John Carter (Christadelphian)

John Carter (1889–1962) was editor of The Christadelphian from 1937 to 1962.^[1]

Carter was the third editor of the Christadelphian after the founding editor Robert Roberts and his successor Charles Curwen Walker. He was the first editor of the magazine to be an employee of the Christadelphian Magazine and Publishing Association (CMPA), which Walker had established before his death to ensure a stable continuation. For most of the period 1937 to 1962 Carter worked to promote a broader range of content in the magazine, more outreach publications, and set in motion a series of New Testament Commentaries of which he himself wrote several volumes. In 1938 he was the representative of the church in front of military tribunals.^[2]

^ Nigel Scotland Sectarian religion in contemporary Britain 2000 "Christadelphians have never had any centralized council or organization. One important figure in recent times was John Carter (1889-1962), editor of The Christadelphian from 1937 to 1962. By his speaking and writing he was able to bring together many of these diversified groups and draw them into a more cohesive movement. "
^ Bryan R. Wilson Sects and Society 1961 p236 "In 1936 the possibility of a re-introduction of conscription induced the Christadelphians to set up a Military Service Committee, which compiled a register and collected literature for the use of the authorities, principally to establish the fact that conscientious objection was no new doctrine within the movement. In 1938 steps were taken to inform the government of the Christadelphian position, and, on the introduction of compulsory service, Carter, as editor of the magazine, represented the sect before the military service tribunals. There was this time no prominent brother, such as Jannaway in the Great War, to expend time and money on these matters. It was now a subject for official action, and the acknowledged leading brother was thus expected to state the Christadelphian case. Once again the movement evolved agencies contrary to its own organisational tenets to meet the exigencies of an external situation. Exemption was fairly easily obtained in most cases, but, as before, virtually identical cases received very differing treatment from different tribunals. But, this time at least, less than a score of brethren were made to suffer prison for their consciences, as against ‘scores’ in the First World War."

[1] Nigel Scotland Sectarian religion in contemporary Britain 2000 "Christadelphians have never had any centralized council or organization. One important figure in recent times was John Carter (1889-1962), editor of The Christadelphian from 1937 to 1962. By his speaking and writing he was able to bring together many of these diversified groups and draw them into a more cohesive movement. "

[2] Bryan R. Wilson Sects and Society 1961 p236 "In 1936 the possibility of a re-introduction of conscription induced the Christadelphians to set up a Military Service Committee, which compiled a register and collected literature for the use of the authorities, principally to establish the fact that conscientious objection was no new doctrine within the movement. In 1938 steps were taken to inform the government of the Christadelphian position, and, on the introduction of compulsory service, Carter, as editor of the magazine, represented the sect before the military service tribunals. There was this time no prominent brother, such as Jannaway in the Great War, to expend time and money on these matters. It was now a subject for official action, and the acknowledged leading brother was thus expected to state the Christadelphian case. Once again the movement evolved agencies contrary to its own organisational tenets to meet the exigencies of an external situation. Exemption was fairly easily obtained in most cases, but, as before, virtually identical cases received very differing treatment from different tribunals. But, this time at least, less than a score of brethren were made to suffer prison for their consciences, as against ‘scores’ in the First World War."

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