A charging device for charging a desired object such as a photoconductive element of an electrophotographic copier, laser printer or similar electrophotographic recording apparatus, and a discharging member of the same. The discharging member is implemented by a resistor and located such that the surface of one end thereof defines a discharging end that faces the object with the intermediary of a gap. The other end of the discharging member is connected to a power source via a conductive connector. The discharging end is provided with any one of various alternative configurations. The resistor is covered with a protective covering. A conductive member is adhered or otherwise securely mounted between the resistor and the conductive connector. The resistor is supported by an insulative substrate. On the substrate, the resistor is divided into a plurality of discrete resistors so as to form a plurality of discharge gaps therebetween which are selectively usable. The resistor has a plurality of discharging ends each defining a different charging width.