The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1913-01-10

ilkAoJelA. klloQLkLlI nuilOlnuh iHV ~"
N--'''a'--s'-'.-'-' ifHeHt, 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-
slti0n 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, aud God the Es>
Their. who raised Hin from the dead
(Gal, |, D. 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. n
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 Ii not composed Of two parts.
clergy and lalty, Jesus declared. AN
We are brethren; One Is your Master
Christ" ST raul 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 it's ministers were merely its serv-
ants. Others, realizing that these Il
Ties were nnscriptural. declined to use
them; preferrlng to he called pastor.
My Bible Student associates, knowing
my objection 10 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 ordsined1
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 EpiscOpalians, about y
year ago granted this concession. or
course, II their proposition were cor
rect. am Just as much unOrdained az
ali other Protestant ministers-and no
more so.
Each denomination at its beginning
was opposed by all others; yet each
taught that the clergy were separate
from the Iaity. Only since the organ
iEatlon OF the Evangelical Alliance
(1S46J have the different sects of
ChTistendom acknowledged each. 9th
sr's ordinations Each denomination
makes use OF such ceremonies as II
deems proper. RI, therefore, the con
gregation Of Christian believers In
Brooklyn and London Ordaln or ap
point me as their pastor. It is their
own choice what ceremonies. II any.
shall accompany that ordination Who
can dispute this? No Protestant de
nomination. surely; for their own or
dinations are on this very basis
The subject OF ordination seems to
have fallen into confusion during the
Dark Ages, st. Paul particularly EN-
phaslzes 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 is the Scriptural principle underly
Ing Divine Ordination to the ministry
et Christ.
No denomination claims TINT the or
dination Of its ministers either made or
kept them perfect an 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 domineering
and lordly. contrary to the spirit and
teachings Of Christ aud the Apostles
and the laity by leading them to con
clude that merely secular matters
should engage their attention.
The True Ordination.
Finally the Pastor showed the true
ordination to he the importation OF the
Holy Spirit Whoever receives this
has Gods authority to be His am
hassador and mouthplcce. Such show
the work ~ the Holy Spirit regenerat
Ing their minds and hearts. giving
them insight into the Scriptures, and
enabling them to be Gods mouth
pieces, ministers OF HIS Truth