# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S559
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

PUBLICATION MATTERS ‘559

[703]
Report of Young People’s Literature Board
Your Board for Young People’s Literature has under the grace

of God functioned continuously and successfully for the past
three years. With the exception of July and August the Board
met each month at Concordia Publishing House to review and

approve or reject all books and manuscripts placed into the hands ~

of the members.

Many hours are spent in reading the contents of books and
manuscripts in order to return a just and fair verdict on their
merits. Reviews of books are duplicated on five cards to be filed
for future reference. Longer reviews are written on the manu-
scripts with suggestions to the author or publisher.

During ¢he past three years the Board has reviewed nearly
700 books. Of these books about 10 per cent must be rejected
because of offensive content or language, trivial or uninteresting
plots, and, in the case of religious books, all matters pertaining
to false doctrine or distortions thereof. a

Exactly 40 manuscripts have been reviewed, and five of them
were accepted for publication. Some of these have enjoyed a wide
sale. Chuck Dressler by G. L. Wind and The Challenge by Olga
Overn have received many favorable comments.

In addition to the routine business of the Board, the members
consider long-range trends. It has been noted, for instance, that
the more expensive books are not selling as well as they did in
the immediate postwar period three years ago. Therefore the
Board is ready at all times to be of service to the readers in calling
attention to good books reasonably priced. Because of the over-
whelming number of objectionable books, the comparatively few
books must be publicized and encouraged for reading.

‘Concordia Publishing House is to -be highly commended for
producing attractive and eye-appealing literature for our young
people. The recent appearance of This Day, our new family maga-
zine, has added immensely to the ever-growing field of Christian
literature. ‘There are also other publishing firms not connected
with our Synod that have been attempting to publish books of
Christian character. These books are examined carefully for any
errors in Christian doctrine. .

The Board has recently considered ways and means of getting
books of better quality into the hands of our readers. Conferences
with Mr. Dorn, Manager of Concordia Publishing House, and other

‘ staff members were conducted to clarify the channels for pub-

licity. Lists have been prepared and sent to all pastors, teachers,
and district officers, The leaders of our Synod have been encouraged