Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1912 — PASTOR RUSSELL IS CHALLENGED [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PASTOR RUSSELL IS CHALLENGED

A Complete Answer to the Query, ‘Who Ordained Him?” The Whole Subject Clarified For the Public Benefit Clergy and Laity Unscriptural Terms.

Albany, N. 1., Nov. 17. —As always, Pastor Rus sell got tbe crowd* today. We report his discourse on - Ministerial Qrdi nation and Titles Very evidently it is a reply to an attack recently made upon him by a Mr. W. T Ellis, field editor of The Continent, aud alias.

the "Religious Rambler." Ellis claims that Pastor Russell's ordination as Pastor is fraudulent. The address shows that Pastor. Russell fully understands the situation. lie fully justified his position before bis 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 Father. who raised Him from the dead” (Gal. i, 1). He said:—

The time has come for telling the people what the Bible teaches respecting 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, tbe Cbureh 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 congregation that its word was supreme, and that its ministers were merely its servants. Others, realizing that these titles 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, aud also of the London Tabernacle congregation, and I fail to see ground for criticism in this respect, nor do I 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 constitutes 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 pulpits—until the Episcopalians, about a year ago granted this concession. Of course, if their proposition were correct, I am just as much unordained as all 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 laity. Only since the organization of the Evangelical Alliance (184 G have the different sects of Christendom acknowledged each other’s ordinations. Each denomination makes use of such ceremonies as it deems proper. If, therefore, the congregation of Christian believers in Brooklyn and London ordain or appoint me as their pastor, it is their own choice what ceremonies, if any, shall accompany that ordination. Who can dispute this? No Protestant denomination. surely; for their own ordinations are on this very basis. The subject of ordination seems*to have fallen into confusion during the Dark Ages. St. Paul particularly emphasizes the tact that be did not receive his commission as preacher and Apostle of Christ from his brother Apostles, but by Divine authorization. I This is the Scriptural principle underly- ; ing Divine Ordination to the ministry , of Christ.

i No denomination claims that the ordination 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 discernment of Divine Truths. On the contrary. 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 by leading them to conclude that merely secular matters should engage their attention. The True Ordination.

Finally the Pastor showed the true ordination to be the impartation of the Holy Spirit. Whoever receives this has God’s authority to be His ambassador and mouthpiece. Such show jibe work of* the Holy Spirit regenerating their minds and hearts, giving them insight into the Scriptures, and enabling them to be God’s mouth pieces, ministers of His Truth.