04 Aug GS 1980 art 122

Posted at 16:51h in CanRC, GS 1980 by

GS 1980 ARTICLE 122 – Book of Praise

(Psalm and Hymn Section) Committee I presents:

A. Material –  Agenda VIII,

  • B, 1 –  Report of the Committee for the Revision
  • Psalms and Hymns with enclosures: Psalm and Hymn Section.
  • B, 2 – Letter from the Church at Watford re: Commit­ tee on Church Book.
  • B, 3 – Proposal from the Church at Hamilton re: Psalm and Hymn Section.
  • B, 4 – Letter from br. M. Menken re: Psalm and Hymn Section.
  • B, 5 – Letter from br. S. VanderPloeg re: Psalm and Hymn Section.
  • B, 6 – Letter from various organists re: Hymn Sec­tion.
  • B, 7 – Letter from br. J.H.W. Vanderbrugghen re: Hymn Section.

B. Observations

I. Hymn Section

  • 1. Synod Coaidaie 1977 gave the Committee the following addition to its mandate:
    • a) to coordinate the work of the Committees on the Church Book (Com­mittees for Psalm and Hymn Section and for Doctrinal and Liturgical Forms).
    • b) to seek ways and means to make available to the membership of the Churches, the harmonization of the Psalms and Hymns which will be found in the definite edition of the Book of Praise and, if at all possible, insert those harmonizations in the Book of Praise.
    • c) to have their complete and definite reports ready by January 31, 1980, so that copies of these reports can be in the possession of the Churches nine months before the convening of Synod 1980, as pro­ vided by the Synod of Orangeville, 1968, Acts, Article 41 (see Acts, 1977, Article 60).
  • 2. From the report of the Committee it appears that:
    • a) The completion of the Hymn Section received preference over the Psalm Section.
    • b) As far as rhyming is concerned, all suggested changes and remarks have been considered and evaluated; some proposed changes were not acceptable because of incorrect wording or prosody (see Appendix I).
    • c) In spite of the request to change “archaic” language in some Hymns, the Committee decided to keep these rhymings without change because otherwise a totally new rhyming of these Hymns would have been needed.
    • d) There were definite reasons for the deletion of some hymns and the addition of others, since some were unnecessary duplications, while others were “borderline cases” as far as truthfulness to Scripture is concerned (Old Hymns 20 and 27). The need for adding some hymns resulted from following the order of the Apostles’ Creed.
    • e) The Committee on the Book of Praise presents the final draft of the Hymns to Synod in an enclosure (Green Booklet).
    • f) Criticisms and requests for reinstating certain tunes were met as far as possible.
    • The matter of the choice and notation of the hymn tunes created difficulties. Many reactions, often critical, were received and advice was asked for and received from brothers whom the Committee “con­sidered knowledgeable.” The “Vereniging van Nederlandse Kerkor­ ganisten” was approached and found willing to verify the work of the Committee. From the advice received, differences with respect to the aesthetical (lay-out) and technical (time signatures, notation, acciden­tals and rests) aspects became apparent.
    • g) The final draft of the music of the Hymn Section has been prepared which shows that a number of melodies have been replaced and some well-liked tunes from the Hymn Section 1972 have been inserted (Appendix II).
  • 3. Eight organists have directed a series of requests to Synod since they – for one reason or another – were too late in writing to the Committee. They request:
    • a) not to adopt the Hymn Section as final;
    • b) to review the relevant material;
    • c) to give direction to achieve more uniformity;
    • d) to return to the melodies in the manner in which we used to sing them. They base their requests on the following:
      • a) The Committee proposed to have 80 hymns in the final edition;
      • b) there are many differences in the music notation between Hymn Sec­tion 1979 and the “Music Edition of the Book of Praise”;
      • c) there is a lack of uniformity in the “rest values”;
      • d) the “new melodies” in the Hymn Section are not an improvement.
  • 4. Br. M. Menken requests Synod to bring the Old Hymn 29 back into the Book of Praise, and to delete Hymn 1.
  • 5. Br. J.H.W. Vanderbrugghen “cannot appreciate or agree with many melodies and musical notation.” He gives a long historical review and a technical description of tempos, rests, and time-signatures and makes recommendations on these points.
  • He further touches upon matters similar to the ones mentioned in the letter of the organists and offers severe criticism on Hymn 1 and 38. He recommends Synod “not to accept the Provisional Hymn Section in its present form.”

II. Psalm Section

1. The remarks received by the Committee on the Psalm Section were few in number. All the rhymings have been scrutinized and some Psalms have been “changed substantially,” others have been “replaced completely,” almost none have been left untouched to “stay as close to the unrhymed text as we could.”

2. Br. S. VanderPloeg feels “that some problems have not been dealt with adequately”; his prime concern lies with the ··word-tone relation”:

a) long notes were used by the composers of the Genevan tunes to emphasize key-words in the text;

b) the tunes were so constructed that the melodic climaxes coincided with textual climaxes;

c) as a result, the text does not have its intended effect and the melody loses its character.

He, therefore, requests that the Book of Praise “not be made a per­manent one in order that some of the drawbacks may be rectified in future editions.”

3. No further material which deals specifically with the Psalms has been submitted to Synod.

4. The Committee presents the final draft of the Psalm Section to Synod in an Enclosure (Yellow Book), in which must be incorporated the changes mentioned in Appendix Ill, B (list of alterations).

III. Book of Praise (both sections)

  • 1. The Committee on the Book of Praise (Psalm and Hymn Section) consid­ers it to be imperative that the definite text be approved and that their mandate has been fulfilled, “realizing that all work is imperfect and that there is always room for improvement.”
  • They do not propose to appoint or continue the Committee for the
  • Book of Praise (Psalm and Hymn Section).
  • 2. Since the last Synod, 1977, there was a change in membership. Rev. C. Van Dam resigned because of his move to another Province.
  • 3. The contact with the Australian Deputies was continued; their remarks and suggestions were taken into account.
  • 4. A letter was passed on to the Committee drawing the attention to a forth­ coming conference on Psalmody (Appendix IV).
  • The Committee “would appreciate Synod’s judgment on the desirability of representation at such a conference.”
  • 5. It appears that the interest for the Book of Praise is growing, also in circles outside the Canadian Reformed Churches.
  • 6. Synod Coaldale 1977 appointed a Committee to “coordinate the work of the committees working on the contents of the Book of Praise” (Acts, Article 60).
  • 7. From the contact with these Committees “it has become evident that our Church book cannot be issued (as yet) in the form as we would like to see it.” It, therefore, “does appear advisable to include in the next printing of the Book of Praise revised forms … as may be approved by your assem­bly.”
  • The advice is given “to have the revised rhymings of the Psalms and Hymns as adopted by Synod in one book with the Confessional and Litur­gical Forms as we have them at the moment, and to publish adopted Forms in a separate booklet to prevent confusion.”
  • 8. The suggestion is made to insert into the Book of Praise four different “Suggested Order of Worship.” Suggested, because Synod should not adopt a specific Order which is mandatory for the Churches.
  • 9. The Churches, when adopting the final Book of Praise (Psalm and Hymn Section) must ensure that the rights of the Churches be safeguarded in order to keep control over the Book of Praise. The Committee deems it necessary that a standing Committee be appointed, that such a Commit­ tee be incorporated and receive a specific mandate:
    • 1. The Committee shall be called: Committee for the Publication of the Book of Praise of the Canadian Reformed Churches.
    • 2. The Committee shall hold the copyright of the Book of Praise on behalf of the Canadian Reformed Churches.
    • 3. The Committee shall consist of five members, to be appointed by General Synod.
    • 4. The Committee shall have the following duties:
      • a. to prepare the contents of the definitive Book of Praise (Psalms, Hymns, Prayers, Forms, Creeds) for printing and publication according to synodical decisions and directives;
      • b. to arrange by contract for the printing, binding, and distribution of the Book of Praise under the best-possible conditions and guarantees;
      • c. to see to it that the Book of Praise remains at all times available to the Churches at reasonable prices;
      • d. to incorporate in future printings of the Book of Praise any changes, corrections, deletions, and additions as decided by General Synods;
      • e. to supervise the sale of the contents of the Book of Praise in whole or part to other interested parties in agreement with the copyrights;
      • f. to meet as often as the fulfilment of this mandate demands, and to arrange for reimbursement of any expenses incurred in the course of its work;
      • g. to report on all its activities to each General Synod in due time. The Committee has obtained legal advice regarding this mat­ter (Appendix V). “It is proper to mention to your assembly that the substantial legal fee (which was paid by your Committee) has been returned to us as a donation.”
    • 10. For the purchase of copyrights and rhymings the Committee was autho­rized to appeal to the Churches for financial means; the actual printing has been done by a separate Publication Committee. The money from the Churches was used solely for the contents of the Book of Praise. For the printing of the Hymn Section 1979, a collection was asked of the Chur­ches (Appendix VIII).
    • 11. The decision of Synod Coaldale 1977, Acts, Article 60, Recommendation 7 “to seek ways and means to make available to the membership of the churches the harmonization of the Psalms and Hymns which will be found in the definite edition of the Book of Praise, and if at all possible insert those harmonizations in the Book of Praise” was not executed. The grounds for this decision are:
      • a) harmonizations of the Psalms are readily available and harmonization of the Hymns has been made available in a Music Edition;
      • b) Reformed Churches have never produced Psalm books with a four-part setting;
      • c) by showing a four-part setting in our Church book, we could be open­ing doors to church-choirs and the importance of congregational unison singing, insisted upon by our churches since the Reformation of the 16th century, is diminished.
    • 12. The Committee requests Synod that two members of the Committee be given the privilege of the floor when Synod discusses the Book of Praise (Psalm and Hymn Section).
    • 13. The Church at Hamilton proposes “that the Revised Psalm and Hymn Section submitted be accepted provisionally only, and not be approved as a final product, and that it be used and tested by the churches until such a time as the complete Church book can be finalized.”
    • For this proposal Hamilton gives the following grounds:
      • a) it is extremely difficult to examine the revised Psalms and Hymns in the short period before Synod;
      • b) only the consistories received the revised Psalm Section: the congre­gations did not have an opportunity to try and test them;
      • c) the complete Church book is not ready.
    • 14. The Church at Watford overtures Synod to re-appoint the Committee on the Church book, on the ground “that the churches were not able to scru­tinize the material in the short time made possible for it.”

C. Considerations

I. Hymn Section

  • 1. Considering the mandate given to the Committee by Synod Coaldale 1977, combined with the mandates given by Synod New Westminster 1971, namely “to complete the Book of Praise,” and Synod Toronto 1974. namely “to further improve the Hymn Section of the Book of Praise; and for this purpose evaluate the remarks and criticisms which have already been received and may be received,” it must be concluded that the Com­mittee has fulfilled its mandate. It has become imperative that the Churches, after having gone through several “provisional editions” and additions, receive a final edition for use in the worship services.
  • 2. The deletion of rhymings and the addition of others has been done on the basis of decisions of Synod Orangeville 1968 (Acts, Article 87, 7b): “to delete those rhymed versions which lack the close conformity to the Scripture-text and those which lack simplicity and clarity of expression” and “those which are not scriptural in content” (e.g. Hymn 3, 16, 27, 28, 48, 55) and which show a serious omission (Hymn 31: omission of the second last verse of Psalm 139).
  • As to the deletion of duplicates: see – Synod Edmonton, 1965 Acts, Article 35, Decision 3g.
  • 3. The final draft of the music shows that many remarks have been taken into consideration. Although it is regrettable that the matter of the choice and notation of melodies has created some difficulties, Synod can be grateful for the result in the “Green Booklet” and as presented in Appendix II, B.
  • 4. Your Advisory Committee has scrutinized the latest proposed changes in rhymings and melodies and considers that:
    • a) An alternate melody for Hymn 1 is desirable, since there still are complaints about the existing one as being too “gregorian.”
    • b) There should be consistency in the use of rests at the end of musical lines.
    • c) The first note in Hymn 9 should be 1/4 instead of 1/2 note.
    • d) Hymns 8 and 10 are not very suitable for congregational singing in rhyming as well as in melody. They indicate a recitative story which is too long and it does not serve the purpose for which the Hymn Section is prepared (Synod Orangeville 1968, Acts, Article 87, Recommenda­tion 7, b sub 3: to delete those tunes which are not considered conducive to the purpose of the singing of the covenant people, namely: “the praise of the Lord”).
    • Further, it “lacks simplicity and clarity of expression required for
    • the songs of the covenant” (Acts, Article 87, Recommendation 7, b sub 1). Since Hymn 10:1, 9, 10 are suitable for congregational singing, this Hymn should be retained.
    • Hymn 8 should be deleted.
    • e) In Hymn 25 one note should be added in the 5th and 7th bar to make the tune to fit all stanzas.
    • f) In Hymn 37 the melody does not fit the text of “Praise the Holy Spirit,” since this melody is not a “song of Praise.” Another tune shouId be found.
    • g) Hymn 38 should be sung on the melody of old Hymn 53, since many complaints are voiced and the tune has an unresolved ending.
    • h) Hymn 39 should not be sung on the proposed tune (in Appendix II, B), but on the one used in the present Hymn Section.
    • i) Hymn 48 can better be sung on the setting of old Hymn 54 in the blue edition.
    • j) In Hymn 55 the word “John’s” should be replaced again by “our.”
    • k) Hymn 64 should be deleted and be replaced by old Hymn 29.
    • I) Hymn 2 should be replaced by old Hymn 46.
    • m) In Hymn 34:4 the proposed change in Appendix I namely “The Author” into “Precursor” should not be taken over.
  • 5. It has become apparent from the Committee report and the appen­dices that the requests of the organists have been anticipated and/or are inserted under Consideration 4.
  • 6. Synod Coaldale 1977 did not decide to have 80 hymns as proposed by the Committee; the Committee “estimated” that with the addition of rhymed portions of Scripture the number would become 80.
  • 7. The difference in music notation in the Hymn Section and the “Music Edition” is of no concern to Synod, since the edition of a Music Edition was not in the mandate given to the Committee.
  • 8. The grounds adduced by the Churches at Hamilton and Watford are not sufficient to decide to adopt the Hymn Section only “provisionally,” thereby postponing the printing of a complete Psalm and Hymn section unnecessarily, or “to re-appoint the Committee on the Book of Praise (Psalm and Hymn Section).”

D. Recommendations

Synod decide:

  • 1. Thankfully to adopt the Hymn Section of the Book of Praise as the final edition for use in the worship services of the Canadian Reformed Chur­ches, with the understanding that:
    • a) the considerations 4, a-m are incorporated;
    • b) room is left open for necessary changes in future editions.
  • ADOPTED
  • 2. Not to accede to the request of the 8 organists “not to adopt the Hymn Section as final.”
  • 3. Not to accede to the request of br. Vanderbrugghen “not to adopt the Hymn Section in its present form.”
  • 4. Not to adopt the proposal of the Church at Hamilton “to provisionally accept … the Hymn Section and approve it as a final product.”
  • 5. Not to adopt the proposal of the Church at Watford.
  • ADOPTED
  • A motion to include Hymn 29 (old Hymn section) is adopted.
  • Motions to retain Hymn 8 (new Hymn section) and Hymn 33 (old Hymn section) are defeated.

C. Considerations

11. Psalm Section

  • 1. The Committee, in scrutinizing, changing and replacing of Psalm rhymings, has fulfilled the mandate given since General Synod Toronto 1974 when the two sections were accepted by Synod. (Toronto 1974, Acts, Article 159, C; Recommendation 2, a, b: “to remain diligent with respect to possible improvements of this section.”)
  • 2. The mandate given by Synod Coaldale 1977 “to have their complete and definite reports ready by January 31, 1980” (Acts, Article 60, Recommen­dation 8) has been fulfilled.
  • 3. The fact that the Psalm revision (Yellow Book) was received later than anticipated and planned is understandable since “being diligent with respect to improvements was a painstaking and time consuming work” (Report Committee to Synod Coaldale 1977, I, 1), and “more time is needed before … a committee can come with a proposal for a definite version” (Report Ill, 4).
  • 4. The difficulty with the “word-tone relation” is partly caused by the fact that the Genevan tunes were used for French texts which causes prob­lems for English texts.
  • However, the recommendation of br. VanderPloeg “not to make the Book of Praise a permanent one” is valid and room must be left for future changes.
  • 5. It has become imperative that the Churches receive a final edition for use in the Worship Service, since “it appears advisable to do our utmost endeavour to see to it that the Synod 1980 can make the final decisions on a complete Book of Praise, which will contain not only the rhymings of Psalms and Hymns but also the Confessional and Liturgical Forms and the Church Order” and “the Churches should be provided with a definite edition of the Book of Praise as soon as possible” (Synod Coaldale 1977. Acts, Article 60, Considerations 1 and 5).

D. Recommendations

Synod decide:

  • 1. Thankfully to adopt the Psalm Section of the Book of Praise as the final edition for use in the Worship Service of the Canadian Reformed Churches, with the understanding that room be left open for necessary changes in future editions.
  • ADOPTED
  • 2. Not to adopt the proposal of the Church at Hamilton “that the revised Psalm and Hymn Sections be accepted provisionally only and not approved as a final product.”
  • ADOPTED

C. Considerations

III. The Publication of the Book of Praise –  Psalm and Hymn Section

  • 1. The proposal “not to continue the Committee (Psalm and Hymn Section)” is well-founded.
  • 2. The Committee does not make any suggestions as far as the “desirability to represent Synod at a conference on Psalmody” is concerned. Since interest has been shown in wider circles, such representation may be con­ducive to future improvements and may generate more interest for the Book of Praise.
  • 3. The coordination of the work of the Committees on the Book of Praise had the attention of previous Synods which considered that “a standing committee for the Church book has to take care of the distribution … , has to prepare the next edition and to include the finalized edition of the Church Order” (Synod New Westminster 1971, Acts, Article 28, Consid­eration h, 2 and Recommendation J, 2). This Synod has to decide how this coordination shall be executed.
  • 4. The progress in coming to a complete Church book should not be held up. The advice of the Committee to have the Psalm and Hymn Section printed with the existing Forms is well presented. The publication of the final Psalm and Hymn Section should not wait until the Forms are adopted.
  • 5. The matter of “Suggested Orders of Worship” has never been in a man­ date given to the Committee. The order of Worship is in the freedom of the Churches.
  • However, these suggested orders may well serve as models of Reformed Liturgy in the Book of Praise.
  • 6. The matter of safeguarding the rights of the Churches was already con­sidered at Synod New Westminster 1971.
  • This Synod made a decision: “after the first printing has been made available a standing committee for the Church Book has to take care of distribution, has to be the address for remarks etc., has to prepare, when necessary, the next printing and to include a finalized edition of the Church Order” (Acts, Article 28, Recommendation 8). Synod Toronto 1974 decided: “to add to the mandate … to take such measures that the churches retain full control over the contents of the Book of Praise.” (Acts, Article 159 J, Recommendation 2, a).
  • 7. The matter of the legal ownership in the property of the Churches has to be resolved by giving a Standing Committee a legal personality as a body dependent on Synod and with a close relationship between Synod and the work of this Committee.
  • 8. For the proposal of the Church at Hamilton reference is made to II. Con­sideration 4 of this report.
  • 9. It is a reason for thankfulness that the financial obligations could be met.

D. Recommendations

Synod decide:

  • 1. Thankfully to adopt the Psalm and Hymn Sections, with the understand­ ing that room is to be left open for changes, deletions and additions in future editions.
  • ADOPTED
  • 2. To express special thanks to the brothers Rev. G. VanDooren and M.M. DeGroot who have been members of the Committee on the Book of Praise since Synod Homewood/Carman 1954, and to thank all the brothers who during the past years have been members of the Committee and were involved in the work of composing a Genevan Psalter, with an added Hymn Section, especially the brothers Dr. W. Helder, W. VanderKamp and the Rev. W.W.J. VanOene, M.Th.
  • ADOPTED
  • 3. To appoint a “Standing Committee for the Book of Praise of the Canadian Reformed Churches” and to authorize this Committee to incorporate itself.
  • ADOPTED
  • 4. To give this Committee the following instructions:
    • a) The Committee shall be called: Committee for the Publication of the Book of Praise of the Canadian Reformed Churches.
    • b) The Committee shall hold in trust and protect the copyright of the Book of Praise on behalf of the Canadian Reformed Churches.
    • c) The Committee shall consist of five members, to be appointed by General Synod.
    • d) The Committee shall have the following duties:
      • i) to prepare the contents of the definitive Book of Praise (Psalms, Hymns, Creeds, Forms, Prayers, and Church Order) for printing and publication according to synodical decisions and directives;
      • ii) to arrange by contract for the printing and binding of the Book of Praise under the best possible conditions and guarantees;
      • iii) to handle the sale and distribution, in whole or part, of the Book of Praise and to deal with all other related activities to the best interest of the Canadian Reformed Churches;
      • iv) to see to it that the Book of Praise remains at all times available to the Churches at reasonable prices;
      • v) to incorporate in future printings of the Book of Praise any changes, corrections, deletions, and additions as decided by General Synods;
      • vi) to supervise the sale of the contents of the Book of Praise, in whole or part, to other interested parties in agreement with the copyrights;
      • vii) to meet as often as the fulfilment of this mandate demands, and to arrange for reimbursement of any expenses incurred in the course of its work;
      • viii) to provide each General Synod with a financial statement and to report on all its activities.
  • ADOPTED
  • 5. To urge this Committee to use as an example for lay-out and music notation the Dutch “Liedboek der Kerken,” in order to achieve uniform notation and a suitable format.
  • ADOPTED
  • 6. a. To include the suggested Orders of Worship in the edition of the Book of Praise,
    • b. To make certain that the Creeds, the Confessional and Liturgical Forms and the Church Order are included in a new edition as soon as these have been adopted by General Synod.
  • ADOPTED
  • 7. To request the present members of the Committee on the Book of Praise to remain in function, until the Standing Committee has taken up its duties and work together during a transition period so that continuity can be achieved.
  • ADOPTED
  • 8. To publish the Report of the Committee on the Book of Praise (Psalm and Hymn Section) in the Acts of Synod.
  • ADOPTED
  • 9. To thank the Committee on the Book of Praise for the work done with respect to the financing and to discharge this Committee of its responsi­bilities.
  • ADOPTED
  • 10. To request the Church at Brampton, Ontario to audit the books of the Standing Committee.
  • ADOPTED
  • 11. To rescind the recommendation of Synod Coaldale 1977, Acts, Article 60, Recommendation 7 and return to the decision of Synod Toronto 1974, not to prepare a four-part music edition and use it in the entire Book of Praise.
  • ADOPTED
  • 12. To have the Churches represented at the Conference on Psalmody by one of the members of the Standing Committee.
  • ADOPTED
Print page