Milford chronicle., 1912-11-22

upon him by MIR
- @ w. T Ellis, field
lkASlGK KUSSELllI editor of The Con
tipent. 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 10 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. I, 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, "An
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 its word was supreme. and
that its ministers were merely its serv-
ants. Others, realizing that these IL
ties were unscriptural, declined to use
them; preferring to be called pastor.
My Bible Student associates. knowing
ny objection to the title Reverend
address me as Pastor. | am the elected
Pastor Of the Brooklyn Tabernacle
congregation. and also of the London
Tabernacle congrega ton. and / fail to
see ground for criticism in this respect,
nor do l 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 Cod:
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 pul |
pits-until the Episcopalians. about a |
year ago granted this concession. OF
course. if their proposition were cor
rect. 1 am just as 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 were separate
from the laity. only since the organ
ization of the Evangelical Alliance
(1S4GI have the different sects of
acknowledged each 9TH
ers ordinations Each denomination
makes use OF such ceremonies as it
deems proper. If. therefore. the CON
Of Christian believers in
and London ordain or ap-
point me as their pastor. it is their
own choice what ceremonies. if any,
shall accompany that ordination. Who
can dispute this? No Protestant de-
surely: for their own or
linations 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 underly-
llg Divine Ordination to the ministry
IF Christ.
No denomination claims that the or
iination Of its ministers either made or
Kept them perfect. All admit that
here have been sad failures amongst
heir ordained ministers. Neither
would they claim that ordination has
yiven their ministers superior discern
nent Of Divine Truths On the CON
rary, It has injured the clergy by
making many Of them domineering
ind lordly. contrary to the spirit and
eachings Of Christ and the Apostles;
md the laity by leading them to con
lude that merely secular matters
hould engage their attention.
The True Ordination.
Finally the Pastor showed the true
rdination to be the importation of the
IOly Spirit Whoever receives this
as Gods authority to he His am
assador and mouthniece Such show
ne work of the Holy Spirit regenerat
~ their minds and hearts giving
hem insight into the Scriptures and
nabling them to be Gods mouth
ieCsas. minister's of His Trufh