The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-06
rRESiDISG ELDERSIIIP QUESTION.
A LaSman who Evidently FAyoFs NtW
Departure.

A LhSmah who Evidently EAyeFa = NtR
DEPARTURE.
EallOS l6isliIGsnssfi 20.
Ia your issue Of thellS.',M. ., G." calls
for +" ligh. % The ptessnt and former Sig
niHcanee Of the office ~ well Is the work
q Presiding Elders The "oflce" Of
Presiding Elders In the N. 4. Church has
existed 50 long that Il Is presumAble little
need DO said upon Il, exeeptingso far as to
show the good It has accomplished in
yearsgons by; Ia efficiency at the present
time, and what changes, Il any, are needed,
In the earlier days Of Msthodlsmin this
country, aud for many years thereafter,
the Presiding Eldership was an important
element In accomplishing much good, not
only spiritually but enthusiastically. Then
the gospel was not preached on every hill.
top and In the valleys, nor In every ward
Ia the cities, but the bounds Of circuits
were far reaching, and societies and
preachers were scattered iar apart Then
there was not that enlIghtmeht OH the
part Of the membership In relation to
church affairs, such aS las been given
since, through the publications and or.
ganS oil the church, together with the
more numerous societies aud preachers,
dliIuSing q general knowledge Of church
Affairs, commanding the attention and I'D.
miration oil all classes. Then the elder had
fewer societies 10 visit quarterly, and To-
manned generally from three 10 ten and
twelve days, rs the importance Of the
work demanded, and revival influence In.
creased. Then preachers and members
looked forward 70 quRrterl y'meetings is 4
time Of great revival Interest to the church,
many going ten and twelve miles 10 attend
them. Then, too, the elder vas specially
needed In the Bishops cabinet 70 report
the condition Of societies aud represent
the preachers, from their different fields
Of labor; nor could the iLineTant system
have been carried on 80 successfully. with.
out an intelligent representative, LOT the
few Bishops then experimenting the
affairs OF the church could not, nor Can the
increased number now, bestOw upon 1t a
personal supervision commensurate with
The work. Hence tile necessity still for
proper representatives, call them elders,
presidents, or what you may,
TheinQuiry may DO raised, II tho Pre-.
siding Eldenhip has been 30 important In
the past, why may 1t not be now, or In the
future, or why dispense with OF modify
| Il? II would 10 difficult 10 answer these
questions without aroustng some opposi.
ton, or tFeRding on what some might re-
gard AZ ground TOO long cherished by the
Church to be broken up and rendered I'm.
fruitful.
Tho growth Of the Church has been
such throughout the populous sections Of
this country, that everywhere societies
are contiguous and ordained preachers,
both effective and local, are 80 numerous
as to greatly lessen the demand for pre-.
siding elders. Hence upon quarterly meet
ing occasions the elder IL seldom impera-
lively needed, and but rarely breaches
more than one sermon, or, as Is often the
case, he sends = substitute, who knows IL
little about as the elder cares Tor the society.
In either case his ullQuartefly salary isex-
peCted TO be paid 70 the substitute, the
elder modeSlly requests him 10 take out
his expenses and hand over the balance 10
him.
Perhaps the elder does not willingly
place hiinsel I in such relation to societies,
his work being 90 extensive that he can.
not do otherwise, but Is II right for him to
claim and receive pay Tor services not per.
formed or but partially 30? The discipline
makes 4 joint financial provision for eldera
and preachers, 30 that II the latter ~.
CeiveS, woTthily too, moIe than his stated
salary, he shall "share" 1t with his elder,
providing his the elders salary Is not fully
paid but II sometimes happsns that preach,
ems share with the elders when their own
salary Is deficient. By this disciplinary
arrangement elders and preachers are per.
soually interested 10 seeing to 1t that
salaries are fully paid, 80 thRtone may not
make DRAFT on the other. We're Il not
for this conioint interest would not elders,
nowadays, come far short Of their allow.
ances, and would not preachers more
readily receive theirs.
Objections are raised by societies 10 pay.
Ing elders salaries 80 disprOpOrtioned 10
that OF other preachers, especially for the
little benefit derived from their services;
and whilst they may have sought to rene.
dy this and other matters they have me.
with little success. Nor have they much
encouragement to hope for changes 10
long as the present eldership plan contin.
ues and elders travel over districts and
shape matters 30 that church officers are
kept in the harness who are expected to
work in the interests Of the old system.
Hence elderB labor TO keep the machine
intact, dreading 10 lose ! cog out Of one
Of tho wheels for fear Of disastrous results.
! ... LAY,