LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1932, Page 134

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194 Proceedings of Thirty-Fifth Regular Convention,

and Church, the school and the home. It has been the wish of Synod
that your Board prepare a book-list also for adults; but so far your
Board was unable to agree on principles governing the selection of
books that would measure up to our present high standard. The fact
is that there is hardly a single book published to-day by the genera]
book publishers for adults that can pass the censorship of your Board
and receive its unqualified recommendation. Even the best books
which the world reads to-day are usually not good enough to be given.
a place in the Christian home. Pursuant to Synod’s resolution that
a book-list be prepared for adults, your Board is now making inquiries
at the public libraries of St. Louis and its suburbs regarding the best
books read by the best people. In this way it hopes to find at least
some books that are decently free from objectionable features.

What is said of books for adults does not of course hold true of
books published for juvenile readers. There are church circles in our
country that are quite active in trying to obtain literature fit for
Christian young people, and a number of publishers are responding to
their call, since these circles represent a large group of readers and
are therefore supplying a considerable market. But even these books
champion or condone such things as dancing, the use of rather ques-
tionable expletives, work-righteousness, syncretism, and the like, so
that we must reject even a large number of the better books put out
for juvenile readers. At present quite a number of publishers are
placing on the market so-called Bible-stories, that is, narratives from
the Bible related in the author’s own words and “accommodated to the
understanding of the modern child.” Some of these literary products
are veritable atrocities; their writers are champions of false doctrines,
perverters of God’s Word, and destroyers of the sacred truth rather
than friends of the Bible and men that stand in awe of God’s Word.
It is thus clear that the task of your Board is becoming increasingly
difficult.

It has been suggested to your Board to prepare lists for our circles
also of good plays and pageants which our young people may use
without incurring the danger of giving offense. Your Board has
examined a large number of plays, but very few of them are altogether
without objectionable features. Our young people want plays; but
each pastor must be on his guard and carefully select and edit the
plays that are being used by his young people. Your Board is unable
to prepare a list of plays against which no objection may be raised,
simply because these do not seem to exist. It is for the reasons Just
mentioned that your Board has prepared lists neither of plays nor of
pageants. .

In general, the work of your Board has met with considerable
support within and without Synod. Other churches, Lutheran and
non-Lutheran, are using the book-lists prepared by your Board, since

Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1932. 195

the work done by your Board is regarded as standard. The editors
of our papers have readily allowed the Board space for reports and
articles. Many inquiries, both from pastors and laymen, have been
addressed to our office, and our people in general really seem to ap-
preciate the need of good books for young and old.

In rare instances, objections have been raised against books which
were recommended by your Board. Upon close examination of the
facts involved it was usually found that the matter in dispute con-
cerned points on which Christians may differ. But whenever your
Board was at fault, it gratefully acknowledged the suggestions which
were offered and made the necessary corrections. The matter is men-
tioned here because your Board earnestly desires the cooperation of
our pastors, teachers, and all laymen who are capable of judging in
the matter.

With regard to recommendations to be offered to Synod your
Board suggests the following: —

1. That the first three recommendations adopted by Synod in
1929 be again brought to the attention of all parties concerned. These
recommendations read: “a) That we recommend to our editors to
allow such space in their respective papers for reading-lists and the
like as their limitations allow; b) that our pastors and teachers be
encouraged to call attention to our catalog and our book suggestions
whenever it is possible to do so, particularly in connection with their
work among the children and young people and with church and
school libraries; ¢) that, whenever new books are purchased for
church, young people’s, Sunday-school, and day-school libraries, our
catalog be used as a guide.”

2. That, since in general the literature of to-day is becoming more
and more unfit for Christian people, our pastors, teachers, Sunday-
school superintendents and teachers, the boards of elders of our con-
gregations, and parents in general consider the important question,
“What readest thou?” with ever graver concern and do all in their
power that a keen sense for what is proper reading-matter may be
aroused in our people.

3. That the teachers in our day-schools and our pastors in their
eatechumen classes, young people’s meetings, and wherever oppor-
tunity is offered them give the necessary instruction on this matter,
also, if opportunity presents itself, in their general addresses and
sermons. .

4. That pastors, teachers, and laymen more than ever before
encourage our people to read Synod’s and other periodicals, such as
the Lutheran Witness, the Concordia Junior M essenger, the Walther
League Messenger, and the like, in order that our people, both young
and old, may not only be properly instructed, but also acquire a habi-
tude of reading that which is good and of rejecting what is bad.