Smyrna times., 1912-11-20

|
- ttnent, 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 po
sition before his vast audience and
showed up the Rambler" editor in
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 Fa-
ther. who raised Him from the dead"
(Gal. 1, u. 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 in the second century A D.
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
ye 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
stretching 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 It's word was supreme. and
that its ministers were merely its serv-
ants. Others, realizing that these t.
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 Ordained2
: 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. The Roman, Anglican and
Greek Churches. claiming Apostolic
Succession, declare that authorization
e to preach must come through their
l. apostle bishops, and have not allowed
!. Protestant ministers to enter their pull.
: pits-until the Episcopalians, about q
year ago granted this concession. OF
course. if their proposition were cor
rect, / am just as much unordained as
all other Protestant ministers-and nc
). 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
es ization of the Evangelical Alliance
pc QS46) have the different sects o.
y Christendom acknowledged each 9th
ers ordinations. Each denomination
makes use of such ceremonies as
deems proper. If, therefore, the con
gregation of Christian believers il
Brooklyn and London ordain or ar
point me as their pastor. it is thei
own choice what ceremonies, If any
shall accompany that ordination. VIII
can dispute thisI No Protestant dt
nomination, surely; for their own Of
dinations are on this very basis.
The subject of ordination seems t
have fallen into confusion during th
Dark Ages. St. Paul particularly en-
phasizes the fact that he did not n
ceive his commission as preacher an
Apostle of Christ from his brothE
Apostles. but by Divine authorization
This is the Scriptural principle underl.
ing Divine Ordination to the ministr
of Christ
iii No denomination claims that the o
dination of its ministers either made
rds kept them perfect All admit thi
there have been sad failures among
'u' their ordained ministers. Meth,
ind would they claim that ordination b,
ore given their ministers superior discer
=, ment of Divine Truths On the CO
Oie trary, it has injured the clergy |
IN making many of them domineeriI
oht and lordly, contrary to the spirit al
teachings of Christ and the Apostle
'ie and the laity by leading them to co
elude that merely secular matte
should engage their attention.
ID The True Ordination.
~ Finally the Pastor showed the tr
ordination to be the importation Of t
Holy Spirit. Whoever receives Il
has Gods authority to be His a
bassador and nouthpiece. Such she
the work of the Holy Spirit regeneri
ing their minds and hearts givi
ll;no them insight into the Scriptures. a