Those of you who know me know that I’m constantly on the prowl for old hymnals!  The subject of hymnals, hymnody and hymns is not just a passion and my collecting old hymnals just a a hobby.  Rather, I’ve been able to research and study them in my graduate studies (this next phase which will conclude in December with a Master’s degree).

I’ve got about 18 different areas that I’ve researched or am researching right now.
One particular area is looking at two hymnals that were produced in the decade of the 1970’s by two men who were brothers.  Their two books (in various and asundry editions) had great popularity among Churches of Christ.  But as I continually study, compare, contrast and converse with other hymnological authorities, I’m shocked at just how much of their work was done illegally.

Rather than do their own leg work to attain appropriate copyright permissions and to set up their books in such a way to be “their own,” well over half of their work was just cut, copied, and pasted from previous books.  If one of your books was taken, copied straight up and pasted in someone’elses book without having given permission or without having been given credit, how might you feel?  I’m not sure how I feel about this…I’m in the middle of trying to have some conversations with parties involved in the publication of these books and also with those whose books were “ripped off…”  I’m anxious to see where this goes.

Oh…and if you have books (hymnals) you want to donate, you can email me at manwithbaton@gmail.com