People from time to time, ask the Federal Literature Department what its specific function is. Here it is: to publish, promote and distribute Christian literature.

      In the field of publication, the Provocative Pamphlets are our major concern; but other literature has been printed from time to time, and when we have completed our survey of the needs in literature for recent converts, we hope to plan for the publication of "A New Member's Kit!" Further work will follow as the interest and support from the churches enables.

      The attempt to have all the churches observe Christian Literature Week (May 21-28) this year, is an attempt to promote the wider use of Christian Literature, that is offered to us from the pens of leading Christian thinkers. We will continue this promotion by Book Reviews and extended reading suggestions on topics raised in the Provocative Pamphlets.

      Most of the distribution of Christian Literature rests ultimately with the various Book Rooms, but we are willing to co-operate with such agencies to aid the constant flow into the community. The Department has been encouraged by the number of churches that have responded to the circular sent out in November of last year. Many churches not previously making annual allocations to the Literature Department have been pleased to do so. To them and our constant contributors, we say thanks. Many questionnaires were returned, and we can make use of the valuable advice given, in the contemplated publication of "A New Member's Kit."

      Some churches have appointed keen agents for the Pamphlet Club; we hope other churches will do the same. This department is staffed by men who are all busy in many ministries; there are no employed members to do the many tasks connected with this work. One of the rather time-consuming jobs we must do is the monthly mailing of your pamphlets. Much time and energy could be saved if all our subscribers would forgo individual mailing and were to receive their copies through agents. We are also relying on agents to increase our list of subscribers this year. Some already have.

      It is our earnest prayer, that God will again use our efforts this year to bless His people.

BRUCE MCINTOSH,      
Chairman of the Literature Department.      

MEMBERS' CONTRIBUTIONS

      I would like to see these two inside pages taken over by members who will evaluate and develop ideas put forward in the pamphlets--or who wish to express alternative views, but not simply to react against certain concepts. This will need to be done by brief and to the point comments. "The Use of the Christian Year"--S. H. Wilson (January, 1961, No. 73) would be an excellent start.

      I regard the ministry of Provocative Pamphlets as one that is contributing to the growing edge of Brotherhood thought. We do not live a static existence; we are a movement--the Body of Christ--a living growing organism. The pamphlets tell us what some men are thinking your comments can tell us what the rest of the Brotherhood is thinking.

TWO IDEAS FOR COMMENT

1. A Brotherhood Library.

      Do you consider this a possibility? Many valuable personal libraries, that are built up over many years, are lost to the Brotherhood on the death of their owners. Memorials could be permanently established in this way. Would it encourage more people to read the kind of book they would not readily buy, and offer the chance for the study of those important books beyond the pockets of most of us?

2. A Club Get-together.

      Would the next Federal Conference in Hobart be a good time to have a get-together for Club members? One of the current writers could be asked to enlarge on his printed statements, and valuable person to person discussion could be the outcome. It would be interesting to meet fellow members who have this kind of thing at heart.

      Think about these two suggestions and let us know.

GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS

      We are glad that the idea of making gift subscriptions to the Club was well received. Members wrote thanking us for the idea, and sent gift subscriptions to relatives and friends for Christmas.

      We notified the recipients of their gift and its sender by an attractive Christmas card. We would like to know how these were received on the other end. How about trying the idea for birthdays too? One was to reach our aim for 2,000 subscribers by the end of the year. A report on the progress of operation 2,000 will be made next "Club Quarterly."

LITERATURE WEEK, MAY 21-28.

      This is not an attempt to promote the Federal Literature Department, but it is a promotion of Christian Literature in general. It is not to be a means of supplementing our income; we are paying out to launch this scheme. Its success will depend largely on what the local church makes of it. Recommended books for a book stall for your church, and other information is being sent to your minister; make sure you help as members of this club to promote the observance of Literature Week. Tell us what you think of the idea.

A WORD TO AGENTS

      Our number of agents is growing, and we are grateful to those who are willing to act in this capacity. Total number of subscribers is all we want you to send to us. Try to encourage those who receive their pamphlets by private mail to receive them from you. You will be helping us immensely if you can, as we could be saved a great deal of time that is spent in handling individual dues and mailings. Back copies can be sent to you, if you wish to use them to gain new subscribers. New subscribers will receive all the back copies for the current year. Back issues of other years are available of most numbers. If there is no agent in your church, what about offering your services to your local Board.

OUR NEW SUBSCRIPTION DUE FORM

      Rather neat, don't you think? It is an attempt to streamline the handling of dues, and the correction of addresses and bulk numbers where this is necessary. Please return the slip with your payment. Receipts will no longer be issued, unless requested. Subscriptions (10/- P.A.) are due each January, and in common with most religious journals are automatically renewed unless cancelled before December 1st of the current year.

LOOKING AHEAD TO FUTURE PAMPHLETS

      We are always indebted to our authors, and the quality of their work is something of which our Brotherhood can be justly proud. A leading Victorian Baptist author and editor has praised the excellent work of our contributors. Most of our manuscripts are written by request from the Department. However, we freely invite members to submit manuscripts of their own (not other people's please). Some of the best pamphlets have been spontaneous ones. Another look at the November supplement will refresh your minds in regards to the required standards set for the consideration of all papers received. Please remember your work may not necessarily be printed.

IMMEDIATE ISSUES.

      Immediate issues will present statements on the following: "The Bible and Modern Society"--S. R. Baker (May), "Mere Independency?"--a question about congregational autonomy--A. F. Cant (June), "The Teaching of Giving"--an introduction--K. J. Patterson (July). Other manuscripts in preparation are expected to deal with the following: Christians and the Social Order, Unified Brotherhood Promotion, Views on the Final Advent of Christ, etc.

MEMBERS CAN ASSIST.

      Recently a member from Western Australia wrote commending the use of Murray Savage's recent Conference Sermon as a pamphlet--the result: New Testament Faith and Today (March, 1961 No. 75)--an excellent statement, that otherwise we would not have known about. You may be keen to do the same; but again, make quite sure it is what we are looking for first.

THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE

      As this supplement is being prepared, some three days after the release of the New English Bible, the first reactions to the new translations are coming in. It is hoped that the following points will not be forgotten.

      a. This is completely fresh translation from the most ancient of manuscripts into the most up-to-date English. It is not a revision of the Authorised Version of 1611 as have been the English Revised (1881) and the American Standard (1901), and the American Revised Standard (1952). The Authorised was itself a revision and unification of the existing five or six English translations (refer The Bible and its Ancient and English Versions--H. Wheeler Robinson editor, Oxford Press). The New English Bible, therefore, is the only version other than the pre-Authorised translations that is a direct translation from the Greek, and hence not to be dictated to by the existing format, as is a revision. Therefore, it is unfortunate to have people suggesting "changes" and "substitutes" when this is not the case. The New English Bible as its name suggests is completely free from what has been translated before it.

      b. It is the conventional usage and oft repeated wording of the Authorised that any new translation has to compete against, and not the question of correct translation. The New English Bible will be accepted only when, with constant use, the words used convey meaning; this is the task of the minister and teacher.

      c. The New English Bible must be allowed to stand an its own merit, and not as compared with other translations. (Although this is the inevitable task of student and scholar). Let the New English Bible speak to you, and learn to love it for what it can do for your spiritual life. These parts seem particularly challenging to me as found in the New English Bible: Sermon on the Mount--especially the beatitudes (Matt. 5-7); The Parables--especially Luke 20:1-18; The Humility of Christ (Philippians 2:1-11).

      I find the whole set up; its living English; subject headings; its straight forward layout, all very exciting. (One of the books recommended for Literature Week: How the Bible Came to Us--H. G. G. Herklots is an inexpensive, but very helpful study).

The Need to Believe (Murdo MacDonald--Fontana, 3/9).

      This is another of recommended books for Literature Week. Murdo MacDonald is a successful Scottish preacher, who was a prisoner of war in the famous camp of the Wooden Horse escape during the last war. This book is made up of sixteen short chapters--undoubtedly sermons--that deal with a whole range of questions the modern man must face. The book is a fine modern attempt of Christian Apologetics--the defence of the faith. He deals with this age of anxiety; the effect of scientific and psychological studies, and the menace of modern secularism. He then turns to Christian belief, the doctrine of man and of faith. Three chapters of the doctrine of God, one on the fact of Christ--an excellent chapter, and one on the church. The work closes with "the challenge of the saints", "the authority of experience" and a "demand for a verdict." I HOPE IT IS READ.