Connecticut western news., 1873-08-01
The Dunkers-
Strange Religious Sect--Their Genuine
 Love Feast.


 The Dunkers are very curious re- ligious sect, originating in the old world, and fourishing in various parts of our country, especially in Lancaster County, Pa. They are well-to-do far mers, and, as friend remarked to me, are likely to be found wherever there is fertile limestone soil Their ministers are uneducated and unpaid farmers :; their religion is compound of honesty, hard work, and legal rites their churches are barns, and their chief meetings concentrate themselves in half-yearly services before and after harvest
 Leaving Litiz after tea, we were quickly carried behind our landlord's s swift and powerful horses through 8 real garden land to the place of Bunker meeting-the large white barn of rich farmer of their persuasion. The lanes leading to the barn were filled with car riages, and the grounds were crowded wit spectators, who were grouped under the apple trees or around the wide opened doors of the barn. The servi- ces were we'll under way, and the inter esting ceremony of feet washing over when we arrived.
 With some difficulty we worked our way over implements and hay piles into one corner of the barn, from which we could overlook the whole scene. The building had been cleared for the brethren and sisters, who sat along mar row tables ranged across the body of the barn. A partition wall separated the sexes, and over it we could see the serious faces of the sisters, with their white caps and white capes, while row of sedate brethren sat so near to us that we could have laid our hands on their hair, religiously parted in the middle.
 As we came in they were silently par taking of their love feast. On the nar- now tables stood tin bowls of lambs broth, with the boiled joint aside ot them, bread and butter, and water served out of watering cans. About 25C were partaking of the meal by the light of tallow candles, and never word was spoken, except in address, or hymn, o1 prayer.
 After the love feast was over, a speak CT significantly reminded us strangers that as we did not keep the Lords feast in this divinely appointed way we hac little to expect on the Day of Judg ment. Then came a prayer, the 19tl chapter Of John, recount1ng our Lords crucifxion, and the address of an olt white-bearded man, who, with rude bu deep pathos, told of Christ's love in Hi redeeming death.
 The leader bade them greet each othe: with " holy kiss " ere they tasted thei Lords sacramental supper, and silentl. and slowly the salutation passed dowl one side the long tables and up tn other. Then the elements were conse crated, and passed from hand to hand The scene was striking. The barn wa dimly lighted by the candles, the face of all were sober, and some wer thoughtful. Many of the men wer gray and toll worn, and some of the wo men, if not beautiful, had a swee charm in their faces. Sometimes Ger man or an English hymn pealed upwar, among the rafters of the barn, and the there was deep silence again, broker only by slight rustlings in the hay an, low whispers among the strangers watching to see what new ceremon would next be started from the eros table at which the Bunker preacher sat Here was strange mixture of the tru and false; ritual rude and yet refined and as closely observed by these fa1 mers as are the forms of St. Alban's b , it's fashionable devotees.