# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1938_S254
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

254 Publication Matters

We have now progressed far enough in our work to prepare
the entire manuscript for the press. This preparation will mean
a careful going over of all texts in the light of the criticisms and
suggestions that have been received and that are still coming in.
We shall allow another three months for such comments and then
proceed with the final preparation for publication. God willing,
the new hymnal could then possibly be published some time during
the year 1939. We have received an increasing number of requests
from congregations and conferences that no time be lost in the
publication of the new hymnal, as many have postponed purchasing
and repairing books in anticipation of its appearance.

We further suggest that the tune edition of the new hymnal,
as outlined hereinafter, be the authentic edition and that for day-
and Sunday-schools a less expensive tune edition (unabridged) be
published by using cheaper paper and stiff-paper covers. Such
a practise js common in some circles. We also suggest that Synod
authorize Concordia Publishing House to offer the authentic edition
at the lowest possible price and to take our present hymnal in trade
at a reasonable allowance. As the younger generation is receiving
excellent training in singing and note-reading, and as many of our
people prefer to sing from the tune edition, we suggest that our
congregations be encouraged to purchase this edition for church use.

In the selection of tunes for the various hymns we did not
only bear in mind that they should be good church music and
suited to the text, but we have also, where desirable, considered
general usage. The hymn-books of practically all leading church
denominations have been consulted and compared to see what tunes
are used for the different hymns. Some good tunes have been
tentatively dropped because they are not in common use, although
they are found in many hymnals (“Geduld, die soll’n wir haben,”
“Christ lag in Todesbanden,” ‘Tallis Canon,” and others). That
a tune is found in many hymnals does not always mean that it
also is in common use. One or the other of these may still be
substituted, especially in cases where a tune is used for more than
one hymn, or it may be placed in the rear of the book, possibly
without a text, as is done in some hymnals. Other good tunes,
not in our present hymn-book (“Heut’ triumphieret Gottes Sohn,”
“Hannover,” “F]lacombe,” and others), may be included in a similar
manner.

In the liturgical section of the hymnal we have made only
minor changes in the Morning, Evening, and Matins services, but we
are offering additional settings for the chants because of the many,
requests that have come to us to do so. We propose that these chant
settings be placed in the rear of the book, as indicated hereinafter.