The Gospel Guardian Company
For some months we have had it in mind to write a brief explanation of the Gospel Guardian Company Brethren who contend that churches have the right to build and maintain separate organizations and institutions for charitable work have charged those of us who write for the Gospel Guardian with inconsistency because of our opposition to such charitable arrangements while at the same time we defend the right of the Gospel Guardian Company to exist, which — they say — exists for the very purpose of doing evangelism.
The latent intent to write on this subject was quickened the other day by running across this quotation from Brother Carl Ketcherside, in his report of the Woods-Porter debate at Paragould last winter:
"The debate is a typical example of how two inconsistent factions can meet in forensic combat. Both groups defend some organizations to do religious work. They are merely disagreed over which to destroy and which to defend. Neither group is seriously laboring for restoration of the primitive order. Brother Porter opposes orphan homes in the charitable realm, but supports the Gospel Guardian Corporation, which is chartered for the propagation of the Christian religion. Brother Woods opposes the missionary society, and retains other human organizations."
— Mission Messenger, March, 1957 There is a cleverness in the wording of the above paragraph for which Brother Ketcherside has become justly famous. Yet cleverness, however adroit, cannot conceal truth; it can only obscure it. Take a look, for example, at this statement: "Both groups defend some organizations to do religious work."
Now, why did not Brother Ketcherside forthrightly declare that "Both groups defend some human organizations to do THE CHURCH'S work?" Obviously because he knows that statement would be recognized even by many of his readers as being false. It would be true of Brother Woods, but not true of the brethren who write for the Gospel Guardian. But by using the ambiguous term "religious work", he attempts to smear both with the same brush. But Brother Ketcherside himself defends the right of many organizations to do what comes under the heading of "religious work".
Furthermore, consider this untrue statement: ". . . the Gospel Guardian Corporation, which is chartered for the propagation of the Christian religion." We suggest that Brother Ketcherside write to the Secretary of State, Austin, Texas, and secure a copy of the charter of the Gospel Guardian Company, and read it. He will then want to correct his false statement. The Gospel Guardian Company is chartered as a non-profit, business, commercial enterprise! Its purpose is clearly set forth in the charter: to engage in the business of publishing books, tracts, pamphlets, papers, and buying and selling merchandise. The Gospel Guardian (weekly journal) is a publication of the Gospel Guardian Company; it is only one of a number of publications. We also publish a monthly journal, Ancient Landmarks, a number of books for class use, such as The New Testament Church and Walking By Faith, both by Roy E. Cogdill The Indianapolis Debate; the Otey-Briney Debate; the Cogdill-Jackson Debate; McGarvey's Chapel Talks; The $200 Text by Gene Frost; a wide assortment of tracts and pamphlets, as well as selling communion trays and glasses, Vacation Bible School literature and supplies, song books, collections plates, and just nearly anything that a congregation might need by way of supplies. All of these things are merchandise, and are FOR SALE to churches and individuals.
The Gospel Guardian (journal) is NOT a corporation; it is not an organization; it is not chartered. It is a product, a piece of merchandise, in precisely the same sense that a commentary, a book of sermon outlines, or a tract would be. It can be bought by churches (many congregations DO buy both the Gospel Guardian and Ancient Landmarks) for distribution as they may see fit. No church can contribute TO it, or THROUGH it. (And, incidentally, when Brother Ketcherside gets his information from the Secretary of State he will also learn that the Gospel Guardian Company is prohibited in the by-laws of her charter from receiving a contribution from a church — Article VI of the By-laws.)
Both Brother Ketcherside and various writers of the Gospel Advocate have repeatedly made the charge that the Gospel Guardian is a human organization on a parallel with the institutional orphan homes and the Missionary Societies. It is not so. These organizations are set up to do the church's work! They solicit, and receive, contributions from churches on that very plea. The Gospel Guardian Company is NOT set up to do the work of any church; it does not solicit funds from any church; it is prohibited by law from receiving contributions from any church. It is a commercial enterprise, engaged in business — the business of producing and selling merchandise. Every month it SELLS several thousands of dollars worth of such merchandise including the Gospel Guardian (journal) and the Ancient Landmarks (monthly journal).
There may be a sense, of course, in which every business in which a Christian engages may be described as being ultimately designed "for the propagation of the Christian religion", be it a farm, a banking house, a sheep ranch, or a printing company. But none of these business enterprises can be accurately described as being chartered "for the propagation of the Christian religion."
Neither can the Gospel Guardian Company.
— F. Y. T.