W. //colleen Bentley. By his Widow. (R.T.S. 6s. net.)—Dr. Bentley
went out to the Congo in 1879; he left it for the last time in 196f, and died some fifteen months later. His labours met with considerable success ; and the public has the opportunity of reading of them as described by himself in his " Pieneering on the Congo." Dr. Bentley took a wider outlook than the missionary is sometimes equal to. He interested himself in the various aspects of native life. In this biography we have many proofs of the keenness and common-sense with which he was accustomed to observe. Much of his time was given to the work of translation. To this he devoted himself with his usual thoroughness. He appreciated, and did not seek to evade, the difficulties which beset the attempt to transfer ideas from one language to another, when these occupy what may be described as different levels of thought. In 1893 the New Testament was finished. He afterwards worked on parts of the Old Testament. The "Church Rules" adopted at Waltson, the station where Dr. Bentley spent the greater part of his missionary life, are note- worthy. The restriction on slavery is positive. A Christian may not buy or sell a human being. If a slave is given to him, or comes by way of inheritance, he must be freed. A convert may be accepted with more than one wife, but be must not bear office. On the other hand, he is not commanded, but is forbidden, to put them away. "The Lord Jesus has taught us that a man shall not put away his wife for any other cause except adultery."
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