The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-11-14

!.
ttRASI0R RUSSELD) field editor Of
1.-THE Continent"
and alias the Religious Rambler"
Ellis charged Pastor Russell with be-
Ing unordained and claimed that his
ordination as pastor is fraudulent. The
address showed. that Pastor Russell
fully understands the situation. He
fully justified hts position before his
vast audience and showed up the
\ rambler editor in the unenvia bic
light either Of being ignorant of the
subjects discussed or Of attempting to
deceive the public. His text was,
Not Of men, neither by man, but by
Jesus Christ. and God the Father. who
raised Hin from the dead" Galatians
/. y. He said
Evidently the time has come for tell
ing, the common people what the Bible
I teaches respecting clergy and laity.
titles of ministers. and ordination to
teach and preach. We have previously
pointed out that the doctrine Of
Apostolic Succession started in the
second century, A. D. The bishops
claimed that they had the same au-
thority that Jesus had originally given
exclusively to the Twelve Apostles. On
the strength Of this claim they appoint
ed and ordained the inferior clergy.
This custom still prevails in what
are known as Catholic Churches-Ro-
man. Anglican and Greek The prln-
ciple is wholly wrong, unscripturaI
I According to the Bible, the Church OF
|, Christ is not composed Of two parts,
clergy and laity. Jesus declared, Zone
Is your Master, Christ; and all ye are
brethren" Therefore, Call no man
master or] Father" st. Paul's writ
ings clearly show that in the early
Church the ministers were the serv-
ants OF the Flock, and not Of q differ
emit. lordly caste. They were of the
| people; and when chosen by the Eccle-
sia by the stretching forth Of the hand
Greek. chcirotoneo) they were recog-
niZed as OF Divine appointment to the
| ministry Through the Church. -.-..--
7 The customs Of centuries were 80 diff
! hcult to throw off that many Of the re-
formers coveted the titles accorded the
| Catholic clergy. Nor did they care to
! fell the cOngreGa ton that it's word was
supreme in the matter and that it's
ministers were merely by the grace Of
! God IT'S servants. Others OF the reform
ers. realizing that Jesus and His disci-
! pies were not styled Reverend, Doctor,
etc, declined to us these titles, prefer.
/ ring to be called pastors. This custom
still prevails very generally in protcs
tAnt Germany and Scandinavia. MY
, Christian friends and Bible Student
associates well know my objection to
the title "RCVcrcnd." and hence ad-
GreSS me rs ''PaStor' shepherd. Fur
therlnorc. | am the elected pastor Of
the Brooklyn Tabernacle congregation.
and also OF the London Tabernacle
congregation. | fail to see any ground
ifor criticism OF my course in this re-
spect; nor Go | make any attack upon
! Christian brethren who accept other
and unSCriptural titles
Must Pastors Be OrcIaned7
There is 10 question that ordination
: IS necessary to the proper holding of
the Office Of pastor. The whole cues.
| ton is: What constitutes an ordination
TO preach. teach and be Il pastor
, amongst the people Of God?
This question has received a wide va
ricty Of answers. The Roman. Angll
can and Greek Churches. claiming
Apostolic Succession. declare that fhe
AUTHORIZATION to preach must come
through their apostle bishops. For this
reason Protestant ministers bave not