ELDER (AS. ot/dor, coati,. of cold, old, 011G.. Ger. alt. old: connected with loth. ohm Icel. Oft, Lat. We re, to nourish. as an ecclesias , tical title an exact translation of the Greek irpea- prtsbyteros. comparative of wpfatif s, pres bys, old. which ocenrs frequently in the New Testament ). The title of an odicer-bearer in certain 'churches. (1) In the Old Testament it is a title generally indicating in the earlier history the primes or heads of tribes and afterwards men of special influence, dignity, and authority in their local community. In the Hebrew polity. as shown in the Nctv Testament, the elders are the lay element in the Sanhedrin. Originally in Jew ish society, the head of the first house was also the head of the clan, that of the first clan also that of the tribe. All these three grades of the heads of the people might be designated by one eoninion mune, roost frequently that of elder. 12) In the New Testament elder is also the title of certain officers in the newly organizoi society of Christians, whose functions are not clearly de fined, but who apparently exercised a outsider able eontrol in the conduct of the local ehurches. are not agreed as to the limits or nature of their authority. The ollice of elder developed very generally in the churches of the Reforma tion. In most of the churches on the Continent of Europe which have any kind of connection with the state there is some regulation of the civil law with reference to the election and functions of elders. In some (hurdles elders are appointed for a certain term of orrice: but more generally it is until death. resignation. removal from the bounds of the congregation, or deposition. The ordination of elders takes place in the congre gation. but usually without the imposition of hands. In the Baptist •hurehes the pastors of churches are usually called elders, although the class espeeially so called are not settled pastors, lint rather evangelists and missionaries. In the churches of the Presbyterian order the pastor of a church is technhally called the hoc/lino rldrr, as front the ruling t ldi rs, common ly called simply •bb•r=. who are a body of laymen
varying in number. selected to as:=114t the pastor in the oversight and government of the church. The board of ruling elders constitute with the pastor the session of the •hurch, and are in trusted with its government and discipline. sub jeet to the supervision of the presbytery. Such elders are re.piired to accept the svintwol or eon fe,:.;ion of faith of the Presbyterian ('porch; they do net administer the Sacrament. but may :lid in the Lord's Supper by distributing the elemenls. They are sometimes elected for life. sometimes only for a term of years. in the Reformed ehmehe• I Dutch and I:ernmul the eonsistories include the ministers. elders, and deacons. and the latter ton 1•1,1-•-es of ffir,,,r, are elected only for a term. with permission of In the early days of An erivan Congregationalism many churches had in addition to a pastor and teacher a ruling elder charged with matter, of church govertinient and discipline. In -.inn• of the Am•r ican Alethodist churches elder is the general term for any clergyman. In the Methodist Episcopal Church the presiding elder is an ordained clergy man appointed by and serving under the bishop, largo supervisory powers within a specified district. lie presides over the quarterly and di•• triet conferences and visits the churches. Travel ing elders are itinerant appointed by the annual eonference. In the :Mormon the elder is an officer whose duty it is "to preach and baptize: to ordain other elders, and also priests, teachers. and deacons, to lay on hands tor the gift of the lloly Ghost, to bless ehildren, and to take the lead at all meetings." These elders constitute the .\lelehizedek priesthood. and include the apostles, the seventy, the patria•elis, and the high priest. Among the Shakers four elders. two males and two females, have charge of each of the aggregated families.