An Unqualified Board Of Directors
In a former article I showed that Boles Orphan Home is owned and controlled by seven men who are the "Board of Directors" for the Home. They started the Home more or less of their own free will and accord, and they are the ones who actually and legally own it.
In the former article I mentioned the Charter of Boles Home. This Charter is a very interesting document. It was filed with the Secretary of the State of Texas in 1937. The Charter sets forth the conditions under which the Home is to operate. It sets forth the work of the Home; the means of operation; by whom it shall be operated; and such matters.
In this article I want to show that the Board of Directors and the Superintendent are all disqualified according to the requirement of the Charter. They all fail to measure up to the requirements. This would be a very funny matter if it were not so serious and did not involve the welfare of the Lord's church.
In the Charter we learn that "This corporation (Boles Home) shall be operated by a board of seven (7) directors." Then the names of these seven men are given. These men are: J. B. McGinty, Terrell, Texas; C. F. DeVaugh, Paris, Texas; W. C. Shearer, Sherman, Texas; Felix Jones, Talco, Texas; R. G. Meggs, Dallas, Texas; Dr. G. D. Ross, Liberty Hill, Texas; and Ed S. Hill, Fort Worth, Texas. In Section VII of the Charter the qualifications of this Board of Directors are given. I want to reproduce here the first three paragraphs of this section:
"The Board of Directors of this corporation shall be seven (7) in number and each shall be a loyal member of some congregation of the Church of Christ in the State of Texas, and as a basis of his faith, shall believe in and practice the teachings and examples contained therein of that part of the Holy Scriptures known as the NEW TESTAMENT, without any additions to or subtractions therefrom, among which fundamental principles are:
(a) Faith, Repentance, Confession and Baptism as essentials for the admission of an alien sinner to the Church or kingdom of Christ.
(b) That the local congregation of the Church of Christ is all and the only organization authorized to carry on Christian work and worship, and that such organization excludes each and every other organization, for the purpose of conducting or carrying on religious work or worship, whether the same be missionary or otherwise."
I especially urge you to read carefully the (b) part of the above. Is that not a fine, clear-cut statement of what every Christian should believe? The reason that one should believe such is that it is the teaching of God's word. Truly we have been contending "that the local congregation of the Church of Christ is all and the only organization to carry on Christian work or worship, AND THAT SUCH ORGANIZATION EXCLUDES EACH AND EVERY OTHER ORGANIZATION, for the purpose of conducting or carrying on religious work or worship, WHETHER THE SAME BE MISSIONARY OR OTHERWISE." This is exactly the truth that the GUARDIAN has been fighting to preserve in the last few years. Of this truth many seem to have lost sight. It is because of this belief that I (we) oppose Boles Home as unscriptural. One would hardly expect to find within the Charter of Boles Home such a strong statement of condemnation of the Home itself. This should be, and I am sure that it is, rather embarrassing to the Directors and the Superintendent.
If it is true "that the local congregation of the Church of Christ IS ALL AND THE ONLY ORGANIZATION AUTHORIZED to carry on Christian work, AND THAT SUCH ORGANIZATION EXCLUDES EACH AND EVERY OTHER ORGANIZATION," then Boles Home, which is certainly not a local congregation, is thereby excluded. These board members to be qualified must believe this truth. This puts them in the position of having to believe that Boles Home is unscriptural and excluded from "carrying on religious work," in order to qualify as a director! They must believe that the institution of which they are directors is not authorized by God's word to carry on Christian work; that it is wholly unscriptural; and that such work is to be done only by the local congregation. There is not a one of these board members that believes this. If so, how can they continue to serve as a director of such an unscriptural organization, that is bleeding the churches of all the money possible, and trying to take over the benevolent work of the churches? Of course, they do not believe the statement set forth in the Charter. If so, let them prove it by bringing to an end this "other organization" of which they are directors; or, at least, disconnect it from the church in every way. Show us your "faith by your works." We can see, then, that the directors are all disqualified by this condition of the Charter. May we see your resignation, brethren? To be qualified they must believe that the institution of which they are directors and which they have helped to foist off on the churches to support, is unscriptural and wholly unauthorized. What a situation! Honesty would demand of them one of three things: (1) Resign because they do not believe that which the Charter requires they must; (2) that they take steps immediately to close this "other organization" that is unauthorized; (3) or, that they change the Charter in this respect. If we were so disposed we could enter suit in court and have everyone of them legally disqualified. It is strange how embarrassing truth can be at times.
When this particular qualification was listed for the board members, there is no doubt that such was done to exclude anyone from the board who might believe in the Missionary Society of the Christian Church. This was restriction against belief in and working through such human arrangements. Is it not odd how in their zeal to prohibit such, which is admirable, that they also excluded Boles Home — which is another organization besides the local church for the purpose of conducting religious work. This shows once more the "exact and deadly parallel" between the two. There is absolutely no difference in principle between Boles Home and the Missionary Society. They will stand or fall together. One cannot consistently oppose the Missionary Society of the Christian Church and endorse and support Boles Home. Sin and error are just as bad in "us" as in the Christian Church. A violation of the New Testament principles regarding the "missionary" work of the church is no worse than a violation of those same principles in doing benevolent work.
The Charter further says under this same section: "That no person shall serve as Director of this corporation unless he possesses the foregoing qualifications, and in event he should at any time after his appointment or selection as such Director from any cause fail to possess the aforesaid qualifications, or any of them, shall automatically cease and determine, and the remaining members of the Board of Directors shall have the power, right, and authority, and it shall be their duty to select some other person in his stead who possesses such qualifications. The provisions of this paragraph as to the qualifications of the members of the Board of Directors of this corporation shall be considered as fundamental so long as t his corporation shall exist."
Unqualified Superintendent
The Charter also provides for the hiring of a superintendent to oversee the Home under the oversight of the directors. His qualifications are stated in this way:
"However, no person shall be employed or continue as superintendent of said Home unless he shall possess all the qualifications prescribed hereinabove for a Director, and in event such person so selected as a superintendent of said Home should at any time cease to possess such qualifications, then his appointment or selection as such superintendent shall, automatically cease and determine, without any liability of said corporation for any salary thereafter accruing on account of any contract of his employment."
In view of the fact that the qualifications are the same for the superintendent as for the directors; and since Brother Oler does not believe "that the local congregation of the Church of Christ is all and the only organization authorized to carry on Christian work or worship, and that such organization excludes each and every other organization, for the purpose of conducting or carrying on religious work or worship, whether the same be missionary or otherwise," I maintain that he is disqualified also. How can he be otherwise? He is the superintendent of an organization which he must believe' to be unscriptural in order to be qualified to be superintendent! What a predicament! Brother Oler should resign immediately. How can he any longer serve in a capacity for which he is not qualified? Does Brother Oler believe part (b) of Section VII, of Boles Home Charter? Let him say so if he does. Then, if he does, let him explain his belief of this in harmony with his practice — running Boles Home as a church-supported institution. This would really be interesting. Such is but a sample of the positions of men who hold to unscriptural arrangements.
Hence, we can see that Boles Home, an unscriptural and unauthorized organization for carrying on "Christian work" — caring for orphans, is owned and controlled by an unqualified Board of Directors and managed by an unqualified superintendent. I pray that these brethren may realize the error of such a practice and give it up. May God bless and help them to that end.