, 1873-07-27
THE DUNKERS.
AstrnnEe Religious Scct--:Fhcir &=ont1-
inc LOvc-E'e,sst.

"A Strange lkoltglUNs Scct..Ehcir Eent1.
inc LOvc-Eellst.
From tho Philadelphia Telegraph.
Tho Dunkers are vory curious religious
scct originating in tho Old World, and flourish
ing in various parts of our country, especially III
Lancastor County, Pa. They arc well-to-do
farmors, and, as q friond remarked to mo, arc
likely to DO found wllerovor thoro is fortilo limo
stone soil. Their ministers are unoducatod aud
unpaid farmers +; thoir religion is compound OF
honesty, lard work, anu legal rites ; their
churches nre barns, md thoir chief 1neetinga
concentrate themselves i'll half-yoarly services
boforo and aftor harvest.
Leaving Litiz aftor tea, VIC woro quickly car
ricd behind our landlords swift and powerful
horses through real garden land to tho place
of Bunker meeting-tlle largo white barn of q
rich farmer Of their persuasion. Tho lanes lead
ing to tho barn waro filled with carriagoa, and
tho grounds woro crowded with spectators, who
worc grouped under tho npple-troos or around
tho wide-oponed doors Of tho barn. The Berycos
wore we'll indor way, uul the interesting core-
mony Of feot-washing over when wo arrived.
With aome difficulty NC worked our way oyor
implements and hny-pilcs into one cornor of tho
barn, from which we could overlook tho whole
Bcono. Tho building had been cloarcd for tho
brethren and sisters, who Bnt along narrow ta-
bloH raugod ucross tho body OF the burn. 4 pnr-
tition-wall separated tho soxos, mud over it wo
could Heo tho serious facos Of the sisters, with
thoir white caps aud white grapes, while row
Of aodate brethreu sat 80 near to III that NO
could hnye laid our hands Oh their hair, religious
ly parted in the middle.
Az We came in thoy wore silently partaking Of
their love-foast. On tho narrow tablos stood tin
bowls of la,nbs' broth, with the boi1od joint
aside of them, broad aud butter, and water
served out of Watering cans. About $50 wore
purtaking of the meal by the light Of tallow cum
dleR, and nevor word was Spolon, except in ad-
dreHs, or hymn, or prayer
After the love-feast wns over. a speaker aignin-
cantly reminded us strangers that, al we did not
keep the Lords foast In this divinely-appointed
wny, Wo Ind little to expect on tho Day Of Judg-
ment Then canlc prayer, tho nineteenth
chapter Of John, rccounting our Lords cruclix-
ion, and tho addroHa Of m old white-bearded
man, who, with rude but deep pathoH, told of
Christ's lovo in His redcemug death.
The leader bnde them greet each othor with d
"holy klss" Gro thoy tasted their Lords saora-
mental supper, ana silontly and slowly the Halu~
tation passed down ono side tho long tables and
up the other. Then tho clements were oonso-
cratod, and passed from hand to hand. Tho
scene was striking. Tho barn was dinily lighted
by tho candies, tho faces Of all were sober, aud
gray and tol-worn, nnd a0mo OF the women, II
not hoautiful, had sweet cham in thoir faces.
Sometimes German or all English hymn pealod
upward among tho rafters Of the barn, and then
thorc -: deep silence ngain, brokon only by
slight ruas4...., in tho hay and low whispers
among the strangers, Watching to SEQ what new
ceremony would noxt 10 started from the crosa~
table at which tho bunker preacher sat. Hero
was q strange mixture Of the truo and fa1ao; a
ritual rude and yet rot1ned, and III closely OBJ.
served by these farmers aH arc tho forms Of st.
Adams by its fashionable dovotoes.