The Washington herald., 1909-01-09
By WILLIAM 7. ELLIS.

and power Of the religion OF Christ ex-
eept the Irresistible power OF an ounni-
present. Supernatural Spirit
The coming OF tna SoInebniy whom
Jesus sent was al once the baptism, con
firmation. and ordination OF the disciples.
This was the seal OF real succession 70
the apOsJolate. Not all the hands OF
bishops or presbyters can make a man
q I1inister Of the Gospel who has not
shared in the Pentecostal enduement He
who came on that great day. riding u
chariot Of Wind has never left the
church Beneath my hand lies book,
The Future Leadership OF the Church,
which is greatly concerned over the
oesTth OF candidates for the ministry.
That IS not the real problem. The future
leadership OF the church, on which alone
her work depends. Is the accepted lead
ership OF that Somebody who has been
her leader since ever Jesus ascended-
The peril OF modern organized Christen-
dom IS that this supreme truth VIII be
overlooked and dependence placed upon
theological seuinaTies and scientific learn
ing for the creation Of a ministry. Ex-
cept that breath which filed the upper
room IN jerusalem on the Day OF Pen
tecOst breathe upon q mans spirit. not
al the wisdom Of man can make him an
appointed successor TO the apostolate.
Everybody knows how empty are words
without power-"sounding brass and tink-
ling cym0als." the apostle happily calls
them. So is the message Of Christianity
without the help of the Somebody who
came at PentecOst. The historical facts
and moral teachings Of our religion would
have no more influence upon the hearts
OF men than the story OF the Roman en-
plre or the PHILOSOPHERS Of Plato were II
not for this supernatural reinforcement
have seen hundreds OF men. yellow and
brown. who have been lighted out OF an
old life that was heather and made 70
shine with the virtues that are Christian
and all this without temporal advan-
tage 70 themselves. but real suffering
because Of the power Of the Gospel which
this Spirit makes alive. That IS as much
OF 2 miracle as the speaking with other
languages which amazed the many
tongUed multitude at PenteeOst
THE GREAT DAY. AND TO-DAY
The backward look upon the great day
OF Pentecost is profitable, but only for
the sake OF to-day. All truth IS worth
considering only IN relation TO present
lie L means much that the Somebody
who came in Jesus stead entered IN SOW
ereignty the church in Jerusalem: II
means more that He abides in the
church and the world to-day. All the
beauty Of saintliness, al the power %
preached word, all the benefcence Of
Christian service. are due only % His
might. Whether He speaks through
tongues suddenly and supernaturaIly
given or whether He speaks through the
hundreds Of native languages into which
the Bible has been translated; whether
by the voice Of Peter on Pentecost OF by
the stumbling speech OF the mission
worker. il IS the same Spirit doing the
same work Of the same Jesus.
The profound present meaning Of this
great Pentecostal lesson Is that the Spirit
VINO descended after Jesus had ascended
appears 20 be moving upon the life Of
the nations to-day with unusual power
( There are wondrOUs mOnitions coming
from al quarters OF the church The
mind Of Jesus seems 70 be leavening the
world The apostolic conception OF a
gospel 10 be preached 10 all men is once
+ more gripping the VIII OF Christendom-
( The spirit OF unity which marked Pente-
cost IS again being shown forth by be
] levers. And the hungry spirit Of man
kind Is waiting. cropping, praying for g
visitation Of vital, powerful religion
which can come only n the presence and
person OF the Paraclete, Christ's Other
Self.