The American Church History Series (Volume 3); A History of the Congregational Churches, by Williston Walker

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 Excerpt: ...the church. V To be Guides & Leaders to the church, in all matters what-soever, pertaining to church administrations & actions. VI To see that none in the church live inordinately out of rank & place; without a calling, or Idlely in their calling. VII To prevent & heal such offences in life, or in doctrin; as might corrupt the church. IIX To feed the flock of God with a word of adjnonitioa, IX And as they shall be sent for, to visit, & to pray over their sick brethren. X & at other times as opportunity shall serve therunto. Here was a series of obligations requiring peculiar wisdom and tact, some of them very irksome in their nature, sure to bring criticism upon the efficient ruling elder, while his position had not the popular strength which comes to the pastor from the administration of the sacraments and the regular preaching of the Word. In some of his pre rogatives the ruling elder trenched on the powers of the. pastor and teacher, in others he limited the rights of the brethren. He was a superfluous officer, and Congregationalism speedily found Him so, parpy by reason of a growing doubt whether more than one kind of elders was spoken of in the New Testament, and even more because the office was hard to fill and difficult to administer. lIn a large proportion of the churches of New England the ruling eldership did not survive the first generation of the setpers. Some instances of continuance to a much Liter period may, indeed, be found. Thus the post was occupied at Plymouth till the death of Thomas Faunce, in DUTIES OF OFFICERS. 229 1746; the New North Church, Boston, had a ruling elder till 1775; while the North Church, Salem, chose one as late as 1826; yet, in spite of these rare examples of survival, the s...