American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-06-06
JOHN LELAyD'S ORDIylTION,

ordination.
1t is reported that Leland was at
first ordained minister hy the
choice of the church, without the
imposition of tie hands of the
PreSbytery. He continued for some
years afterwards to preach and TO
baptIze on the authority OF his
simple appointment, much TO the
disturbance of the peace Of the as
sociation TO which he belonged. In
fact. on account of his departure
from the uSagrS of the churches i'll
Virginia. lie was not for il while in
good fellowship with any. Whether
right OF wrong, he openly protessed
! to believe that the imposition OF
hands by the Apostles, in ancient
! times, was only to confer miracu
louS gifts, and that, consequently,
such ceremony i'll the church now
was i'll itself worthless, because
wholly unauthorized. His brethren
urged HIM most earnestly for the
sake OF peace to submit to ordina-
ton by the hands Of the ministry :;
and finally, 10 CRAFTY them. he con
scented that they might call Pres
bytery for that purpose. Knowing
all the questions which they would
ask on his examination, and resoiv-
ed i'll his own mind on the answers
he would give, he felt confident
that they would not ordain him.
The Council, consisting of three
staunch CalvinistS, was called. The
day appointed for the ordination
arrived, and with it came a multi
tude of people to witness the cere-
mOny. The work was divided
One was to ask the usual questions
concerning his faith and call an
other was to offer up an ordination
prayer: and another was to deliver
the charge to the pastor and the
church. Leland took his seat long
before they appeared, and resting
his arms OH his knees and buryinS
his face in his hands, awaited their
movements. The Presbyter ap-
pointed to conduct the examination
at length began:
''Brother Leland, it becomes my
duty, according to previous arrange
ment, to ask you a few questions
upon the subject of your faith, and
i'll reference to your call to the min
istry.7
'sWell, brother said Leland.
slowly raising his head. II VIII tel!
you all know" and down went his
head into his hands again.
-!'Brother Leland, do
you not believe that God chose his
people in Christ before the fOunda>
ton OF the world 2"
Misunderstanding up). 81 know
not, brother, what God was doing
before he began to make this
world"
Moderator- :Brother Leland, DO
you hot believe that God had Il
people from before the foundation
of the world ?"
/ LelaRd-'lf he had, brother, they
were not our kind of folks. Our
people were made of dust, You
Know, and before the foundation OF
the world there was no dust to make
them o;tt oi.'
you believe, brother Leland,
that all men are totally deprave'i ::
! .Leiasd.-"No. brother il tiio.,
We're, they could not wax worse AMI
worse, as some of them do. The
devil WAS no worse than totally de
praved.'
"Well, there are other questions
that will embrace all these IL sub
stance. l will ask whether you do
not believe that sinners are justified
10y the righteousness of Christ I'M
puted to them -
Leldnd.-''Yes, brother. provided
they will do right themselves but
know of no righteousness that
will justify a man that won't do
right himself"
brother Leland, ! will ask you
one more question. Do you believe
that all the saints will persevere
through grace to glory, and get
home to heaven at last :"
! Leland.-''I can tell you more
abour that, my brother. when l get
there my self. Some seem to make
Il very bad start of it here"
The Presbyter seeing that the
audience was greatly amused, pro
posed to his colleagues that they
should retire for a few moments and
consult together. After returning,
they remarked to the congregation
that Brother Leland had no. an
swered the questions as satlsfact0r-
lily as they could wish, but they all
knew that he had many eccentricl
ties for which they should make
every allowance that they had
concluded accordingly to ask him
few questions touching his call to
the ministry.
MOderat0r.-''Broth Leland.you
bolieve that God has called you to
preach the Gospel"
Leland II never heard him, bro
Their"
1--WE do not suppose, brother
Leland, that you ever heard an
audible Voice, but you know what
we mean"
Lelond.-' But wouldn't it be- a
queer call, brother, if there were no
voice and nothing said!'
MOderator-f evidently confused).
well, well, brother Leland, you
believe. at least, that it is your duty
to preach the Gospel to every crea-
ture ~
LeiaRd.-"Ah. no. my brother, L
l..