I must be honest - at least half of the elders were decent, moderate, honest and good-hearted men.
There were also one or two lunatics - one elder gave my mate a serious b*ll*cking because he had the audacity to grow a neat goatee and turn up for field service.
Another elder who said in not so many words that God would kill my mum at armageddon also counselled me for going to a Quasar party (people shoot each other with laser guns).
I guess they were a mixed bag.