The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1913-01-03


------- tinent, 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 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. 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 unscriptural.
According to the Bible. the Church of
Christ is not composed of two parts,
clergy and laity. Jesus declared, "All
We 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.
CATION that it's word was supreme. and
that it's ministers were merely it's serv-
ants realizing that these IT,
ties were unscriptural. declined to use
them: preferTing to- be called pastor.
MY Bible Student associates, knowing
nay objection to the title Reverend. ;"
address me as 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 questionis. 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 Episcopaians, about "a
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
MOI more So .es3ifarguh a. ss Tggs
Each denomination at it's beginning
was opposed by an others; yet each
taught that the clergy were separate
from the laity Only since the organ
station of the Evangelical Alliance
d846l have the different sects of
Christendom rackno Wledged each 9th
er's eordinat tons Each denomination
makes use Of such ceremonies as it
deems proper If therefore,the-een-
gregation Of Christian believers in
Brooklyns@and London ~ordain 81 APP
point me as their pastor. it is their
own choice wIata cefe monies. if 9af1y.
shall accom- anaE that ordination. Who
can dispute this? No Protestant de
nenina tiens surely atheiruaEyIas ai;'s
hociC
The subject of ordination seems to
have fallen into confusion during the
Dark Ages ST. Paul. particularly en-
FLASHES the factzthat he did not re
ceive his commission as preacher and
Apostleesof Christ-frem.-his--hFet
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
sdination of-its ministers either made or
kept them perfects All admit that
there have been sad failures amongst
their ordained Aministers. Neither
would they claim that ordination has
given their ministers superior discern
ment of Divine Truths On the con-
trary. it has injured the clergy by
making many of them domineering
and lordly.. contrary to the spirit and
teachings of Christ and the Apostles;
and the laity BIZ leading them to con-
clude that merely secular matters
should engage their attention.
The True Ordination.
Finally the Pastor showed the true
ordination to be the Importation of the
Holy Spirit. Whoever receives this
has Gods authority to be His am
bassador and mouthpiece. Such show
the work of the Holy Spirit regsnerat-
ing their minds and hearts. giving
them insight into the Scriptures, and
enabling them to be Gods mouth
pieces. ministers of His Truth.