A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

such a bilingual position indefinitely and Third — preserve the unifying concept of a "one hymnbook" congregation regardless of changing language problems. '" The problem of translating did not seem as much of a problem as did the concern of "recreating familiar spiritual concepts from one language origin into that of another. Musical considerations heightened the difficulties in terms of fixed melodies, fixed harmonies, and especially fixed rhythmic patterns."'" It was discovered that many of the German Kernlieder were of better quality in their German translation than they had been in their original English. Consequently, some were retranslated into English. Apparently the complete translation of the Gesangbuch was not an adequate solution to the changing language needs in the Canadian Mennonite Brethren churches for it went through only one printing. The Hymn Book (1960), nevertheless, was a step in the right direction for it did help keep alive the best of some of the traditional Kernlieder. Furthermore, it stands as a document of the hymn-singing practices and repertoire in the Canadian Mennonite Brethren churches during that period of history. In view of the fact that The Hymn Book had received limited acceptance and the Mennonite Brethren Church Hymnal had been in use for a decade, a new interest arose in the publication of a new English hymnal by both the Canadian and United States conferences. The report of the Canadian Hymnbook Committee in 1963 states: Our present English hymnbook, though satisfactory in many respects, nevertheless, has a number of serious weaknesses. Many fine hymns are not in it because they were not in the German Gesangbuch. Nor does the present book serve the more special needs of many of our new mission churches, so that they as well as many of our present churches, hesitate to purchase the present book and thus buy some other congregational hymnal. Many of the present translations are not too well received. Furthermore, many songs in the book are not really being used and could be replaced by better ones. There are insufficient hymns for children or young people. 20 In the United States, pastors and church musicians indicated a need for more worship hymns and newer gospel songs which had become well known through meetings such as the Billy Graham Evangelistic campaigns and through the common use of the Intervarsity Hymnal among our young people. Sensing this need, the Canadian Hymnbook Committee and the United States Board of Church Music began preliminary discussions on the matter of publishing a new English hymnal. 246 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH During the area conferences in 1963, the respective music committees reported that both conferences were interested in publishing a common hymnal which would be a revision of the respective current hymnals of the two conferences. Work on this project was authorized by the area conferences (1963