The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-01-06
For The Bloomfield Times.
Peculiaritles Of the German Baptlsts.

For The Bloomfield Times
Peeuliaritles Of the German Baptists.
Mr.. Editor In the last issue of your
valuable paper / said something of Sc
ries of meetings that were held by the
above-named people. I now intend to give
some of their peculiarities.
This singular people had their origin, it
is said, in some part of Germany, but emil
grated to this country in 1719, under Alex
ander Mack, the leader and founder of their
sect. They started in Germany with men,
bership of only eight, but continued to in
crease to such an extent, that they were
prosecuted from place to place, until they
were obliged to emigrate to the United
States They settled at Germantown, near
Philadelphia, and continued to increase so.
that now they have the followers of Alex
ander Mack in nearly every State in the
Union. They are most numerous in the
States of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, H.
linois, Iowa, and many of the Southern
States 1t is now thought that they are
represented only in this country. They be-
lieve that we must obey all the command
ments in the New Testament Scriptures
among these are Faith, Repentance, Bap-
tism by Immersion, the Lords Supper,
Feet Washing, the Kiss of Charity, An
noniting of the sick with Oil, &c.
They are generally known by the name
of " German Baptists" and ''Dunkards" or
"Tunker," but these they ignore, but call
themselves the "Church of the Brethren"
One Of the peculiarities extant among them
is that they do not pay their ministers q
fixed salary. Sometimes if minister is
called away great distance, those who
make the call, pay his expenses and remu-
nerate him otherwise for lost time, especial
ly if he be poor. They generally 60 "two
by two" according to the Scripture. An
other of their singular ideas is the doctrine
of Non-resistance. During the Rebellion,
if they were drafted, they paid their Com
mutation, if they were able, and if not, it
was paid by the Church. If member
would slip the bounds in case like this,
he would be expelled from the church, but,
if on confessing that he had done wrong,
he was again restored. They do not go to
law among themselves, but all of their diff
ficulties are settled among themselves or
by the Church. Neither do they allow any
of their members to hold office under the
Government. They hold that Christ's
Kingdom is not of this world, but is of
Heaven, therefore, if member run for, or
is elected to an Office under the Govern
ment, he is expelled. There was case of
minister among them, who ran for, and
was elected Assemblyman. They "coun-
cied" him, and tried to convince him of
his error, but failing in this, they threw
him out, and he is out yet, as he did not
"confess his wrong" This is fact, and
l am well acquainted with the minister.
"They believe in the "Kiss of Charity
but they are grossly misreprescnted. 1t
has been said that they kiss each other, ir-
respective Of sex, but such is not the case.
The men kiss their own sex, and the
women give their sex,-" the right hand of
fellowship and the holy kiss" They adopt
no creed, but take the New Testament as
their guide, and "thus saith the Lord"
They meet in Annual Council to con-
slider such matters as have been brought
before their District Meetings during the
year, and the result of their arguments, are
placed on the minutes, and becomes one of
the rules of the Church.
They are an industrious people, and good
citizens, obedient to the laws of their
country, when they do not conflict with the
dictates of their conscience, but sometimes
there are evolves in sleeps clothing"
among them, as in all other denominations.
think there has been enough said on this
subject to let your readers know what kind
of people they are, and shall close.
OUTSIDER"
December 23, 1878.