, 1874-05-26
THE DUNkARDS.
Their Annual Conference at
Girard, Ill.
Ton Thousand Persons Prcsent East
Sunday. 'r
Church. Government of tho Scct-.- Tho1r
Religious Faith, Mornl Tcnots'
Ministry, &c.

NNlEluAS TAAtll} uAVAHA Ao4o~~
Ministry, &c.
gneeal corycs,,p,.deucs af 1ths Chted1o Tribune.
GInAnp ill., May a, 1874.
em. Tho Iergest gathering OF people ever col
laotod In Maconpln County wns assomn'ca To-
aav on tho farm Of Joseph Fslburn, ono milo
north of this town, numbering, 1t moderate
TEN THOUSAND PERSONS.
Tn antioipatton Of this meeting Of tile Dunkhtd
Annual Conforonco, tho brethren hnd erected
tont, so by 2os feet, capable Of holding 5000 per-
,ou,. and, connected with this, q dlning-hall, nr-
ranged to aoat 900 to 900 persons at ons sttlng,
md cook-ho,1se, II by &C feet. It must 10 un-
dorBtooa that this denomination always mako II
I point to provide food for all who attond ther
meetings, without regard to soct
During the past week mootinga hays bocn
held In tho various churches and Hohool-houses
IN tho vicinity; and to-day religious services
wcre held in tho tont; nlso. outdoors, In the
ehado Of tho troos, mud In church ana large
barn aliaccnt. In tho latter, services were IN
the German language.
Tho brethren, finding, few days since. that
ttey would be unable to accommodate all who
would be In attendance to-day, stopped inrge
delegation at Cerro Gordo, on tho Toledo, Wa
baah L. Western Railroad. ncar Decatur; also,
at Auburn, on the Chicago b Alton Rairoad
and at Jacksonville. These delegations will bo
heye tonight and tomorrow, to bo In attand-
ance upon tho session Of tho Conference whioh
oonyoncB tomorrow morning.. At each Of tho
shove-named plaooo, n,eattngs vii! 20 held TO-
day. as there aro largo churches Of this denomi-
pntion In this vicinity. ...
The o1ponso Of this Annuel Conference, which
IN ia
donated by brethren, ID paid by assessment on
the membership At large, care being takoii to no
oatimato tho memberships as to roloass all poor
brcthron from assesament.
IN cuuRcn- n-aovEnNMEHT,
Che Dunkarls adopt tho usual form Of tho gen-
eral Baptlets. Each ch,rch-dissrict in State
sends two delegates to tho GonorAl Conference,
ono Of whom is placed on Standing Commit
toe. and tho other attends to tho presentation
fore tho: Conference whore al matters that
hnvo not boen adjusted BY tho local or Church
Council in each stato aro proaented,, With
So essh t. b' 4 for tR90'1o ooeeraes Of Tsson i
dual. Il is tho highest religious, and II
also might be said political, tribunal
known to the Dunharts. No church oan do bus
inoss without instructions from this body,
poal tor redress to the civil law; every grievance
IL adjusted BY tho church.
N REI1alous FAfyn
Ciley preach tho doctrine Of redemption through
our Lord and ss,lor snd hse{o TINT man j.
salvation, but their loading Bishops fail to draw
The limo as to where accountabi!ityfor sin bcgns.
They bold that Christian regeneration will ex-
ts hn itself ets1 ssernASy sSs .a oSura hsn'f oy when
e Tie ror II sy sss ,hRsa Rsaa manifest I tha xsq's ~
plainuess and uniformity Of dross and manner.-
tho mon as we'll as tho women or all tho large
nc !, hffofn
Or furbofows or wore any jewelry; but, instead,
they wero attirod in plain. modest colors OF cheap
quality, made up in primitive style, yet neat;
and al, both young and old, wore auu-bonnots,
come wereof silk. Upon entering tho church tho
bonnet is removed, and tho hoad Is covered with
white cap, made Of Swiss muslin,
In tho style ot our grsat.grand%3ofthors;
bs the Quakers and, in meeting, q brother, sa-
lutte by nhnklng tho hand and giving q Aiss OF
brothorly love.
thev nrc opposed to benring arms, and do not 90
to law to collect debts. Wien brother Is ,ln-
fo.tunats in financial mattera, they assist him,
aud in no case allow ono of their number to be
supported by the State or county authorities.
They are rigialy opposed to ell secret soeieties,
and make this one OF tho t8sts Of momborahip;
do not allow members to make contracts with
porsonB outside of the Church which they are
unable to fill; any member found guilty OF
This is subjeot to Ohurch-discipliuo counsel
aee o Of nt''vts, vote, especially in time Of war,
and prefer that they should nottako any interest
in National or State Affairs and nre advorBo to
che circulation Of political papers among. their
memborallp ono Of their ,r,uI number dealing IN
6tsubject Tor discipline They advocate TOM
peranoe in al! things. even to dress.
THEIR PRINCIPAL cHunouEa
arc scattored through tho Middle, Southern, and
Ckoko f3inu Inf Il
gon with a scattering membership in tho OK
tromo Southern and New England StatoB,-the
largest body boing ln tho Miami Valley, in Ohio.
As to tho membership it ID impossible to give
anything more than IN approximate estimate al
they claim that the Scripture forbids thu NUM-
boring OF the brethren.
rus1n MINISTRY
IL divided into three CLASSICS. the first Of whom
found worthy, arc advanced, and authorized &c
aoleu.nize marriage. There arc no religious
titloa among them, allbeing brethren. They ap'
point Dcacons TO look after the needs Of the
o ,oe,aa in hss ehqr'1S b H. ghe oa arc qsas'
preach without SALARY, accepting what the
hrethren choose to donato; arc mol
bound to any church or place. and are at nbortJ
to mako their own arrangements with the
churches. Mcmbors are only received, by trine
immersion, ana vote Of tho church, and do not
commune with my other religious denominations
Marriage By Justice Of the Peace. or otho1
ravil officer, If valid among them, Thoy arc law.
sI!dlng, except when civil law couflcts witt
lhuir view Of tho Bible; III this cnAe. they Day
the penalties OF the law rather than sacrifice
their religious principles.
Thoy opsoryo the Lords Supper at night, witt
tho ancient usages Of washing tho feet and the
Kiss OF love.
industry and economy are taught among tho,,
nambote; and any ono found to be q JrDna ir
tle Church, financially, 10 quietly notified t.
change bis oourue, OF suffer the penalty Of az
pnlslon.
AN OPTICAL ILLUSION.