Page:Stundists.pdf/64

52 that without some sort of organisation the movement would be in danger of losing much of its vigour. It is to the first-named of these that Stundism owes much of its present cohesiveness. He began with the Russian villages in the immediate neighbourhood of his own colony of Rohrbach, and selecting the man who, in his judgment, was the fittest and most popular, ordained him presbyter of the locality. As the movement spread into all the corners of the province of Kherson the work of the first presbyter got beyond all control, and Bonekemper, calling a number of the leading spirits to Rohrbach, ﬁve or six more presbyters and deacons were ordained, and the country over which Stundism had then spread was so parcelled out among them, that each had the district for which he was peculiarly adapted. But it was soon discovered that office-bearers appointed in this way did not give general satisfaction. There was a universal desire among the Stundists that each community should have a voice in the appointment of its own preacher. This was exactly what Bonekemper wished, and from that time forward nearly all of the Stundist elders, deacons, and other officers have been elected by the communities they serve.

Roughly speaking, it may be said that the Stundists possess two officers—the deacon, serving one community, and the presbyter, one or more. The deacon is to a certain extent a subordinate officer; but a man need not serve as a deacon before his appointment as presbyter. Both deacon and presbyter must be men of tact, discretion, and skill in the settlement of disputed points. They are expected, more-over, to be men exceptionally well versed in the Scriptures, and gifted with considerable exegetical power. The possession of special oratorical talent is not much regarded—it is the possession of nearly every Stundist we have met. The duties of deacon and presbyter often overlap; but in general