The Eldership Question [pp. 231-246]

242 TIlE ELDERSHIP QUESTION. [ApriT,,
The only authority the unlimited election has from our'
Book, is the acknowledged fact, that the framers of the Constitution found it "approved and in use," in many, perhaps
most of the congregations, and threw over it the sanction of
the organic Law as one "mode approved ~nd in use."
Sec. VI. has been quoted as affirming the doctrine that
the election must be for life. But Sec. VI. says nothingabout the election of elders. It defines "the office," and
not the tenure of it; for itself provides for the incumbent
ceasing to act It applies equally whether the elder were
elected with or without limit, as to the term of service. Our
Sec. VI. is borrowed very literally from Chap. VI of the
Second Book of Discipline, which reads: "T~eir o~ce, as it
is ordinary so`it %8 perpetual, and always necessary in the
kirk of God. The eldership is a spiritual function, as is the'
ministry. ~ldcr~ once lawfully called to tI~e o~ce, and having
gifts from God meet to receive the same, may not leave it
again." Our Sec. VI. reads, "The offices of Ruling Elder
and of Deacon are bothper~ctual,* and cannot be laid aside at'
rleasnre. No person can be divested of either o~ce but by
deposition." The later Act must be interpreted by the usage
and decisions under the older. But the men who framed'
and adopted the Second Book of Discipline, held that "their'
election shall be yearly, where it may be conveniently observed." The rest of Sec. VI., and the whole of Section VII.,
point out the way in which an elder may demit the duties of
his office, or be removed from it. They say nothing as to
the term of his election, or of his service. They show that
one may divest himself, or be divested of the duties of the
office, and "cease to be an acting elder."
Whatever incongruity may be supposed to exist, in electing one for a term of years, to an "office " which is "perpetual,
and cannot be laid aside at pleasure," the same exists in the
provision by which one, elected for an unlimited tenure, may
divest himself of it in the contingency of his "becoming un —
acceptable, in his official character, to a majority of the con —
* See also Chap~ III. So~. II: "The perpetual officers," &c.