through whatever the other members may think. You are quite a young man; you have had absolutely no experience in the performance of the duties of an elder; you have formed certain notions as to what ought to be and what ought not to be in a congregation. Some of these notions are doubtless very good, but some of them are likely to be very crude. In five years from now they will be very much modified, and you will be disposed to smile at many things which you may now think are very wise. Still more, plans and methods which worked admirably in another congregation, with different elders, and among a people in many respects very different from yours, might be very unsuitable in your church. Besides, your session contains some men of great piety, wisdom and intelligence, who have long and large experience as elders, and who understand the peculiarities of the people perfectly. It would, it seems to me, be but little short of impertinence in you to go before that session with new plans and methods, determined to force them through. You may succeed. Many of them will be loth to offend you or unwilling to oppose a measure on which you seem to be set, and acquiesce, yet their judgments not be convinced. You cannot expect such men to co-operate very heartily in To a Young Minister. 233