Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-11-03
STAR.
DUNKERs.
(From the Newark Advertiser. }

This religious sect, Of which, from its unpre-
tending nature, very little is generality known,
il of comparatively recent origin. IL was
formed in Germany in A. d. 1908, and con-
sisted originally Of eight persons, one of whom,
Alexander Mack, miller, seems to have been
the leader; he re-bsptised the Others as they
considered their infant baptism Of no account:
but by whom he, their head, was baptised. is
undetermined. f. - .rr
In the year A. d. I7IQ, Peter Becker, with
company of Dunkers, came TO this country
and settled at Ephrsta, Lancaster county, Pa
The Society seems to have made but little pro-
gress for several years. But about I724 il
was reused into activity by Conrad Beissel,
who was born, reared and educated in Ger
many. Having graduated from the University
of Halle. he was ordained to the gospel min
istry of the Calvinistic church. But as he
held to some points in Theology contrary to the
articles of his professed faith he was attacked
at once by its orthodox defenders and re-
fusing to renounce his heretical sentiments,
was at length prosecuted to such n decree that
he, fed from his native land TO America,
where he hoped to enjoy solitude and holy
meditation; and it is not known that he en-
tertained any expectation Of making himself
at all conspicuous, or that he was anxious
to proselyte.
Upon his arrival in this country he Joined
his bunker brethren was appointed their
induced him to exertions calculated to throw
aside the veil Of obscurity which had hunr
over their little band. Public curiosity was
excited, and its numbers were soon augmented
by the addition of new members In course of
time other societies were formed in contiguous
l'calities, and during the period A. ID 1750-
l775, the sect promised to become quite promi ,
nent; but 1t seems to have reached its acme
about that time, and soon began to decline
The name Is probably derived from the
German Tanker, which signifies pI,Rpsr
q vulgar word, about on par with ke,Rasn
MIR, ghfat'tttn, &c Of the Americana Az
81, Saxon and is indicative of their mode Of
baptizing, which was performed by placing
the subject on bis knees in the water, and then
plungiug him over and under, bead first
The operation resembled that of somerseting
and indeed they were often called DNmpLers
which their Dutch neighbors probably manu-
flctured out Of Tun,6lers, in consequences of
the natural twist of their inflexibie tongues
which del ght in the interchange of d and T p
and L. &c. % @ -.rf
| Their dress was peculiar. 1t consisted of a
long tunic, reaching to the heels con6ned by
sash about the waist They also wore
| hood similar 10 that of the Dominican friars
This dress was adopted by both m ales and fe-
nsles, with the addition by the later of veil
which was not withdrawn in public. .
| The beard was never cut, though il was Gus
tomary to cross the hair. tlta
| The sexes were kept entirely senarate, even
at seasons IF reli gious worship The only ex-
lception was at the occurrence Of their Love
| Feasts, one # their Sacraments, when men and
women dined at the same table. They pro-
hibited marriage, and if any insisted on alb aus
| donlng celibacy they must also abandon the
geographic limits of the Society; though they
could settle in the vicinity. worship as firm
erly, receive their portion Of the pu bile funds
and send their NhlluraD 70 he adj al hvt bai
| brethren and sisters. - ...
Their diet vas OF tho most simple sort, ana
flesh Of all kinds was prescribed by their rules
except at the Love Feast, when mutton and no
other kind of meat was eaten. 20 Ir..
Their furniture was palmer still q bare
bench served for bed, and a small block of
wood for pillow. fa.E-..- --
| Their religious exercises consisted to a yrelt
extent In private meditation; and that th,s
| might be enjoyed without molestatiOn, each
| Individual had his OWE apartme mt skich was
not subject to the intrusion of any other.
| Besides this, they had their seasous ,t public
| worship, when the men INST in their appointed
place, and the women in theirs They were
| required. to worship f ur times each day Anu
their recreation was coupled with the per-
fOrmance Of religious duty. -
| Their doctrines 60 nearly resembled those of
the Seventh Day Baptists that they were coz
| sldered by some as a species Of that sect
Several OF their tenets were essentially different
| however; these are subjoined, while the others
| may be inferred from the affinity just stated
They believed .- ~
l. That future happiness was to be procured
by penance and modification in the fesh in
this world; evidently being tainted with the
| Old Gnostlc opinion that evi! was inherent in
matter.
q. That Jesus Christ died for the salvation
| ef all men. But that it could and on yIit to be
| secured by good works each individual thus
working out his own salvation independent of
i the atonement s'G.- = ."tFr o. =
| 3. That men might perform more good woi ks
than required by God, and th at these would
De credited To the account Of those who were
| remlss in duty, SO that they might not only
work out their own, but 9th ers salvation by
deeds of supereregation .ls -.a r---t
4 That the eternal punishment OF the
wicked was not to be eternal. They insisted
that Christ preached his gospel to the dead,
and that the souls Of just men made perfect
were employed as missionaries to the spirits of
| such rs enjoyed no means of grace in this
world.
D. That sundry Jewish divisions of Time
were typical of certain periods after the general
Jud sment, when repentant spirits would be
admitted to bliss from the scene of their pun-
ishment. And that at the very Last those who
persisted in impenitence would be converted
by special act Of Divine Interpolation, and
received into glory this was supposed to have
been indicated by the Jewish Jubilee.
o. That deeds OF violence were not justiaable,
even in cases of self-defsnce.
Z. That the members Of Christ's church
should en- no account engage in litigation.
Their church government and discipline
Were the Same as that of the Baptist in general:
except IN so far a. affected by peculiaritie.
above mentioned. fE s=rF -.--...- -