in church history, ancient heretics, who made their appearance in the reign of the emperor Trajan, and took their name from their leader Elcefaï. The Elcefaïtes kept a mean between the Jews, Christians, and Pagans; they worshipped but one God, observed the Jewish sabbath, circumcision, and the other ceremonies of the law. They rejected the Pentateuch, and the prophets; nor had they any more respect for the writings of the apostles, particularly those of St Paul.

ELDERS, or Seniors, in Jewish history, were persons of the most considerable for age, experience, and wisdom. Of this sort were the 70 men whom Moses associated with himself in the government of his people; such, likewise, afterwards were those who held the first rank in the synagogue, as presidents.

In the first assemblies of the primitive Christians, those who held the first place were called elders. The word presbyter, often used in the New Testament, is of the same signification; hence the first councils of Christians were called presbyteria, or councils of elders.

Elders is also a denomination still retained in the Presbyterian discipline. The elders are officers, who, in conjunction with the pastors, or ministers, and deacons, compose the consistories or kirk-leissions, meeting to confer, inspect, and regulate, matters of religion and discipline. They are chosen from among the people, and are received publicly with some degree of ceremony. In Scotland, there is an indefinite number of elders in each parish; generally about 12. See Kirk-Leissions and Presbyteries.