The daily sentinel., 1912-12-02


lsLeslS9k kg9otllI editor of The con-.
Gacm. and alias
the "Religious Rambler" Ellis claims
that Pastor RusselIs ordination as Pas
tor is fraudulent. The address shows
that Pastor Russell fully understands
the situation. lie fully justified his po
siti0n before his vast audience aud
showed up the Rambler editor IN
the unenyiable light of either being
ignorant Of the subjects discussed, OF
attempting TO deceive the public His
text was, Not Of men, neither by man,
but by Jesus Christ and God the Fa
thcr. who raised Him from the dead
Gal. /, j.. lie said
The time has come for telling the
people what the Bible teaches respect,
ing ordination to teach aud preach.
The doctrine of Apostolic Succession
started In the second century A. u.
The bishops claimed that they had the
same authority that Jesus gave 10 the
twelve Apostles. Upon this claim they
ordained the iuferior clergy.
This principle IS wholly unscrlptural.
According 10 the Bible, the Church of
Christ is not composed Of two parts.
clergy and laity. Jesus declared, "All
yc are brethren; one is your Master.
Christ" St. Paul shows that in the
early Church the ministers were the
servants pf the flock. They were Of
the people. chosen by them by the
stretching forth Of the hand.
Many of the reformcrs 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 It's serv-
ants Others, realizing that these IT,
ties were mscriptural. declined to use
them; prefcrriug TO he called pastor.
My Bible Student associates. knowing
my objection to the title Reverend"
address me us pnySbr | am the elected
Pastor of the brooklyn Tabernacle
congregation. aud also OF the London
Tabernacle congregation. and I fail to
see ground Tor criticism I'm this respect.
nor do | attnck Christian brethren who
accept other and unscriptural titles.
Must Pastors Be ordained7
Ordination IS necessary TO the office
Of pastor The question is, What consti.
tutes an ordination TO preach amongst
the people of God?
This question has received various
answers. The Roman, Anglican and
Greek Churches, claiming Apostolic
Succession, declare that authorization
TO preach must come through their
apostle-bishops, and have not allowed
Protestant ministers to enter their pull
pits-until the Eplscopalians, about n
year ago granted this concession. On
course, If their proposition We're cor
rect, am just rs much unordained as
all other Protestant ministers-and no
more so.
Each denomination at its beginning
was opposed by all others: yet each
taught that the clergy We're separate
from the lalty, Only since the organ
ization OF the Evangelical Alliance
dSiGl have the different sects of
Christcndom acknowledged each 9TH
cr's ordinations Each denomination
makes use of such ceremonies MS 1t
deems proper. If. therefore, the con.
gregation of Christian believers in
Brooklyn and. London ordain or ap-
point me as their pastor, it is their
own choice what ceremonies. II any.
shall accompany that ordination. Who
can dispute thisi No Protestant de-
nomination, surely: for their own or.
dinatiuns are ON this very basis.
The subject of ordination seems to
have fallen into confusion during the
al ,.tf 81,
phasizes the fact that he did not re-
ceivc his commission us preacher and
Apostle of Christ from his brother
Apostles. but by Divine authorization.
This is the Scripturnl principle underly.
ing Divine Ordination to the ministry
of Christ.
No denomination claims that the or
dination 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 minister's superior discern
ment of Divine Truths On the con
trary, II has injured the clergy by
making many of them domineering
and lordly, contrary TO the spirit aud
teachings Of Christ and the Apostles;
aud the lnity by leading them 10 con
cludc 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
hnssndor and mouthpiece. Such show
the work Of the Holy Spirit regenerat-
ing their minds and hearts, giving
,hem Insight into the Scriptures. and
enabling them to be Gods mouth.
pieces, ministers Of His Truth.
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