# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S1203
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

59
4 PUBLICATION MATTERS

has begun a
Dr. G. Stoeckhardt’s Commenta:
translated by Dr. M. NS)

At this tj

GENERar, Lrrerature Boarp
O. Nizrinc, Secretary

U :
pon recommendation of Committee 8 Synod resolved:

W Resolution 3
that i ae report of the General Literatur,
Chae aithfully and conscientiously studied

ren with respect to literature requirements:

e Board indicates
the needs of our

~

595

PUBLICATION MATTERS

Report of Young People’s Literature Board
(Memorial 703)

ince the last convention of the Missouri Synod at Milwaukee

oung People’s Literature Board has continued its work of

fiewing books of all kinds that have been published in the last

e years, has considered manuscripts that were submitted with

ew to having them published by our Concordia Publishing
e, and has taken care of sundry matters pertaining to the

Hities of establishing bases for Christian literature.

® Working under the gracious hand of God, the members of the

ae have found the work both pleasant and rewarding. Under

@ leadership of the Board chairman, Dr. John Theodore Mueller,
¢ Board consumed a considerable amount of time and energy in

- Gerying forward the program of providing our Missouri Synod
“With the best in reading materials. Dr. Mueller has been with the

Board 23 years and has witnessed quite a few changes in the

"personnel of the Board. Just in the past three years Mr. Clarence
Tucker, a teacher member, tendered his resignation because of
: health and much work. Regretfully the Board accepted his resig-

nation and petitioned the President of Synod, Dr. J. W. Behnken,
to appoint a successor. Mr. Delbert Pranschke, teacher at St. John’s
School in St. Louis, was chosen as the new member. Very recently
Pastor John Ott also asked to be relieved, and Dr. Behnken chose
Pastor Francis Roschke of Peace Congregation, Lemay, Mo., as
the new member. At times the Board has expressed the opinion
that an additional member ought to be placed on the Board because
of the increase in the amount of work. The other two members of
long standing are the vice-chairman, Pastor A. H. Herpolsheimer
of Edwardsville, [ll., and the secretary, A. H. Stellhorn, principal
of St. John’s School in St. Louis, Mo.

When previous reports are studied, it becomes obvious that
the volume of printed matter, particularly stories for children and
young people, has been on the increase. It seems that about every
three years the number of books reviewed rises. Whereas in other
years only some 600 to 700 books were read, the Board has read
close to 800. While the number of rejections for reasons of doctrine,
language, or cost is about the same, more and more books are
being listed in the doubtful class. That is, a book may be excel-
lent for educational purposes, may. be delightful reading, or even
measure up to our other standards, and yet the book may be pro-
hibitive in cost or contain words or a few sentences which are
objectionable. In actual figures the Board has rejected 80 books
and placed 152 into the doubtful class. The actual criticism of
a book is placed on a number of cards, and although the publishers