Gordon Clark: REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COVENANT UNION, 1936 (The Presbyterian Guardian)

Members (link):

President - Mr. A. F. Miller, Collingswood, N.J. 

Vice President - Mr. D. T. Richman, Philadelphia, Pa. 

Secretary - Mr. D. M. Perkins, Vineland, N. J. 

Treasurer - Dr. Gordon H. Clark, Philadelphia, Pa. 

These officers together with five other persons comprise the Executive Committee. The others in the committee are: the Reverend J. Gresham Machen, D.D., Litt.D., Philadelphia, Pa.; the Reverend Harold S. Laird, D.D., Wilmington, Delaware; the Reverend A. L. Lathem, D.D., Chester, Pa.; Mr. Bert W. Tennant" West Pittston, Pa., and the Reverend Edwin H. Rian, Philadelphia, Pa.

1936. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COVENANT UNION. The Presbyterian Guardian. Vol. 2, No. 6. June 11. Pgs. 113-114

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COVENANT UNION FOR THE YEAR JUNE 27, 1935 TO JUNE 11, 1936

The Executive Committee of The Presbyterian Constitutional Covenant Union has endeavored to the best of its ability to carry forward the central purpose of the Covenant Union as expressed in Article III of the Constitution: "To defend and maintain the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.-that is, to defend (I) the Word of God upon which the Constitution is based, (2) the full, glorious system of revealed truth contained in the Confession of Faith and Catechisms, commonly called (to distinguish it from various forms of error) the 'Reformed Faith,' and (3) the truly Scriptural principles of Presbyterian church government guaranteeing the Christian's freedom from implicit obedience to any human councils and courts and recognizing, instead, in the high Biblical sense, the authority of God."

In order to carry out these purposes effectively the Executive Committee has taken the following actions in accordance with its Constitutional powers:

1. Offices were opened at 1209Commonwealth Building, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 9th, 1935.

2. The Rev. H. McAllister Griffiths. D.D., was employed as General Secretary of the Covenant Union.

3. A semi-monthly publication, known as THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN, was begun October 1st, 1935, and has been continued to date.

4. The Rev. H. McAllister Griffiths. D.D., was asked to serve as editor of THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN in addition to his work as General Secretary.

5. Mr. Thomas R. Birch was employed on September 9th, 1935, to act as Circulation Manager and Assistant Editor of THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDTAN.

These actions have enabled the Executive Committee to accomplish the following things in attempting to fulfill the aims of the Covenant Union.

1. Twice each month, beginning with October 1935 THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN has been printed and mailed to thousands of Presbyterians With information and warnings about the modernist tyranny which grips the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Many different Presbyterian ministers elders and laymen have contributed articles to this journal. Some of these articles of special interest have been reprinted and sent out in pamphlet form.

2. The Rev. H. McAllister Griffiths, D.D., in addition to acting as editor of THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN, has carried forward the work of the Covenant Union.

He has acted as counsel for most of the members of The Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions in the Lases of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. against these members.

He has arranged for and conducted rallies of the Covenant Union in many parts of the United States.

These rallies have resulted in the formation of chapters of the Covenant Union. In many other ways Dr. Griffiths has made the work of the Covenant Union effective.

3. Mr. Thomas R. Birch has acted as Circulation Manager. At the present time there are subscribers in 46 states and 21 foreign countries. In many other ways Mr. Birch has aided the Executive Committee in carrying- forward the work of the Covenant Union.

4. Rallies for the Covenant Union have been held in many states. These meetings have been addressed by members of the Covenant Union and literature of the Covenant Union has been distributed.

5. Over thirty thousand Constitutions and pledge cards of the Covenant Union have been distributed.

At the present time there are twenty-four chapters of the Covenant Union.

The Executive Committee desires to make the following recommendations: that

1. The Rev. H. McAllister Griffiths. D.D ..and Mr. Thomas R. Birch be thanked for their splendid work and untiring efforts in behalf of the Covenant Union.

2. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the proper officers and agents of the Presbyterian Constitutional Covenant Union be and they are hereby authorized to do any acts and to execute any documents which may be required to carry into effect the purposes of the foregoing resolutions.

In view of the fact that the efforts to reform the existing organization of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. have failed and in view of the fact that the tyrannical policy of the present majority of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. has triumphed as evidenced by the action of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. sitting as a court in Judicial Cases Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4. and 5 and in Non-Judicial Cases Numbers 1-8 and 10, it is now declared that The Presbyterian Constitutional Covenant Union shall upon the adjournment of this meeting cease to exist and that the members of the Covenant Union are now free to carry on the true spiritual succession of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. in accordance with Section Two of the Covenant.

3. The following resolutions be adopted by the Covenant Union:

(1) Whereas the Presbyterian Constitutional Covenant Union which has heretofore published the semi-monthly religious journal called THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN is now about to dissolve;

And Whereas it is desirable that the publication of THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN be continued;

And Whereas the Rev. J. Gresham Machen, D.D., the Rev. Paul Woolley and Murray Forst Thompson, under the name and style of "The Presbyterian Guardian Publishing Company," have offered to undertake the continued publication of THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN on the terms set forth in the written proposal hereto attached:

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that all of the right, title and interest of the Presbyterian Constitutional Covenant Union in and to "THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN," its good will, accounts receivable, cash balances as of June 11. 1936, subscription list, and the equipment and supplies described in Exhibit "A" attached hereto, be and they are hereby assigned, transferred and set over unto the said Rev. J. Gresham Machen, D.D .. Rev. Paul Woolley and Murray Forst Thompson, in consideration of the agreement of the said Rev. J. Gresham Machen, D.D., Rev. Paul Woolley, and Murray Forst Thompson, to assume and pay all of the outstanding obligations of the Presbyterian Constitutional Covenant Union, as listed in Exhibit "B" hereto attached, and also to assume any and all liability incurred by the Covenant Union in connection with the execution of the lease of the office, 1209 Commonwealth Building. Philadelphia.