The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-12-05

llaslAN-k QoSelLJ editor or The con
finenf. and alias
the Religious Rambler" Ellis claims
that Pastor Russelrs ordination as Pas
tor Is fraudulent The address shows
that Pastor Russell fully understands
the situation. He fully justified his 20
sition before his vast audience aud
showed up the Rambler editor In
the unenviable 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 ia
Their. who raised Him from the dead"
gal. I. II. lie said
The time has come for telling the
people what the Bible teaches respect.
ing ordination 10 teach and preach
The doctrine Of Apostolic Succession
started 10 the second century A. -.
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 unscrlptural.
According to the Bible, the Church OF
Christ IL not composed of two parts.
clergy and laIty. Jesus declared. IAN
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
my objection to the title Reverend.
address me as Pastor. I am the elected
Pastor Of the Brooklyn Tabernacle
congregation. and also OF the London
Tabernacle congregation. and fall Co
see ground for criticism In this respect.
nor do attack Christian brethren who
accept other and unscriptural titles.
Must Pastors Be ordainsdf
Ordination Is necessary 10 the office
OF pastor. The question is. What consti
tutes an ordination to preach amongst
the people OF Gody
This question has received various
answers The Roman. Anglican aud
Greek Churches. claiming Apostolic
Succession. declare that authorization
10 preach must come through theiI
apostle bishops. and have not allowed
Protestant ministers TO enter their pul
pits-until the Episcopalians. about n
year ago granted this concession. or
course. if their proposition were cor
rect. I am inst as much unordained ~
all other Protestant ministers-and ~
more so
Each denomination at its beginning
was opposed by all others: yet each
taught that the clergy we're separut.
from the laity. Only since the organ
ization OF the Evangelical Alliance
ns40 have the different sects OF
Christendom acknowledged each 9th
er's ordinations Each denomination
makes use OF such ceremonies as Il
deems proper IT, therefore. the con
gregation OF Christian believers H.
Brooklyn and London ordain or ap
point the az their pastor. Il Is then
own choice what ceremonies, II any
shall accompany that ordina ton. Who
can dispute thisf No Protestant de
surely: for their own or
dinations are on this very basis.
The subject OF ordination seems "a |
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 IL the ScrIptural principle underly |
ing Divine Ordination to the ministry |
OF Christ
No denomination claims that the or
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 ministers superior discern
ment OF Divine Truths. On the con
trary, II has injured the clergy by |
making many Of them domlneerlng |
and lordly. contrary TO the spirit and
eachlngs of Christ and the Apostles:
and the lalty by leading them TO con
clude that merely secular matters
should engage their attention.
The True Ordination.
Finally the Pastor showed the true
ordina ton to he the importation OF the
Holy Spirit Whoever receives this
has Gods authority TO be His am
and mouthplece. Such show
the work Of the Holy Spirit regenerat
Ing their minds and hearts. giving
them insight into the Scriptures. and
them 10 he Gods mouth
pieces. ministers OF His Truth.