MWR : Old hymnals still popular

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June 25, 2012 issue

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Old hymnals still popular

Books first published in 1902 and 1927 remain good sellers for MennoMedia, serving conservative churches

By Tim Huber Mennonite World Review

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For actual church worship services, the Ausbund is still used by a vast majority of Amish congregations. Luthy said the book has been printed 55 times since the 1742 original was pressed in Germantown, Pa. These days 10,000 copies are printed in Lancaster, Pa., almost annually.

“The compiling and publishing of new hymnals by Amish people is very common in the past 25 years,” Luthy said. “I quickly counted about 150 in our holdings in our historical library. Only Amish-compiled cookbooks are done more frequently.”

Modern printing techniques can replicate results typical of the turn of the 20th century, said Terry Graber of Newton, Kan., production director for MennoMedia, the publisher for Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada.

“The two older hymnals MennoMedia still carries and sells are very close to the original printings,” Graber said. “Probably the only real changes have been to update the copyright page.”

He said the 1902 hymnal was first made with brass alloy castings, with a raised score and text that printed directly to the paper. Hand labor was used to fold large sheets into sections, and sewing was done by hand.

Today, high-resolution scanners turn original pages into digital files that go directly to modern printers.

“The final appearance is probably very close to what it looked like a hundred years ago,” Graber said. “What is different is that all materials are manufactured in a factory using automated manufacturing systems that are lightning fast in comparison to what might have involved more hand labor.”

For Burkholder and other singers using the books, it is key that while production methods change, the end result shouldn’t.

“The content and construction of these two books is important to us,” Burkholder said. “Any changes would likely decrease their acceptance among us.

“We do sense the need of adding more songs to our singing reference but would question the wisdom of adding songs to the present books.”

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Comments

I still use mine at home while observing my personal devotions. The song, "Just as I am', (566), of the Church Hymnal, on page 435, is one of my favourites as it was my baptismal song. On one occassion I used this hymnal as part of my contribution to devotions at a local Anglican meeting.

Unfortunately, as a transsexual these days I cannot use the hymnal and singing with other conservative anabaptists - I miss that. Oh well.

- Erika Fels (jun 21 at 4:27 a.m.)
That should have read:" .....I cannot use the hymnal while singing with other conservative anabaptists.....".

I have many happy memories of my time with conservative anabaptist.

- Erika Fels (jun 21 at 4:39 a.m.)
As music editor of GREAT SONGS OF THE CHURCH, REVISED (a hymnal used by Churches of Christ, a conservative group which uses congregational music only) our editorial staff quickly found that memory trumps any other emotional or intellectual stimulation. The "people in the pews" want something that reminds them of their parents when they, parents and kids, were younger. Can't fight memory. And our people often wanted shaped notes, even if less than 3% of our people could read the shapes. Standard round notation just didn't look right. -- Jack Boyd

- Dr. Jack Boyd (jun 21 at 9:42 a.m.)
I would love to find a hymnal called " Songs Of Home". Its not real old but is out of print. I would be so grateful if I could find one. Thanks

- sue beebe (oct 22 at 11:01 p.m.)
Riley's "Songs of Home?" Probably not, but that is available through Amazon.com, along with a couple of other books by the same name. The Riley version is available for download from Google Books and also at http://archive.org/details/rileysongshome00rilegoog.

- Bob Neufeld (nov 19 at 9:23 p.m.)
I would very much like to have an old hymnal, or even sheet music of the hymn which starts Neither do I condemn thee, precious words devine Thanks much

- Nancy Williams (may 4 at 9:41 p.m.)
Nancy, go to NameThatHymndotcom for the lyrics; I also found several renditions on YouTube. Also discovered this song is in Gospel Hymns No. 5 which is available on Amazon. Good luck!

- Debra Bender (may 5 at 12:54 a.m.)

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