Dr. Ironside and Ordination.
by H.A. Ironside
In a discussion of ordination, a statement was emphatically made to the effect that Mr. Ironside is not ordained and that he is opposed to ordination of ministers. Is this true?—a Pennsylvania pastor.
When the Editor sent this letter to Dr. Ironside, he replied:
"As to the matter of ordination, I have never been humanly ordained, though I hope I can say:
Christ, the Son of God, hath sent me
Through the midnight lands;
Mine the mighty ordination
Of the pierced Hands.
However, I have no special prejudice against ordination, and as of the Moody Church, and even before going there, have often participate in ordination services for others. But I have always sought to make it clear that we did not presume to confer any authority to preach or teach the Word by laying on of hands in ordination; but that we simply recognized the gifts that God has already given, and thus expressed our fellowship with the one who was in this way being commended to God for special service."
This is quite in keeping with the sub-title, “Ordained of the Lord,” used by Dr. E. Schuyler English in his biography of Dr. Ironside. . . .
"The Sunday School Times" April 6, 1950
