a name given to certain laymen in the Presbyterian discipline,
who are ecclesiastical officers, and in conjunction with the ministers
and deacons compose the kirk sessions in Scotland. The number of elders
is proportioned to the extent and population of the parish, and is
seldom less than two or three, but sometimes exceeds fifty. They are
laymen in this respect, that they have no right to teach, or to dispense
the sacraments; and on this account they form an office in the
Presbyterian church inferior in rank and power to that of pastors. They
generally discharge the office which originally belonged to the deacons,
of attending to the interests of the poor. But their peculiar business
is expressed by the name ruling elders; for in every jurisdiction within
the parish they are the spiritual court, of which the minister is
officially moderator; and in the presbytery, of which the pastors of all
the parishes within its bounds are officially members, lay elders sit as
the representatives of the several sessions or consistories.
who are ecclesiastical officers, and in conjunction with the ministers
and deacons compose the kirk sessions in Scotland. The number of elders
is proportioned to the extent and population of the parish, and is
seldom less than two or three, but sometimes exceeds fifty. They are
laymen in this respect, that they have no right to teach, or to dispense
the sacraments; and on this account they form an office in the
Presbyterian church inferior in rank and power to that of pastors. They
generally discharge the office which originally belonged to the deacons,
of attending to the interests of the poor. But their peculiar business
is expressed by the name ruling elders; for in every jurisdiction within
the parish they are the spiritual court, of which the minister is
officially moderator; and in the presbytery, of which the pastors of all
the parishes within its bounds are officially members, lay elders sit as
the representatives of the several sessions or consistories.