work in this line and desirous of harmony above all things, the will of the majority was again yielded to, and the new Committee began its work in 1894.

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This new committee consisted of Messrs. Scranton, Appenzeller, Trollop, Gale and Underwood. Mr. Reynolds joined the Board in 1896. The first draft of translations of different books were ordered prepared by different individuals, and at this time the Gospel of St. Mark that had been printed by the National Bible Society of Scotland in 1887, was reprinted and published in Seoul by order of the Committee and the Committee arranged for periods of meeting for joint translation. After considerable had been done on the Gospel of St. Matthew the Bible Executive Committee requested that, individual first draft be handed over for publication as fast as they could be prepared. At the same time the Translating Board was having its periodical meetings at which sessions, as Mr. Gale came from the other side of the country (word 'city' is written in above 'country'), the Board set at work morning and afternoon, and as fast as a Board translation was prepared it was substituted for the individual version.

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As a result of this work, the first copy of the bound New Testament was published in Seoul and Yokohama in 1900, and a special Bible Thanksgiving Sunday on account of it was held on September 9th of that year. At the time of this publication, the Gospel and Acts were joint Board work, the balance were individual translations. Since that time there have been various changes in the personnel of the Board. But in the main the work has fallen upon Messrs. Gale, Reynolds and Underwood, interrupted somewhat by furloughs and sickness as well as other Mission duties. Since 1900 the translators have been taking the first draft and making their translations and in 1904 this was completed.

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The entire change of the spelling, and the mistakes that occurred in the proofreading by Mr. Kenmure in the last Edition, caused the Board to undertake an entire re-reading during 1904-05, resulting in a text, which we and the missionary body consider or permanent version, and which is now in the press.

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In the mean time the Board of Translators have also been preparing for work on the Old Testament, and the Board's translation of Genesis is finished, Psalms partly done and first draft of Exodus in part, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, Ist and 2nd Samuel, balance of Psalms, Ist and 2nd Kings, Proverbs and parts of Isaiah are ready. The Bible Executive Committee have asked for the first draft of such books as will be long delayed, so that small editions of these may be issued for immediate use. The Board hopes to have Pentateuch and Psalms ready in comparatively short time. Thus you have a resume of the work.

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In Japan the first missionaries arrived in 1859; the permanent version of the New Testament was published in 1880, twenty-one years later. The first missionary arrived in Korea, 1884, and the permanent version of the New Testament was ready for press in 1905, and would have been published ere this, but for lack of printing facilities, making not such a very great difference for the two countries.

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In Japan eight years later the whole Bible was ready: we are not prophets, but judging from what has been done in the New Testament, may we not reasonably and fairly expect that in not much over eight years the Old Testament will be ready.

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It is claimed in Dr. Loomis' letter that, Drs. Underwood and Gale have more in their hands than they can accomplish. Certainly every missionary in Korea as in most lands is attempting more than one man's work. If we are not doing the work assigned us, we presume the Mission would look into the matter, and refrain from reassigning it every year.

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As to whether the work done is efficiently or not, is hardly for us to state.

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Despite our wishes to the contrary, the Bible Executive Committee which represents all the Missions in Korea, chose us to undertake the work, and when we have demurred, have insisted that it was the work we must do, and we have yielded.

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Dr. Loomis is in no position to judge of our knowledge of Hebrew. His statement the "Dr. Gale has not studied Hebrew" and in another place that "Dr. Gale has not studied Hebrew at all", and again that, "Dr. Underwood has only such knowledge of as he acquired during his Seminary course", are all of them without foundation, and contrary to fact. We do not claim to be Hebrew scholars, in fact we make no claim of any kind, but we are able at least to read the Hebrew text, and with all the helps and authorities before us, to arrive at intelligent decisions as to the best reading. As to whether our work on the Board has been satisfactory, or whether we are efficient in that place, we naturally refrain from speaking. We simply know that the Bible Executive Committee in Korea, who are every whit as anxious to have the work done as quickly, and as well as possible, as Dr. Loomis can be, have insisted of our being on the Board. The members of our own Mission are every whit as anxious that its members "shall devote their time to that department of work that will yield the best and largest results" and "that the work to be so distributed as to best conserve and advance the whole work", and yet they continue to assign us to more than one kind of work.

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Certainly the Missionaries in Korea believe that there should be a 󰡒Theory of Bible Translation" and they have gone on the principle that where there is so much to be done as in Korea with so few workers, it is not wise to put a man entirely to translation work, and at the same time they have commonly held and preached that a more acceptable translation to the people will result from being prepared by men who were not entirely given up to literary work.

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When with this theory of translation, in practically the same period of time as was required in Japan (21 years from the beginning of Mission work), they have prepared a permanent version of the New Testament, and at the same time according to Dr. Loomis' own statement they have done at least some other work, does it not prove the Korean "theory of translation" is at least as worthy of consideration as that adopted in Japan.

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We do like to be forced to write this kind of letter, but it seems that your letter calls for perfect freedom of speech, and we believe you will understand all that we have said and have to say.

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In regard to Mr. Pieters fitness for the work, we doubt the ability of Dr. Loomis to judge either as to his knowledge of Greek, Hebrew or Korean. We would merely call attention to the fact that his knowledge of Hebrew for instance is not the critical knowledge that would enable him to make fine distinctions and especially fit him for translation work. It is that knowledge which he would gain in learning Hebrew as a child, such a knowledge as might easily lead him to translate, 󰡒Why do the heathen rage?", 󰡒Why are the heather angry?", rather than 󰡒Why are they tumultuous?". His knowledge of Korean is of much the same kind, and when he comes to teach in his classes in school, the boys complain of great difficulty in understanding him. It is true this is caused in part by his accent and faulty pronunciation, but it is also due not a little to the fact that his vocabulary is limited and his distinction not clear. That some at least of the missionaries here not yet thought him ready for Bible translation is shown from the fact that the Bible Executive Committee have not chosen him. It is natural that Mr. Loomis should feel a deep interest in Mr. Pieters, and we fully understand and appreciate it.

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On page 3 (Ist paragraph) of your letter, Dr. Loomis says, "This is a matter of very great importance to the American Bible Society as well as to the various Mission Boards. The Bible Societies have been supplying funds for the support of native helpers and paying travelling and incidental expenses for many years in both China and Korea. More than that, a variety of editions have been published at large relative cost (owing to the comparatively small number required of each) and these have been partly sold at either a high price, or at a discount, while a considerable quantity of unsalable stock will have to be given away or sold for waste paper." Certainly the smaller editions have cost money relative more than if the editions had been larger, but the Koreans are able and willing to pay more than the cost price of the Scriptures. This is one of the items in the principles that underlie our self support plans, and it is the Bible Societies and their Agents that have forced the price as low as it is in Korea, and here it is higher than in either Japan or China. As to unsalable stock to be sold for waste paper, that has not occurred in connection with Korean publications, unless perhaps where an Agent has published a certain edition or editions unauthorized by the Bible Executive Committee, and unsatisfactory to the people and the missionaries.

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On July 3rd, 1903 in Mr. Loomis letter to you, he says, 󰡒At this rate it would take 63 years to revise their individual translations and have them ready for a tentative Edition."

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His prophecy was not quite correct, because in less than two years from that date, the permanent edition was ready and quite a beginning made on the Old Testament.

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In connection we would like to call your attention again to the fact, that according to the theory we have, the best result for the whole work will be produced by a comparatively small committee working harmoniously who at the same time shall have sufficient outside work to keep them in touch with the natives, their needs and methods of expression, and while it seems to have been asserted by some outside of the Committee, that there is lack of harmony, we know of no more harmonious Committee than this in Korea. We do not see how it is possible to have any committee of men that would be harmonious than the present three acting members of the Board of Translators. Certainly we have our differences of opinion; and discussions concerning principles of translation and the individual terms needed, naturally arise from time to time, but through our constant working together we have come in many ways to see eye to eye, and to more and more respect each other's opinions, and after a full discussion to yield to the decision of the majority.

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We trust that you will pardon us for inflicting upon you this lengthy epistle, but the length and nature of your own seemed to demand it.

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