# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S872
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

PUBLICATION MATTERS 289

Wuereas, The theological students of today — as well as many
younger pastors—no longer use Luther’s works because of the
barrier of language and hence are denied the use of some of the
best literature of the Church; and

Wuereas, The many free translations (translations made to
serve the purpose of the moment) create confusion arid doubt as
to what Luther really said and meant at a given time and in given
circumstances, and the constant repetition of the available quota-
tions tends to render Luther stereotype and stale; and

Wuereas, At the present time we have only a portion of Lu-
ther’s works translated and many of these portions not in their
entirety; and

Wuereas, The works of other Reformers are available in the
English language and Luther still remains to a large extent the
“forgotten man”; and

Wuereas, We have in our circles the men who have the schol-
arly talents and the linguistic ability required for such a task,
a situation which will'be, no doubt, perceptibly altered within the
next twenty-five years;

Therefore since a definite need exists and the obligation is ap-
parent, we humbly petition Synod to seriously consider the feasi-
bility and the possibility of preparing for publication a complete
and authoritative translation of the Complete Works of Dr. Martin
Luther; to study the necessary financial aspects involved; to study
the means of securing permission to use the copyrights on existing
translations with a view to the embodiment of acceptable transla-
tions in a complete work of translation.

In support of the above petition, we ask Synod to consider
carefully the following suggestions:

1. Possible co-operation of all Lutheran Synods in this work,
since the works of Dr. Martin Luther constitute a common heritage
to all; and,

2. The possibility of Synod guaranteeing or underwriting the
financial commitments which would be involved in undertaking the

above-mentioned task. (A publishing house would hardly under- |

take such a project without reasonable assurance that it would be

a paying proposition.) .
Tue BarTHoLomew County (Inp.) PasroraL CoNFERENCE
Aucust E. Braver, Chairman WALTER ELLWANGER
P. G. Nau Roy E. Guetzow
Enw. HorreRKAMP ARVIN TWIETMEYER
Louis ScHULENBURG Bernarp L. DANNER

Reports and Memorials : 19