Songbook Ownership an Aid
Selling our own songbook has proved one of the best methods of promoting a successful singing service during an evangelistic campaign. We use "Gospel in Song," finding it to be one of the best collections of singable songs we can obtain. We place a large quantity of these books on display in the lobby of the auditorium on the opening night, and as soon as the people begin coming in, the ushers invite them to purchase their own songbook for the service, as none are distributed in the building.
The book we use is especially designed for the purpose of our campaign. Several pages have been added in the front, which contain the campaign theme song, a page of gospel choruses, and pictures of the evangelists. This method of handling the sales of the songbook appeals to the public, and in some campaigns we have sold as high as too to 450 books on the first night.
During the opening song service we refer to the book, and, after we have sung several favorite songs which everybody can sing, the ushers are called forward with more songbooks, and others are invited to purchase a copy if they have not already done so, and join in the singing. By buying songbooks of their own, the audience makes an early investment in the campaign which will be a means of bringing them back the next night to sing more songs from their own book.
Night after night during the first weeks we continually offer the book for sale, until almost the entire audience is supplied. In one of our recent campaigns, 2,503 copies of "Gospel in Song" were sold in this way, and from this same effort were gained some of the best results in soul-winning endeavor.
Selling the songbook does not handicap group singing by the audience, but rather creates within them a desire to have a book of their own, which they can take home with them and from which they can learn new songs. We invite them to get better acquainted with their book, and later on give opportunity during the song service for them to request favorite songs. We know of many instances of Souls who have been won to the truth through the singing of the everlasting gospel in song.
Success of the New Hymnal
Compiled to meet a long-felt need for a new representative hymnal in our churches, the Church Hymnal was greeted with an interest which had accumulated during the four years of its preparation. Introduced to the field last April, it soon won praise for its superior selection and the quality of its workmanship. Said one conference president: "I feel that this book is going to satisfy a long-existing need," and another added: "At last we have something that we can be legitimately proud of. The workmanship is unusually fine, and the selection of hymns I believe is unequaled."
Nor have words of commendation been confined to members of our denomination. Other outstanding church musicians and composers have registered emphatic approval. For instance, Grant C. Tullar, well-known composer of gospel songs, states :
"It seems to me that your Hymnal is so complete that it would be about ideal for use in any group of God-fearing, Bible-loving people. Not in a long time have I examined a collection that so fully met my own ideals of what such a book should and should not contain, as does this Hymnal."
One of our evangelists sent a gift copy to a friend, one of the finest voice teachers in the West. This authority reports on his experience with the new hymnal in the following words :
"In looking over it, I was very much impressed, and called my organist, who with me went over the various hymns. In doing so we came to this definite conclusion: This is the finest compilation of standard hymns of the church and gospel songs we have ever found between two book covers. I want to compliment the compilers of this wonderful hymnbook."
The combination Bible and Hymnal in limp leather is particularly attractive, and it is not surprising to learn that this combination is most popular for gifts at any time of the year. Since it is bound in black, red, blue, and brown leather, it is possible to gratify one's personal taste in color, and at the same time have a long-enduring gift of incalculable value.
After checking the sales for this volume, it is gratifying to report that the Hymnal is still pleasing people to such an extent that, by the first of December, a total of 64,252 copies had been sold. Of even the most expensive limp leather edition, 1,450 have been sold. This record is impressive, boding well for the future, when our people will have had ample opportunity to become really well acquainted with the gems of song to be found in this volume.
Various means have been adopted to further this good cause. In some churches, notably Takoma Park, Glendale, and Berrien Springs, there have been vespers services on Sabbath afternoons. Those who could play musical instruments formed an orchestra, and an hour was happily spent getting acquainted with the beautiful new hymns and reviewing the inspiration of the old. It would be encouraging, in smaller churches, to meet at the homes of members who possess a piano or even a small organ to enjoy the old favorites and to learn the new ones. There are many hymns whose beautiful quality grows with closer acquaintance. This Sabbath afternoon pastime was popular with our people in times gone by.
Thelma S. Wellman
