Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1912-11-28

S----- tinent. and alias.
The Religious Rambler" Ellis claims
that Pastor Russells ordination as Pas
Tor Is fraudulent. The address shows
that Pastor Russell fully understands
the situation. lie fully justified his po-
sition before his vast audience and
showed up the Rambler" editor In
the unenvlable 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
Their. who raised Him from the dead"
(Gal. |, ID. 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 10 the Bible. the Church of
Christ is not composed of two parts
clergy and laity. Jesus declared. "Ali
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 IT,
ties were nnScriptural. declined to use
them: preferring to be called pastor.
My Bible Student associates, knowing
my objection TO the title Reverend
address me az 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 Ordained?
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 pul
pits-until the Episcopaians, 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 no
more so.
Each denominati ton 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
QS40 have the different sects of
Christendom acknowledged each 9th.
er's ordinations Each denomination
makes use OF such ceremonies as il
deems proper II. 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, if any.
shall accompany thai ordination. Who
can dispute this; No Protestant de
nomination. surely: for their own or
dinations are Oh this very basis.
The subject OF oyliration seems to
have fallen into confUSnu during the
Dark Ages st PaHl particularly EN-
phasiZps the fact that he did not re
teiye h.S commission TX preacher and
Apostle OF Christ from lis brother
Apostles. h.u by Divi9e authorization
Thi> IS t"e Scr,rtu~aI principle under!y
ilg l.lr.u,. Dr'iiuation to the ministry
s1 ''h-'s-
- denomination claims that the or
"a 80 H.. o. - ministers either made o:
is.- IN nsrfpct An admit that
f"t o," been sad failures aiaongSI
.h- '1.prd ministers Neithe,
fH.a .Hlm that ordination hi,
- '' ministers superior diS"rr7i
rws. % lp"ine Truths tn the con
irar % ms injured the clergy by
ma Siae many ut them domineerine
aNm iorali contrary Ia the spirit and
Teachings ~ Christ and the Apostles:
and the HH! by reading them to con
rliide that merely secular matters
shOnld engage tlirir attention.
The True Ordination.
Finally the Pastor showed the true
Or,linu tioh 40 lie the iupartation OF the
Holv Shirt V-hnever receives this
has Gods authorlty to be His am
hassadnr and nouthpiece. Such show
fhe work of tbe Poly Spirit regenerat
Ing their minds and hearts. giviHg
them insight into the Scriptures ana
pieces. ministers of His Truth.