eldresses

Then the eldress sat down and an elder arose, who bade the young people come forward to the centre of the line, where the elders and eldresses were sitting.

Through the Eye of the Needle A Romance William Dean Howells 1878

Then one of the eldresses rose and began a sort of statement which Aristides translated to me afterwards.

Through the Eye of the Needle A Romance William Dean Howells 1878

This subsided, as the young couple, who had paused just inside the temple door, came up the middle side by side, and again separated and took their places, the youth on the extreme right of the elder, and the maiden on the extreme left of the eldresses, and stood facing the congregation, which was also on foot, and joined in the hymn which everybody sang.

Through the Eye of the Needle A Romance William Dean Howells 1878