Office Bearers

GS 1965 ARTICLE 192: Rhymed Psalter.

Advisory committee III presents a new draft of the proposals on the rhymed Psalter, Agenda item 8 J 1, 2, 3. They are adopted by the Synod as follows:

  • “The General Synod has taken note of
  • 1.    the report of deputies for an English Calvinist psalter, appointed by the Synod of Hamilton, 1962;
  • 2.    the proposal of the Regional Synod 1965, “that deputies for a Calvinistic Psalter” be authorized to include in the “Book of Praise” hymns which are faithful to the Scriptures, preferably a rhymed version of specific sections of Holy Writ”;[1]
  • 3.    the letter of the Church in Toronto, dated October 4, 1965, expressing the desire “that we should as much as possible try to get a Psalter, that speaks as much the language of our neighbours as is possible without losing our Reformed character”.[2]

The Synod decides

  • 1.    To express great thanks and appreciation to the deputies for the Rhymed Psalter for the many and comprehensive labors they have done in the service of the churches.
  • 2.    To appoint new deputies for the Rhymed Psalter, on the understanding that their number is increased to six.
  • 3.    To instruct these deputies:
    • To revise the Book of Praise – where necessary – and to further develop it so that a complete collection can be offered to the churches in the foreseeable future.
  • In this work, deputies will
    • a.    pay particular attention to scriptural fidelity and understandability of the rhymed version, singability and church musical content of melodies;
    • b.    will try to keep the Psalms now included in the Book of Praise, rhymed by Mr. D. Westra, provided that Mr. D. Westra is willing and able to make improvements to it as deemed necessary by deputies and no significantly better rhymed versions become available before the next edition of the Book of Praise;
    • c.    For the development of the Psalm collection, not to limit oneself to Psalms rhymed by Mr. Westra, but make all use of other possible “sources” so that a complete Psalm collection may be ready in the foreseeable future;
    • d.    Be authorized to include in the Book of Praise, in addition to Psalms , hymns which are faithful to Scripture, preferably rhymed versions of appropriate Scriptures, especially of poetic content;
    • e.    Be authorized to attempt to have certain confessional passages, rhymed or not, set to melody and included in the Book of Praise;
    • f.     With regard to the melodies of Psalms, are not limited themselves to the “Genevan tunes”, but can also use other ways of singing, which are in accordance with the purpose of congregational singing in the worship service: the praise of the Lord;
    • g.    By way of exception, two rhymes of the same Psalm (one set on a Genevan, one set on a different melody) may be included in the Psalm collection, if not including one of these would be a clear loss, especially as far as the melody is concerned;
    • h.    Be authorized, if it proves impossible in the near future to offer a complete Psalm collection to the Churches, to issue a “Supplement” in order to fill the gap between the present Book of Praise and the complete Psalm collection;
    • i.     Where possible, consult with “Deputies on the Church Book in the English Language”, appointed by the Synod of The Free Reformed Churches in Australia;
  • 4.    To authorize deputies to use the assistance of a Publication Committee to take care of the technical, administrative and financial work associated with the publication of the Book of Praise; this committee operates under the responsibility of deputies.
  • 5.    To instruct deputies to submit a financial report to the next General Synod in good time, also for the years 1962-1965.
  • 6.    To request the Church at Bampton, Ont., to review the financial records of the deputies for a Calvinist Psalter and to report on this to the next General Synod.
  • 7.    To instruct deputies to send a report of their work to the next General Synod and to forward a copy of this report to the Churches in good time for their information.
  • 8.    To authorize deputies, if they need to have financial resources for the progress of their work, to call directly on the Churches.
  • 9.    Authorize deputies to conclude the necessary contracts.
  • 10.  To urge the Churches to forward to deputies any corrections, improvements, and the like deemed necessary in the Book of Praise and the “supplement” that might be published.

Press Release version ARTICLE 35: Book of Praise Deputies.

Re: Calvinistic Psalter.

Synod has taken cognizance of

  • 1.    the report of the deputies for an English Calvinistic Psalter, appointed by the Synod of Hamilton 1962;
  • 2.    the overture of the Regional Synod 1965 “that deputies for a “Calvinistic Psalter” be authorized to include in the “Book of Praise” hymns which are faithful to ‘the Scriptures, preferably a rhymed version of specific sections of Holy Writ”:
  • 3.    the letter of the church at Toronto, d.d. October 4, 1965, in which the desire is expressed “that we should as much as possible try to get a Psalter that speaks as, much the language of our neighbours as is possible without losing our Reformed character”.

Synod decides

  • 1.    to express its sincere gratitude and appreciation to the deputies for a Calvinistic Psalter for the extensive and comprehensive work done by them for the churches;
  • 2.    to appoint new deputies for a Calvinistic Psalter, on the understanding that their number be increased to six;
  • 3.    to give to these deputies the following mandate:
    • to review the “Book of Praise” where necessary, and to extend it, that within a measurable space of time a complete collection can be presented to the churches.
  • In this work deputies shall
    • a.    pay special attention to the faithfulness to the Scriptures and intelligibility of the rhymed versions; also that the melodies are suitable for singing and of good quality as church-music;
    • b.    try to keep the Psalms, rhymed by Mr. D. ·westra, in the “Book of Praise”, on the understanding that Mr. D. Westra is willing and able to make improvements deemed necessary by the deputies, and provided that in the meantime no considerably better rhymed versions have become available before the next publication of the “Book of Praise”;
    • c.    for the extension of the Psalter not confine themselves to Psalms rhymed by Mr. D. Westra, but make all possible use of eventual other “sources”, that within a measurable space of time a complete, Psalter be­ come a:vailable;
    • d.    be authorized to include in the “Book of Praise” beside the Psalms also hymns that are scriptural, preferably rhymings of parts of Scripture, especially of poetic character, which are considered suitable;
    • e.    be authorized to try to have certain parts of the confession, either rhymed or not rhymed, set to music and to include them in the “Book of Praise;
    • f.     as to the melodies of the Psalms not be restricted to the “genevan tunes”, but be authorized to use other melodies which are in harmony with this purpose oi congregational singing in the church services: the praise of the Lord;
    • g.    be authorized to publish, by way of exception, two different rhymings of ‘the same Psalm (one on a genevan tune, one on a different tune) in the Psalter, in cases when omission of one of these would clearly mean a loss, especially with regard to the melody;
    • h.    be authorized, if it appears impossible to submit to the churches a complete Psalter in the near future, to publish a “supplement”, to fill the gap between the present “Book of Praise” and a complete Psalter;
    • i.     as much as possible consult with “Deputies for a Church-Book in the English language”, appointed by the Synod of the Free Reformed Churches in Australia;
  • 4.    to authorize deputies to avail themselves of the help of a “Publication Committee” for the technical, administrative, and financial activities, connected with the publication of the “Book of Praise”, which committee shall work under the authority of deputies;
  • 5.    to instruct deputies to submit to the next General Synod a financial report in time, which shall also cover the years 1962-1965.
  • 6.    to request the church at Brampton, Ont. to audit the financial records of the Deputies for An English Calvinistic Psalter, and to report to the next General Synod;
  • 7.    to instruct deputies to submit to the next General Synod a report about their activities, and to send a copy of it betimes to the churches for their information;
  • 8.    to authorize deputies to call directly on the churches, if for the progress of their work ‘they are to have money at their disposal;
  • 9.    to authorize deputies to conclude the necessary contracts;
  • 10.  to stimulate the churches to send to the deputies “whatever corrections, improvements, and such-like are deemed necessary in the “Book of Praise” and the eventual “Supplement”, to be published.”

[1] Translator: In the original Dutch acts, the quote is in English, and so has been included here unedited.

[2] Translator: In the original Dutch acts, the quote is in English, and so has been included here unedited.