# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S440
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

440 PUBLICATION MATTERS

close to 800. While the number of rejections for reasons of doctei
language, or cost is about the same, more and more books
being listed in the doubtful class. That is, a book may be
lent for educational purposes, may be delightful reading, 0
measure up to our other standards, and yet the book may b
hibitive in cost or contain words or a few sentences which’
objectionable. In actual figures the Board has rejected 80
and placed 152 into the doubtful class. The actual critici
a book is placed on a number of cards, and although the publig
receive notice of these criticisms, there has been little re
in the way of objection to unfavorable reviews.

The number of manuscripts for book publication has for
reasons decreased. During the previous three years the
reviewed 40 manuscripts, while during the past three yea
quite 30 have passed before the Board. The quality of manusg;
has improved somewhat, but in almost everyone there was
tion to lack of plot, tedious development, muddled story co
and the usual irregularities in matters of doctrine and pr
Standing out among all the manuscripts was the fine story by
well-known author G. L. Wind, whose book House of Dreams:
recently published by Concordia Publishing House. It is appa
that some of our would-be authors lack writing experienc
especially the training and schooling which are necessary for.
cessful story writing. Some of the manuscripts received by:
Board have been rejected previously by other publishers.
unfortunate that more of the manuscripts could not be acc
Unless these stories are so well written that they will have a wit
accepted appeal, it is impracticable for Concordia Publishing He
to put these manuscripts into print.

The Board is also aware of trends in present-day book pr
tion and consumption. At various times the Board has
reviews found in other church periodicals. The Board has
aged a greater dissemination of book reviews. There should
a greater circulation of new book reviews. Despite the ing
television, movies, and radios have made upon the reading
the booksellers have not suffered measurably. It is imper
therefore, that our Christian friends become acquainted wi
best in reading.

Your Board would again recommend that Synod in s
would encourage our people to choose their reading matter
tiously and investigate novels and stories with great care.. Weg
that our readers need more and more guidance in the selecti
books for the home, school, Sunday school, and church libr

Your Board also urges that Synod consider the ‘possibil
circulating more book reviews on worth-while books.