ELDERS

Certain laymen who, according to the con stitution of the Presbyterian church, form a council of which the minister is the moderator, and discharge the functions of a spiritual court. They also a ist the minister in the management of the concerns of the parish, attending to the interests of the poor, like the deacons of the primitive church. Among the Jews, elders were those persons most distinguished for age, rank, and wealth, who formed the council of the people. jS'tePRESBYTinis. [s. 403]