The Indianapolis journal., 1886-01-18

| any one Win rlguL views imagine IL. Inc super
vision and control is moral in its character, and
should be manifested in the most confiding and
affectionate manner. partakng of a courteous,
kindly Christian fellowship. This will not inter
fere with a careful and discreet watchfulness.
1 Some may think that in certain families such
visits would be unwelcome. and regarded as in
truslve This idea would not be cherished in
families of true disciples. If so, there might be
special need of friendly call from the session.
Such disciples voluntarily joined the communion
of saints. and yielded themselves to the care and
guidance of the church. The elder needs no
| apology for his visit He is only fulfilling the
| solemn trust committed to him.
| In the regular or called meetings If session,
| matters come up which relate to the life and eff
| ficiency of the church, such as the examination
| OF candidates, the reception and dismission of
members, matters pertaining to worship and the
| conduct Of services. and plans and methods for
best calling forth activity in the members, and
| sometimes when the peace, purity and growth
of the church require it. what is most difficult
and delicate of all, the exercise of judicial au-
| thority, which at times is imperative and should
| not be neglected. Here the common sense, busi-
| ness tact, wisdom and Christlke spirit of the
| elders will be of the highest value
These are some of the quiet duties that ap-
| pertain to ofice-bearers in the church. There
are others of more public character which we
wish to notice. The Sabbath-school should be
under the special care and oversight of the seS-
sion
The design of the Sabbath school should be to
complete, not supersede, home teaching. 1t is
now regarded too much. we fear as substitute
for parental training While this does not, in
fact, release the parent, it imposes a serious
duty on the Sabbathschool teacher. To fill the
minds OF children and youth with the living
word and lead them to love its Divine Author is
matter of most solemn and vital interest
The Sabbath-school has become place for
| Scripture study by adults, many of whom are
already disciples, who wish larger and clear rer
views of the precepts, doctrines and duties
which the inspired volume reveals. They may
thus be quickened for greater activity and USE
fulness. Here is work for the elder He should
be Bible student, familiar with the principles
and practical lessons OF revelation. Here as
teacher or helper, he will End use for his best
gifts and attainments, an honor and privilege he
may not refuse except for most weighty reasons
The elder should be oftener visible and more
prominent in the higher courts Of the church.
This is not named as equal in Importance with
some other matters in the line of duty. In re-
| presbytery and synod, the church provides for
an equality in clerical and lay members At such
times the former are generally In their places
the latter too often fail by their absence to rec
ognize their obligations and privileges. Vacant
churches frequently have no representative to
speak or act for them. Thus they pract
cally ignored This is especially true of many
| of our feebler churches. In consequence, they
decline for lack of knowledge, lose their interest,"
become comparatively fruitless, If not really
dead. These courts are a part of the churchs
economy, and essential to its efficiency. The
presence and support of a full number of elders
would more hepfully promote their design.
The influence of elders in these bodies should be
more positive. They are ready with their views
and experience in the daily affairs of trade, but
with them In church councils, silence is in or
der. Their votes count in the result, and yet
their voices have done but little in bringing it
about
It is here that the condition, progress and wants
of the churches are considered. Brethren of the
ministry are ready with words and measures
Their thoughts have been on these subjects, and
they can freely express them. The elders feel
that they occupy lower level in the matter of
utterance, and they shrink from expressing their
views. which, as practical business men, would
be of marked value. Perhaps they are not as
familiar as they might be with the topics under
discussion, and therefore, they hesitate. They
should feel called upon to study more clearly the
claims of the church and thus they would be
more fully identified with the onward move
ments of Christs kingdom. The elders may be
of material and, even essential, service in the
prayer meeting. Here is the very center of
power in the church. The throbbings of 'pety
and the evidence of increased spiritual life, if
if they exist. will here be manifested.
The responsibility of directing and sustaining
such services is made to depend largely upon
the minister. Sometimes he assumes it and
sometimes he is compelled to take it. The
prayer meeting is the peoples meeting. The
members ought to be itness-bearers--the elders
espe ciaily So Were this more generally true it
would both encourage and strengthen the pastor
A feeling often prevails that the laity cannot
successfully conduct prayer meetings. That
they do not is too often true, which might not
be the case were there more free participation
in the exercises. Upon this most usually the IN
terest depends. Many go to the prayer meeting
70 be taught or entertained by the pastor in a
lecture or address. Some pastors feel compelled
to prepare themselves as thoroughly as for the
Sabbath service. But really it is not so much a
season of formal instruction as of spiritual
heart communion, enivened by brief expression
of thought and feeling in exhorta tion, prayer
song or scripture texts. In some churches the
meeting is in charge of an elder The pastor
may or may not assist. There are churches
where this can be done. doubt, with entire
satisfaction. Experience and practice might
render a larger number of cases successful I
would not undervalue ministerial aid in this mat
ter Would that elders and members generally
were led to cooperate more fully with the pastor
in this service, and thus divide with him the
weight of this heavy responsibility.
The elder suitably to fill his Office should be
alive to the benevolent work of the church. The
claims of its benefcent system he should recog-
nize. the missionary spirit cherish and diffuse
| around him. More should be learned of the
trials and triumphs of devoted Christian men
and women in the missionary cause, the crown
ing effort of the age This would train a mis-
sonary church. There is much public labor
resting on the ministry, some of which at least
might with profit and safety be shared with eld-
ers. 1t may be best strictly to construe our
church polity Yet reasons exist why it should
be more elastic. There is ability and piety in
the eldership, hidden forces, comparatively.
which. under proper restrictions. might be more
fully developed and utilized. Let the officers
advance and the members will follow.
am no advocate for impulsive and
unauthorized lay effort in the high
places of the church. The element
of pulpit power and success depend on talents.
learning and piety. 1t would not be wise for
elders to assume sacred functions that rghtful
ly pertain to the ministry. But is there not
sphere of Christian activity and public teaching,
partially, at least. unoccupied, which intelli
gent, devont elders might acceptably and
fully fll9 Effort and experience would help their
fitness for such work. Intrust them With pre-
scribed duties and hold them responsible. This
is day of opportunities Outlying fields are in
want of spiritual husbandry. Larger harvests
Tnjoht ha oafharad with v,ora raocacc Ia