Looking at the history of the church hymn, we may lay down as a fundamental principle that the church hymn cannot live without connection with the life that has passed through the ages, from the prophets of old, Christ, the Reformation, and down to the present. Only in this connection does the church hymn possess a positive significance or the significance of a life-promoting factor. The correctness of this principle may be confirmed from actual experience. In the history of languishing and dying church song, we can read about languishing and dying Christian nations—nations in deplorable condition both ecclesiastically and nationally—nations of emigration, non-patriotism, and of little or no sense of duty—nations of imported religious thinking and poorly translated songs. The question has often been raised: Does the American Lutheran Church really sing? Yes and No—for the most part No. Most of our American Lutheran country congregations do not sing. How about the city churches? A sad affair! In most cases the situation is far from ideal. A church hymn, _a Lutheran church hymn_, cannot be sung properly by those who forget God, Bible, history, etc., in order to practise a little general culture and enjoy a little tasty personal aesthetics. If a noble Lutheran church hymn is sung, it is usually sung by the choir, perhaps as a concert number, disconnected from its vital connection. And detached from its connection, the noble Lutheran church hymn becomes, like everything else that has vital significance, nothing. That which does not really hang together, becomes patchwork, bandages, finery, rags—we may praise it enthusiastically. Very much like American culture—sorry to say. Uniting, cementing, productive LIFE is lacking. Many American Lutheran churches do not sing Lutheran church hymns at all. How deplorable! We often attend Lutheran church services where not a single Lutheran church hymn or Lutheran chorale is sung. Here is a serious flaw in American Lutheran education and leadership. How about the hymn singing in our American Lutheran Sunday schools? Would it not be well to sing at least one Lutheran church hymn each Sunday? Or shall we permit Lutheran hymnody to die? Is great Lutheran hymnody a thing of the past? But what is the most serious thing that our American Lutheran congregational hymn singing lacks? One thing—LIFE. That is our great problem—life in our church song—new life—LIFE. With this go all the difficulties of the problem of life. Since it is the business of the Church to sing the church hymn, the question becomes very complicated. So many factors must co-operate in this matter, if we are to get anywhere—to sing a Lutheran church hymn as it should be sung. Our American Lutheran colleges and theological seminaries will have to undertake more serious educational work in the important field of hymnology and church music. A strong summer school of Lutheran church music, liturgics and hymnology would be very valuable.