The Indianapolis journal., 1886-01-18
POSITION AND DUTIES OF RULING ELDERS
A Paper Read Before the Presbyterian Ministers
Association by Mr. 9. N. Todd.

Association by Mr. Q. N Todd :
lSome of the suggestions made by Mr.. Todd
touching the duties of ruling elders in the Pres
byterian Church should interest official members
in other denominations 1t will be good reading
for them on Sunday, or for that matter, on any
other day. II all Presbyterian elders come up
to Mr.. Todds standard they must be very
busy and very useful body of men. At all
events, Mr. Todd's essay should interest them ]
The church. body of believers called out
from the world for the worship and service OF
God, is the same essentially in every age. Its
design is to enthrone Christ and develop His
spirit IN the human soul. AS He is the same, so
virtually must His church be. 1t cannot be one
thing to-day and another tomorrow 1t may
vary in the degree of it's DEVELOPMENT; its life
and growth spring from the same divine source.
Yet its visible, external guidance is intrusted to
human hands 1t is not self-perpetuating nor
self directing. Order is heavens first law, y
and is secured by obedience to law. 1t reigns in
every realm of the Creator. The natural world
must have it; social and civil society cannot live
without it. No more can the spiritual organiza
ton, the church. Christ, its head acts through
its members 1t is representative body. We
do not find the people as whole exercising
supervision and authority This duty is com
mitted to a chosen few. This body. in its united
capacity in our church, is known as the session.
composed of the pastor and elders. Elders had
place in the ancient church. We read of them
In the time of Moses, also under Joshua. the
judges and kings, as well as in subsequent
periods of the Jewish dispensation. We find
them recognized in the service of the
synagogue 1t is thought by our best writers
that the New Testament church. so far as it
had any form, followed that of the synagogue.
The first disciples were Jews and much attached
to their mode of worship. They would not read
lily, therefore, have yielded to what widely devi-
ated from IT. True, In our Saviors time, this
worship had become formal, vet its nature and
design were spiritual 1t would, therefore, be
wise for the teachers and apostles to carry out
the true spirit of that service. Elders are men
9ioned as attached to the synagogue. When the
apostles organized churches they set apart per-
sons as officers, similar to those known under the
previous economy They are spoken of as over
seers, or inspectors of the church, rulers in the
house of God. whom the members are to obey as
those caring for and directing their spiritual in
forests.
1t is frequently stated in the epistles that apos-
zles ordained elders in every church, in the
smaller as well as the larger ones There was a
ruling as we'll as teaching element. "Let the
elders that rule we'll be counted worthy of double
honor" implying the existence of two classes
The Office of the elder is, therefore, not one of
convenience or custom. 1t is not simply sane
toned, but created by divine authority, and is,
therefore an essential factor In church organiza-
tion, while there is revealed in the New Testa-
meEt no clearly defined church poity, it is be-
heved that the Presbyterian is quite in accord
ance with what, IN fragmentary shape is there
presented.
Led by divine authority the voice of the church
is expressed in the choice of its Office bearers.
They should be men of practical sense, integrity
and piety, whose light shines equally in the
home, in business in the world and in the
church--whose life is marked by purity and
prayer, good deeds and zeal for the Master. No
specific instruction is given in Scripture as to
the kind of service in detail elders are required
to render. We find there general statements,
rs we also do in our form of government, which
convey the idea of watchfulness kind supervis
ion, guidance and control, so that the sphere of
the session embraced in its wide range whatever,
will promote the order, peace, purity, growth
and influence of the church
1t would seem not only desirable but necessary
that elders should be in full sympathy with the
pastor. There should be mutual affection and
confidence. They form his cabinet advisers
His interests are largely interviewer with theirs
His labors, in great measure, are combined
with theirs. There is, therefore, common tie
may happily share together. A distinction is to
be observed between the pastor and elders in
their relations TO the church His time and en-
ergies belong to the church. This is his calling,
prominent feature of which is his public min
istrations in the line of instruction. He is to
give himself to the ministry Of the word and
thereby feed the flock of God. This
requires most thorough preparation.
The elders on the other hand, find the burden of
their duties in different sphere They are not
exclusively devoted to church work. Their dali
ly avocations must receive attention. On these
they and their families more or less rely for sup
port But elders are not alike situated. Some
are more closely pressed with engagements than
others Still there are few if any, indeed there
should be none who cannot, by wise system,
find intervals of time for the Masters cause. II
So their place is not in the eldership. The elders
ii caey are to have oversight of the congregation,
must know the members. The pastor is ex-
pected to have personal acquaintance with all.
A degree OF attention is sometimes expected on
the part of the people impossible in large con-
gregation To fully meet such expectations
would leave him but little if any time, for other
duties The elders ought really to have more to
do with the members than the pastor They are
nearer the people and more familiar with their
daily experience than he is. The elders knowl-
edge would often harmonic conflicting interests
and reconcile matters, trivial perhaps in them
selves. but which, dwelt upon and magnifed,
might lead to mischief. 1t has come to pass that
the success or failure of a church is made to de-
pend on those who minister at the altar. If it is
prosperous he generally, as he should receives
credit if failure results the blame rests with him.
There would be less mourning over unsuccessful
church enterprises if Aarons and Hurs more
faithfully held up the hands of Moses. The
elders should not only warmly sympathize, but
heartily cooperate with the pastor in his ardu
Gus labors In these he should find great sup
port from those associated with him. There is
no doubt Of the value of ministerial visitation.
DR.. Chalmers said "A house going minister
makes church going people," The extent of
this must be measured by the size of the con-
gregation and the claims for his services in other
directions. Here is work in which the elders
may largely and justly participate.
AS has already been stated. the elders should
know the members. But it is not sufficient to
greet them at the services, or on the street, and
call them by name. They should be met at their
homes and in their families. A systematic Wis
itation by the Office bearers brings them in close
contact with parents and children Of the house
holds. In order to secure this end more fully it
is useful to make divisions, and assign each to
one or more elders, who, for a stated period.
may have personal and friendly supervision of
members end families in such divisions. By ex-
changing these divisions, each elder in due time
may have knowledge of the entire congregation
Such calls may be made when convenient and
not necessarily with the pastor. AS to the
character of such visits, no rules can or should
Arf T. l. - - l.