The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-16
The PresidIDg EidershIp question.


The question as to the propriety Of
abOlishing or modifying the office OF pre-
siding elders in the N. E. Church has for
a long time engaged the attention Of many
otthe best minds in the church, and var.
ious have been the plans suggested by
reason thereof. Some advocate increas.
ing the number OF bishops, whose duty it
should be to travel over districts of such
reasonable bounds that they could devote
some time in personally experimenting
all, or nearly all, the societies in their dis
trlcts at least once or twice year, and
thereby supersede the use Of elders. Others
would not change the Office or system, but
would enlarge the bounds Of districts so
that but two or three would be embraced
in each conference. And still others would
modify the system so that the elder, II he
may be so designated, would be stationed
somewhere in district OF proper bounds,
and serve as the pastor of some society
that Is able to pay good salary for his
services as their pastor, and that as preach-
er congregate together at least twice year
At their district meetings, he (the elder
should be the presiding officer and have
the general supervision OF the district. He
Should also, in case Of appeals In church
trials, be the umpire to appeal to, and
should also be one Of the bishops cabinet
advisers.
There may be and doubtless are objec-
tons to each and all OF these plans. In
regard to the first one, increasing the
number of bishops, 1t is Objectionable in
that 1t would not materially benefit socie-
ties nor preachers financially, although it
might, and no doubt would be desirable
Improvement on quarterly sermonizing.
The second plan, enlarging the dis
trtcts, is perhaps less Objectionable fnan-
cialIy, as more societies would contribute
towards making up the elders claim, and
also because the elder would have fewer
opportunities for maneuvering his pet the.
cries and for favoritism.
The third plan, making the elder sta
toned preacher, having special charge Of
society, Commends itself in that it would |
abolish quarterly visitation, and thereby |
not only save to the church in this coun- |
try hundreds Of thousands OF dollars |
which should be employed in helping to |
TO pay preachers salaries, missionary and |
other church enterprises, but would break |
up the influence exerted over some
preachers and people, which has So long
batted the efforts looking toward change |
in keeping with the known wishes OF a |
majority of the memberss6i the church. |
II also recommends itself because, in case
Of appeals, he (the elder would be less
likely to be unduly biased than he would |
be were he making quarterly visits among
the litigants.
Where church trials originate, the
society, in case Of appeal, should pay all |
expenses the elder would incur BY con-
Quoting the appealed case. This will cost
It less than the elders quarterly claim un-
der the present system. This plan would |
further greatly lessen the probability of |
electing elders and elders delegates to the
General Conference, and would more like
ly enable the laity TO send such delegates
as would have influence in affecting such |
changes as are needed. Then TOO, the |
church organs and their editors might not
be controlled 50 much by elders: and ex-
elders, but the editors might be more free
to allow needed discussion through the |
medium of church organs without fearing
to lose the aid Of preachers in keeping up |
their subscription lists, nine-tenths Of
which is made up by the laity, and which |
may be greatly lessened by the one sided |
policy pursued.
As delegates, both clerical and lay, have
been elected to the General Conference,
ito meet at Cincinnati in May next) whose
acting no doubt will be in accord with
their conviction and prejudices, it there
fore behooyes the membership of the
church, both lay and clerical, to send on
such petitions as will command that
respectful attention which the importance
Of changes demand. Let societies, there
fore, bring their grievances directly before
the General Conference and respectfully
demand hearing in consequence thereof.