ELDERS

persons who, on account of their age, experience, and wisdom, are selected for office, as, among the Jews, the seventy men a ociated with Moses in the government of the people. In the modern Presbyterian Churches elders are officers who, with the pastors or ministers, compose the consistories or kirk-se ions, with authority to inspect and regulate matters of religion and discipline in the congregation. As a member of the kirk-se ion the elder has an equal vote with his minister, and as a member of the higher Church courts, when delegated thereto, he has a right to discu and vote on all matters under discu ion in the same manner as the clergy themselves. In _ the Mormon Church the elder is an officer whose duty it is “to preach and baptize, to ordain other elders, to ble children, and to take the lead at all meetings.”” Among the Shakers there are four elders, two men and two women, in each congregation.