Dignity.—Obviously, dignity should characterize every printed utterance in our work. Dignity is even more imperative in the printed statement than in the spoken word. Cheap expressions, vulgarisms, slang, witticisms, or jokes have no rightful place in our literature. And our printed utterances should always be above all personal thrusts and national or racial prejudices. There should be dignity not only in expression, form, and appearance, but in spirit as well. Articles prepared in the spirit of prayer and in the spirit of the Master will ever comport with that ideal. Everything unworthy will thereby be excluded. This does not imply a flat, insipid presentation, but it does eliminate the sensational style in vogue in a certain school of journalism. It excludes the crude, the humorous, and the racy. Our practices should match our high ideals.
Balance.—A clear concept of our commissioned purpose as a movement, as previously surveyed, is requisite to any profitable discussion of ideals respecting balance, for the conceptions which we hold will inevitably mold our emphasis, and in consequence determine the form and scope of our presentations. The avowed purpose of this movement is to revive and focalize the truths of the ages in the supreme and final proclamation of the gospel to man. This is to be carried forward under the shadow of the climax of the ages, with sin, human achievement, and self-sufficiency at their peak. Under such tense and untoward conditions, the gospel message in its fullness, restoring the lost truths of the past, is to move forward to consummation. Surrounding and impeding our witness, earth's final, rapid movements will culminate in the supreme social, political, intellectual, and spiritual crisis of the ages—with the ultimate death decree for nonconformists, probation's close, and the second advent as the grand finale. Such is the infallibly disclosed setting for our present task and future witness. All emphases should , be balanced and adjusted in the light of this supreme fact.
Needless to say, balanced viewpoint lies back of balanced presentation. There is always the tendency to emphasize the phase that particularly interests us, or that we are studying at the moment. He who is incessantly studying the law, tends, for example, to stress the legal aspect to the neglect of the provisions of grace. On the other hand, he who is burdened over the spiritual life of the church ofttimes inclines to neglect the doctrinal framework of the message. Our presentations should be deliberately and carefully balanced. They should never separate truth from life, belief from practice, doctrine from Christian experience. All true doctrine will bear upon Christian life, and practical Christianity will enhance sound belief. This does not, on the other hand, involve or imply a weak, insipid, noncommittal presentation. Each truth should stand out with crystal clarity.
Never are we to forget that the journals which we edit as denominational editors are not our personal mouthpieces. We edit, them solely in trust for the denomination. Therefore, what appears editorially and in contribution we are honorbound to edit in conformity to the clearly established positions of the denomination on every essential truth and position. What does not come within such a category should be withheld in all general papers for the public or the laity, until there is reasonable unity and approval. There should be balance in the individual article, balance in each separate issue or book, and balance in each volume of a periodical. Sometimes but a single copy of a paper falls into a stranger's hands. That copy should be representative and balanced, and should carry a lifesaving message.
We are never to forget that unity should outweigh individuality, and that ,it is better to wait until we can all go along together, than to precipitate division and challenge, which often results in irreparable damage, We are not to be swayed by factions or moved by self-appointed custodians of the faith. We are to function without fear or favor. We are to edit our particular organ as an inseparable part of a world voice and movement. This will automatically exclude national, sectional, or racial attitudes or antagonisms. It will similarly exclude offensive statements that have nought to do with our great commission, and that throw a minor point out of perspective.
Up-to-Date Style--. We must adapt ourselves to the predominant literary style of the time. The dull, heavy, involved phrasings of yesteryear are no longer acceptable,. Simple, direct statements, short, crisp sentences that compel interest and appeal, should characterize our writing today. Individual adaptation in style is, of course, clearly demanded, dependent upon the type or class of journal—whether a missionary_ paper or a church organ, whether for youth or for adults, whether general or devoted to a specialized phase of the message, whether for laymen or for the worker group.
Moreover, style will naturally and unavoidably vary according to subject matter. A matter-of-fact statement will be inappropriate if clothed in other than simple, unadorned phrasing. But the truly great themes of the message—the greatest and most exalted ever given to man to herald upon earth—call for impressiveness of expression commensurate with their majestic character. There are times when, in the course of our writing, we should rise to heights of literary eloquence proportionate to the sublimity of the truth we are seeking to present. But this should never be simulated. When we ourselves are on fire with a great theme, that fire will inevitably flame forth in our writings. Painted fire will never warm, or kindle another's flame. Artificiality is always disappointing.
Much of our writing is too tame, too commonplace, too inadequate for a time like this. Great themes demand and deserve adequate treatment, especially today. We do not seem to write as to a world on the brink of destruction. Some of the content of our papers is little different from what was published two or three decades ago; yet the last rapid movements are upon us, and an intensity from beneath has taken hold of the world. The times demand messages commensurate with the exigencies of the hour—an earnestness that grips, a perception that grasps the full force and intent of the times, an adequacy of treatment that moves the mind and heart of man. Such writing is surcharged with an undeviating purpose to warn a world, to call out and prepare a people to meet their God.
Such intensive writing is not easy. It is exacting, grueling toil. It calls for prayer, consecration, and unstinted application. It pulls upon nervous and physical vitality just as much as does public discourse, or more. Not only is the editor in this cause to warn and entreat, to expound and appeal, but his utterances are to be preeminently keyed to the hour. He is to exemplify the work and the accomplishment of that "other angel" spoken of in Revelation 18. The matchless promise that "in a large degree through our publishing houses is to be accomplished the work of that other angel who comes down from heaven and lightens the earth with his glory" ("Testimonies," Vol. VII, p. 14o), is not to be understood to refer merely to the quantity of literature, but to its effective character as well. A divine compulsion will be inherent in it. It will break the shackles of multiplied thousands who have been bound to the follies and fallacies of this old world. It will bring them out from Babylon, mother and daughters, to the one true church of the last days. Irresistible spiritual power and appeal will be inherent in such writings, attested by the Holy Spirit.
Although the fundamental principles of writing are imperative and must be observed, the mechanics of composition should not obtrude to the hampering of expression.' Some writers are so precise and rulebound as to be pedantic and stilted, colorless and formal. The article is obviously an essay, rather than a message carried as transparently as possible through the medium of words from the mind of the writer to the heart of the reader. We should strive toward the ideal in presentation, not only in our own composition, but in the preparation of manuscripts which we edit.
We are to help our contributors more effectively and adequately to express themselves. We are to develop the distinctive personality of their writings, not to pass everything between the upper and nether millstone of our own phrasing until virtually everything under our charge bears the characteristic impress of our particular editorial texture. Such editing is unsuitable and unworthy. Diversity in style and personality is requisite to the maintenance of interest.
In summation, may we not conclude that the ideal presentation is one that meets the rightful expectations both of God and of His remnant church? The ideal presentation is one that sets forth a clear, appealing, saving message, coupled with faithful warning for its neglect or rejection. It is one that meets the technical exactions of a highly literate age, and that is so presented as to blend dignity with freshness, balance with forcefulness, accuracy with comprehensiveness, faithfulness of message with avoidance of all needless offense to nations, races, or classes in these increasingly strained and complex times; that does not needlessly jeopardize the church in other nations where restriction and oppression operate; that is conducted on principle, so that new and unforeseen problems will be solved in harmony therewith, whether there are governing rules or not, and whether or not there can be consultation with sister divisions. Thus will the difficult, delicate, but exceedingly important, work of literature production move forward under our ministry in harmony with the highest possibilities of the hour.
L. E. F.
