News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-03-11
ADVERTISEMENT
Ixu1anaTion-Psad r.

I V
destiny: 1t must keep faith with both if
IL would be true to God. Far be it from
me to say or do anything TO hinder on,
discourage her in all the realm of her
possibilities for good. Yet there are
some thin 8 done by some branches of
the church that [ must say is a matter of
deep regret. One of which is putting in
to the Gospel ministry men that cal be
only nugatory by being too ignorant to
read chapter i'll the Bible and not make
1t ridiculous. Here is a sample In read
ing the 4iSt verse OF the 9Th chapter of
Luke make 1t say 20 faithful and pre-
Ser0ed generatiOn.' Then in his dis
course spend 20 or 30minutes in showing
now they were preserved. In another
discourse tell his hearers that Judas Is
CARROT was the poor that Jesus referred
to IN Mark Il, 7; then for long tim9in
q SenSeleSS manner go on to prove it
and that all nbrOad daylight in the house
OF the Lord on the holy Sabbath day in
the afternoon OF the 18th century. The
above are only two among scores OF
others some more ridiculous, if posi-
bic, some less. Then again. the mnIai-
ministrati0n by some Of the executive
department OF a certain church, or at
least some or It's members n1OdUS OporqB-
IL, AKIN TO malaur0ltneSS, to secure their
own ordination, and the executive ac-
cept it all and call it success. all the
record of which will be anulled when
compared with the record above. And
at other times the criminal neglect to re-
cord some OF the most important part OF
their work, to the perpleXity and damage
OF parties concerned, and then take adj
vantage OF the same for fight against
the truth. Such a condition of things
will of course have their outgrOwths,
cropping out here and there f.; for among
such there are always adopts with the
muck-rake, and in their effort for self
notorlety occasionally bring up skeie-
ton from the Slum of the past. that
however it OffendS all other eyes, to
them it is an angelic form, an ambrosial
fragrance, a seraphic beauty. Such was
the condition of things that issued an
item IN the NEWS y ltFrIzEA some t so
years ago, to the GeeeG that hat, 40
ecclesiastic au1aofIty -insinuating that
my position as minister of the GOSPEL
was deception. Now that item was
headed "a few facts that would be in
teresting to this community. [ simply
say here that they were not facts-in con-
crete they were false. Now the facts are
that on August 30th. 1910, was ordained
to the work of the ministry by laying on
of hands of the presbytery of the Free
VIII Baptist WheelOck Quarterly Meet
from that body; that in 1858. when cross
ing the iSthmuS of New Granada from
Panama to ShagreS, my trunk was StOl-
en--my credentials were in that and lost
that in 1858 or 8 | moved to Waterbury
Centre, VT; after short time (have not
the date at hand) organized a church at
Waterbury Centre, Joined that church
and for some 10 years was pastor of that
church. Then after that. for year or
two, what passed through is known, as
far as myself is concerned, and can be
poralled only by the historic trial of the
Master and some of His immediate fol-
lowers. [ have no more to say about
that now. After time, in connection
with Ed. Eli Mower, we organized a
church, taking the name of Christian. at
Stowe West Branch. Wife and Joined
that church. A short time after nv
name was presented by the church for
admission to the Vermont Western
Christian Conference. holden at Morris
vile, Sept. 1865. In that conference the
matter of all that had been done to me
and with me was talked up by those per-
fectly acquainted with me and the whole
affair at Waterbury ; the charges, the
testimony for and against on the one
Fart, and those lnqulring for facts on the
other part were presented in the discus
sion in conference by Ed Eli Mower,
A. A. Williams. Dea. A. Luce and others.
they all having perfect knowledge OF the
whole matter, and the result was a mo-
ton to receive Brother Gray. Then an
amendment was moved to accept and or
dain, as he claims no ecclesiastical author
ity from the Free-Will Baptists. Then
calling on me. | took the erOund that |
had been once ordained honestly, sin
cerely and in good faith, and should
never be ordained again; if that be your
rule, please drop me and my name and
say no more about it. After withdraw
ing former motions, Sc, the motion was
made to receive and accept Bro. Gray's
ordination, and receive him into confer
ence as member in good standing. That
motion was carried unanimously, or
nearly so. Then the form. of credentials
bers, and finally Vt was as s6ft ~
clerk to make them as he thought prop
er, and with that instruction the clerk
gave me the following =
To the Saints scattered abroad, Greeting :
This is to certify that the bearer, Bro Ira Gray,
minister of the New Testament. As such we
cheerfully commend him to the people where his
lot may be cast.
Given in behalf of the Vermont Western Chris
tan Conference at MOrrisvillc, Sept IL. 1865.
S. WHEELOCK Con. Clerk.
When the above was handed to me the
clerk said this Is just as good as certi-
ficate of your ordination would have
been given by this Conference. With the
above authority, in connection with the
authority of One wiser, whose authority
none can annul, has been done all that [
have done as a Christian minister for the
last 20 years. | have no computations,
no fears, so far as my purposes or de-
SIGNS 90 in this whole matter To the
question, ''Whv do you keep silent ?" al
most daily asked about that item pub
lished saying that you had no authority
as a minister. | answer, it was an at
tack of cheeky ignorance, wild with self
cOnceit, upon an old man in his do age
and | did not think it worth notice 1t
is not for myself that notice it now. 1t
has not injured me. If it has them as
much as it has benefited me in sympathy
and favor with all that know me best,
surely they are objects of my commisera-
ton. What if vile men do persist in
spreading their pravitieS and their native
pragmatical linus everywhere? 1t is no
reason why better men should not strive
! to be best. Or what is it to thee, Wheth-
er that man be such or such, or whether
| this man do or speak this or that ? Thou
shalt not need to answer for others, but
shall give an account for thyself. No
occupation is so holy that vile men will
not strive to have hand in it, And no
name is so sacred that they will not try
to use it to cover their vile ends
ELDER IRA GRAY.
No. Hyde Park, Mar. 9th, 1886.