In the first issue of The Presbyterian Guardian, the editors shared their desire and justification for the new paper.
We hope that this paper will make its way on merit among Bible-loving Christians, in fact among all who like their Christian journalism fresh and unhackneyed,—or not at all. (PG, October 7, 1935, p. 3)
This concise statement is intriguing in part because of what it does not say. It does not comment at all on the events that led to the founding of The Presbyterian Guardian. Samuel G. Craig, the publisher of Christianity Today, resigned from the board at Westminster Theological Seminary over the Presbyterian Constitution Covenant Union, which was an affinity group preparing to form a new denomination if necessary.
Since Craig and others viewed such measures as premature and unwise, Machen and his sympathizers would need to find a new outlet for their editorial voice. One might speculate whether the brevity of the editorial statement stems from politeness, discretion, or some other reason. Regardless, in one sentence, the editors effectively established the publication’s editorial tone—especially when considering the historical and ecclesiastical backdrop.
