# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1938_S259
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

SETAE TST Be a

Publication Matters 259

delayed for two months. We were thus deprived of the time
necessary for careful proof-reading.

Despite the fact that only about five weeks of a very busy
season were given our pastors and teachers for consideration of the
proof-print, many of our brethren made a very careful study of it
and sent us their suggestions for further improvement of the
Catechism. We are deeply indebted to them for their painstaking
labors and especially for the cordial and cheering tone of their
communications. They deserve our most sincere gratitude for their
kindness, assistance, and encouragement. It is a matter of deep
concern to us that we could not find the time to act upon the
many requests for reply. :

The overwhelming number of communications shows that the
revision has the approval of most of our pastors and teachers.
Some brethren approve of it very enthusiastically; others also ap-
prove of it but desire to have certain additions, omissions, or altera-
tions made.

The bold-faced type used for emphasis has met with the gen-
erous approval of nearly all our brethren. Copious illustrations
and graphs, a glossary, an index, additional prayers, etc., are re-
quested. ,

The brief essays “Dr. Martin Luther” and “The Synodical Con-
ference” are considered a valuable addition by many pastors and
teachers. However, the suggestion is made by some brethren that
these be omitted from the Catechism and printed in tract form
suitable for insertion in the Catechism and that these tracts be
furnished gratis with every Catechism. This suggestion has its
merits and deserves consideration.

Your Committee now asks for more time to complete the task
assigned to it. Following are the reasons.

1. The proof-print is not to be considered as having the final
form in which it is to be presented to Synod for adoption. It was
our purpose to get the reactions of our pastors and teachers and to
be guided by their reactions in our further efforts to produce a
revision which would be acceptable. The suggestions have now
been tabulated and should be carefully considered. The latter can-
not be accomplished before Synod meets in June of this year.

2 Some brethren have asked that action upon the revision be
deferred in order that they may have opportunity to study it care-
fully and even to try it out in their work.

3. The revised Catechism will probably be in use for many
years to come; it should therefore be as good a Catechism as can
be produced to meet the needs of our present generation.

4. Our revision has been prepared on the basis of the old trans-