The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-30
lynn, Tune and Service Book Commission.

uHo coHiInlsSIon appointed TO secure
the publication of service, hymn and
tune book, I beg leave to report that
considerable progress has been made
during the year. Arrangements are in
such state of forwardness that it is
hoped and expected that the work will
be completed and published by the
beginning of the next Convention year."
Discussion on Publication Matters.
This report was the innocent occasion
OF quite an interesting discussion, which
served to clear the air on the matter in
volved. Rev. Mr.. Nye asked if it was
the intention of the committee to pub
lish the proposed book without submit
ting the work to the Convention. DR..
Capen explained that by the terms of
the original commission the work was To
be Offered for publication to the Uni
versalist Publishing House." Mr.. Pot
ter thought that the matter was clearly
indicated in that appointment. DR..
Miner was not in favor of the Conven-
ton giving its sanction to a uniform
service. A uniform church service had
been proposed in the Boston ministers
meeting; he objected to it then and
there, yet the fact was that he was the
only pastor now carrying it out! DR..
Fisk was instructed by the New York
Convention to present the matter to the
General Convention. There was a need
for service book; the need was widely
felt. The vote appointing the original
commission was read by the Secretary it
was to prepare hymn, tune and service
book "to be offered for publication to
the Universalist Publishing House." DR..
Miner suggested that the true policy of
the Convention was "to keep out of the
business altogether or know what Won
have" Rev. Mr.. Sample was in favor
OF uniform service in our churches:
hoped the time would come when orr
form of worship would be the same in
Boston as San Francisco. Rev. r. B.
Taylor doubted the policy of uniformity.
This matter may be prudently left with
the Publishing House. Mr.. Metcalf
called attention to the fact that the Con-
vention had appointed commission
not committee. The quality of the
work already done by the Publishing
House is its best guarantee. The result
Of the discussion was that the report of
the commission is accepted, and the com.
mission continued.
During this discussion Mr.. J. d. w.
Joy, the Treasurer of the Publishing
House, made an address which embraced
many items of general interest in regard
to our publication work. He spoke
substantially as follows:
Mr.. President, the subject before us is
one Of vital import and there is wisdom
in the remarks Of Dr. Miner relative to the
work in the hands of the Commission as
we'll as to the policy of this Convention
undertaking the publication business. I
should not ask Of you valuable time, did
l not know the why and wherefore of the
appointment of the Book Commission, as
was honored with the naming of it's
members. A little secret history might
be not inapt just now, after the commits
sion has served three years.
At Washington some of us learned that
a proposition would be made for the
Convention to go into this publishing
business, and it was deemed best to
place the matter in the hands of compe.
tent commission to have oversight of the
business, and offer something to the
Publishing House for it to issue. This
business it seems to me does not come
within our province, and would most
respectfully suggest that it remain where
it is, or that we accept the report of prog
ress which is before us and discharge the
Commission.
Our denomination has now an active,
strongly organized and rapidly growing
AAOuSO' AoOAno VI uS lOlh0luOOI WuSu bIo
publishing enterprises of the church were
wholly in individual ownership, not re-
ponsible to the denomination. They were
private business concerns. The work done
by them for the cause was entitled to the
appreciation of our people. But the time
had come for a move forward. 1t was
warmly opposed by many, but the in
coming tide was too strong for them.
The House was organized with capital
of about $4,000, and its business the first
year was $500, the second, about double
say $4,000. Then the stockholders,
most of them, gave their stock to it's
Board of Trustees, and they became
to the whole church, the va
cancies in their number always being
filed by the New England and New York
By further donations, by
legacies, and by patient, careful and pru.
dent management of the business, the net
assets Of the House to-day exceed $780,
900, and the current business the last year
was over $1,000.
Once we had Eastern, New York, and
Western Houses. Now we are happily
united, knowing neither, East nor West,
nor midst, under one organization, doing
the publication business of the church
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