The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1912-11-22

I(RASI0R RUSSELL) editor of The Com
- tinent, and alias.
the Religious Rambler" Ellis claims
that Pastor Russell's ordination as Pas
tor is fraudulent. The address shows
that Pastor Russell fully understands
the situation He fully justified his pc
sition before his vast audience and
showed up the Rambler" editor I'm
the unenviable light Of either being
ignorant Of the subjects discussed. or
attempting TO deceive the public. His
text was, mot Of men. neither by man
but by Jesus Christ, and God the Pa
Their. who raised Him from the dead"
(Gal. 1, H. He said
The time has come for telling the
people what the Bible teaches respect
ing ordination to teach and preach.
The doctrine of Apostolic Succession
started I'm the second century A. ID.
The bishops claimed that they had the
same authority that Jesus gave to the
twelve Apostles. Upon this claim they
ordained the inferior clergy.
This principle is wholly unscriptural.
According to the Bible, the Church OF
Christ is not composed Of two parts.
clergy and laity. Jesus declared. "All
We are brethren; One is your Master.
Christ" St Paul shows that In the
early Church the ministers were the
servants of the flock. They were of
the people. chosen by them by the
stretc hing forth Of the hand.
Many Of the reformers coveted the
titles accorded the Catholic clergy.
They did not care to tell the cOngre-
cation that Its word was supreme. and
that its ministers were merely its serv
ants Others, realizing that these II
ties were unscriptural. declined To use
them preferring TO be called pastor.
My Bible Student associates, knowing
my objection to the title Reverend.
address me as Pastor ! am the elected
Pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle
congregation. and also of the London
Tabernacle congregation. and fail To
see ground for criticism in this respect
nor do attack Christian brethren who
accept other and unscriptural titles
Must Pastors Be Ordained?
/ Ordination is necessary TO the Office
Of pastor The question is, What consti
tutes an ordination TO preach amongst
the people of Godf
This question has received various
answers rhe Roman. Anglican and
Greek Churches, claiming Apostolic
Succession declare that authorization
TO preach must come through their
apostle bishops, and have not allowed
pits-untl the Episcopalans. about
year ago granted this concession or
course, If their proposition were cor
rect, ! am just as much unordained ms
all other Protestant nnniSters-and no
more so
Each denomination at its beginning
was opposed by all others; yet each
taught that the clergy were separate
from the laity Only since the organ
Ization of the Evangelical Alliance
0S46) have the different sects of
Christendom acknowledged each 9th
er's ordinations Each denomination
makes use of such ceremonies as it
deems proper. If, therefore, the con
gregation of Christian believers in
Brooklyn and London ordain or ap
point me as their pastor, ii is their
own choice what ceremonies, If any.
shall accompany that ordination. Who
can dispute thisi No Protestant de
nomination, surely; for their own OF
1inations are on this very basis.
! The subject Of ordination seems to
have fallen into confusion during the
Dark Ages. st. Paul particularly EN-
phasizes the fact that he did not re
ceive his commission as preacher and
Apostle Of Christ from his brother
Apostles. but by Divine authorization
This Is the Scriptural principle undcrly
ing Divine Ordination to the ministry
Of Christ
No denomination claims that the or.
dlnstion Of its ministers either made or
kept them perfect. All admit that
there have been sad failures amongst
their ordained ministers. Neither
would they claim that ordination has
given their ministers superior discern
ment of Divine Truths. On the con
trary, it has injured the clergy by
making many OF them domIneering
and lordly, contrary to the spirit and
teachings Of Christ and the Apostles:
End the laity by leading them to con
clude that merely secular matters
should engage their attention.
The True Ordination.
Finally the Pastor showed the true
ordination to be the importation of the
Holy Spirit. Whoever receives this
has Gods authority to be His am.
bassador and mouthpiece. Such show
the work Of the Holy Spirit regenerat
Ing their minds and hearts, giving
them insight into the Scriptures. and
enabling them To he Gnd,a nnonfh-