See GS 16 Administrative History.
The missionary services and hymns manuals were created for use at meetings of General Synod women's missionary societies. They were first titled Gospel Services for Woman's Missionary Societies: A Manual for the Use of Woman's Missionary Societies and Mission Bands of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The title later changed to Missionary Services and Hymnal: A Manual for the Use of Woman's and Young People's Missionary Societies. Early editions contain a copy of constitutions for use by auxiliary and young ladies' societies, outlines of the order of business for monthly meetings, ideas and suggestions for women's missionary societies, and hymns for use during and at the close of meetings. Later editions include general rules and rules of order for missionary societies, orders of service to be used at meetings, hymns for use during meetings, and closing hymns and doxologies. Later editions do not include the constitutions.
From the description of Missionary Services and Hymnals 1885-1910 [microform] (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 71075176
