The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-11-22

tHGHb, anu HlldS,
the Religions Rambler" Ellis claims
that Pastor Russell's ordination as Pas
tor IN 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 unenviabIe light of either being
ignorant of the subjects discussed, or
attempting to deceive the public. His
text was. Not Of men. neither by man.
but by Jesus Christ. and God the Fa.
ther. who raised Him from the dead"
tGaI. i. II. 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 unscripturai.
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 its word was supreme. and
that its ministers were merely it's serv-
ants. Others, realizing that these IT,
ties we're 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
congrega ton. 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 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 EpiscopaIians. about
year ago granted this concession. or
course, If their proposition were cor
rect, am just as much un0rdained MS
all other Protestant ministers--and no
uiore 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
lZation OF the Evangelical Alliance
t1S46 have the different sects or
Christendom acknowledged each 9TH
er's ordinations. Each denomination
makes use of such ceremonies ms II
deems proper. II, therefore. the con
gregation of Christian believers in
Brooklyn and London ordain or ap'
point me as their pastor. 1t is their
own choice what ceremonies. II any.
shall accompany that ordination. VINO
ran dispute thist 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 ana
Apostle of Christ from his brother
Apostles. but by Divine authorization
This Is the scriptural principle underly'
ing Divine ordination to the ministry
Of Christ.
No denomination claims that the or
dnatlon oflts ministers either made or
kept them perfect All admit that
tuttt HHNP DftU Sdu ihtlhi GO '''S'Nf'-
their ordained ministers. Neither
would they claim that ordination has
given their ministers superior discern
ment of Divine Truths On the con-
trary. 1t has injured the clergy by
making many of them domineerlng
and ordly. contrary to the spirit ana
teachings Of Christ and the Apostles'
and the lalty by leading them to con
eIade that merely secular matters
shoald engage their attention.
The True Ordination.
Finally the Pastor showed the true
ordination to be the importation OF the
Hely Spirit Whoever receives TINS
has Gods authority to be HIS am
hassadcr and m0uthpiece. SUCH sno~
the work Of the Holy Spirit regenerat
ing their minds and hearts, giving
them insight into the Scriptures, ana
enabling them to be Gods mouth
pieces, ministers Of His Truth.