Editorial Policy
That the church today is doing more than she has done in many decades seems fairly obvious. Not so obvious, but vastly disturbing to the discerning, is the recognition of certain trends and tendencies which have accompanied (if not resulted from) this accelerated and increased activity.
Now more than at any time within the memory of living men there is need for such a journal as the Gospel Guardian strives to be. If the gospel is to be guarded, and if digressive tendencies are to be stayed, there must be at least a few men in the church who are able and willing to speak out in no uncertain terms. There must be some medium through which men who are constantly among the churches, and in touch with what is developing within them, can make themselves heard in warning, exhortation, and admonition. This paper is and will continue to be, such a medium.
One of the strongest and surest safeguards against apostasy is for the church to be aggressive and militant in her evangelism, both at home and abroad. She should be strengthened, encouraged, and urged on in every good work which lies within her province, while, at the same time, being warned and admonished against going into those things that are a departure from the New Testament pattern. The Gospel Guardian seeks to be a militant, aggressive, uncompromising advocate of the ancient order, wielding whatever influence she can for the furtherance of New Testament Christianity.
With our enlarged space we will be able to do a far more effective and helpful piece of work. Problems of the home, of the church, and of individual Christian living can be dealt with in a much better and more adequate way. During this first year we have been seriously handicapped by lack of space. That pressure will now be eliminated. We will triple our space devoted to news of the churches; will carry certain regular "departments:" hope to carry a few carefully prepared written discussions through the year on questions which are vital and troubling to the brotherhood.
This journal will be controversial when controversy is needed, instructive and educational on the points where teaching is needed. We will carry more devotional material, as well as more material which will be of "practical" help to the preacher, Bible school teacher, elder, or other person who devotes much time to the actual work of the church.
During our first year as a weekly journal, we more than tripled the circulation we had as a monthly. And now that we are enlarging to double our present size, we earnestly solicit the continued good-will, prayers, and enthusiastic support of our subscribers and friends. We appreciate the hundreds of letters containing words of encouragement that we have had during this past year. But the best way on earth to show your appreciation for this paper is to get others to subscribe. We need that kind of help. Will you give it?
—O—
Business Policy
The task of publishing a gospel paper is quite a heavy one in every way. We have been willing to undertake it only because of the opportunity it affords us to render a service to the cause of Christ that we believe to be sorely needed. The Gospel Guardian has as its primary purpose "contending for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."
We are well aware that everything that is said in the pages of this journal is not always pleasing to everyone of its readers. There is no more reason for trying to make it so than for a preacher to strive in his preaching to be pleasing to men. We are trying to serve the Lord and the interests of truth and righteousness whether men are pleased or not.
It is a difficult matter to make a religious paper self sustaining. In order to make it even nearly so without carrying a lot of paid advertising is quite a problem. Business methods are absolutely necessary if the paper continues to exist. When we put the Gospel Guardian on a weekly basis we announced the policy that no subscription would be carried longer than thirty days after the expiration date if it was not renewed. As the circulation of the paper increases this becomes even more imperative. Every subscription is paid for by someone and if the paper continues to come to you it must continue to be paid for. It is very important, therefore, if you wish to continue to assist us in this work and continue to receive every issue of the paper, that you watch the renewal date on your paper and send in your renewal promptly. We are more grateful than we can tell you for the fine response we have received and the loyal cooperation on the part of those interested in what we are trying to do.
It has been our purpose from the beginning of the publication of the Gospel Guardian on a weekly basis, that its size should be increased to sixteen pages just as soon as the circulation made it possible. We are glad to announce now, that beginning with the first week in May, which is the first issue of another year as a weekly publication, we will publish a sixteen-page paper. As Brother Tant has explained in his statement on editorial policy, this will give us the opportunity of carrying much material that we have not been able to carry because of lack of space. It will also help us to enlarge some of the features that we have carried. It will mean twice as much for the money to the subscribers. It will mean also, of course, a tremendous increase in the cost of publication that will make your continued help and loyalty all the more important. We are glad to be able to double the size of the paper and to bring it up to the standard of other religious journals. Your support has made it possible and your continued help will make it possible for us to sustain it on such a basis. There are many ways you can help in addition to keeping your own subscription paid up promptly when it is due.
If every subscriber will be responsible for only one more subscription, either paying for it yourself or getting someone else to subscribe, it will double our circulation and the amount of good we can do. That seems like a slight request to make of you and yet it will be abundant in its help to us. Will you be one to send one?
Regularity in sending in the worthwhile news from your congregation will help to increase the interest among readers also. Buying your books and church supplies from us will be a tremendous help too. We either have or can readily obtain whatever you may need.
Write us your constructive criticism and helpful suggestions and be assured they are always appreciated. We are not interested in serving any special group interest or in becoming a promotional medium for any program but our prayer and aim is that we may serve the interests of the church of the Lord as a whole by emphasis on truth and righteousness. It is our conviction that nothing is more needed in this generation than that.
—Roy E. Cogdill