It was half an hour before he became articulate, during which time he sighed as if the end of all things had come, and I caught the word scapegoat twice, but at last he told me that he had resigned his eldership, and would absent himself in future from the Free Kirk.
"Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush"
Ian Maclaren
I am eighteen months older than my brother, and up rises the claim of eldership!
"Anna St. Ives"
Thomas Holcroft
As for the right of eldership, I recollect that a dozen years ago I envied you the prerogative; but now you are welcome to it with all my heart.
"Anna St. Ives"
Thomas Holcroft