The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-06-18
The DunkerS.

That curious but very moral and estima-
bic body of people, the Dunkers, have Just
concluded their regular annual meeting at
Glrard, LII. They descended upon that
little village, ten thousand strong, and where
they have found place to sleep, or what
they have found to eat, during the days
they have been together, are questions i'm
possible to settle. These Dunkers are Ger
man Babtists, whose organization dates
back to the year 170S, and their title is
derlslve one, coming from the word tunker,
to sop. They are sometimes called Tumb-
lers, from the method they adopt in baptis-
ing, of placing the candidates on their
knees, and then pushing them forward into
the water. Among the peculiarities of
their doctrines and practice is included
marked plainness in speech and dress, akin
to that of the Quakers. They will not 90
to law will contract no debts outside of
their order will not vote, or take part in
political affairs and are opposed to war,
and will not serve as soldiers
Some of these peculiar tenets have been
anew expounded in the conference Just
closed. Among the points decided are
these: That a bunker may wear full
beard, but not mOustache only /; that mem
bers may not engage in banking business,
as 1t leads to coyetousness that it is not
advisable to send children to college and
that membership in farmers clubs, gran
gers, etc, is not expedient. They also
united in a strong condemnation of the
lily piano" and other musical instru-
ments. They discussed the question whe-
ther 1t Is necessary to salute colored men,
bers with the holy kiss, and left the mat
ter to the opinion Of each church. The
strength of the denomination is in the Wes-
tern and Southwestern States, but as they
believe it to be unscriptural to number their
members, only an approximate estimate can
be given. The latest figures put it at
100000. Concerning their customs and
appearance a correspondent of the Chicago
Inter Ocean says:
They hold that Christian regeneration
will exhibit itself externally, and hence, |
when entering the Church as members they
the pomps and vanities of the
world, they should manifest it by plain
ness of dress, of uniform character in the |
men as well as women hence, in all the |
large number present no sister exhibited |
any hOunces, furbelows, or jewelry in dress, |
but instead were attired in plain, modest
colors, many of them in calico, and all, both |
DID and young, wear sun-bonnets and re- |
move them while in church, each one hav- |
ng on her head plain cap of the style of
our great t-grand-mother's days, made of
white Swiss muslin. The men wear the
;tyle of dress usually adopted by the Quak-
,rs, and in meeting brother salutes by
shaking hands and giving the kiss of bro
herly love. When brother is unfor-
innate financially they assists him, and in
10 case allow one of their members to be
at the expense of the state or
county. They are opposed to all secret
ocities, and make this one of the points in
eceiving members They advocate tenn
oerance in all things, and prohibit their
members from manufacturing or dealing in
rdent spirits. They counsel the brethren
lot to hold office or vote, especially in time
# war, and prefer that they should not
-ote or take any interest in state or politi-
al matters, and advise the brethren not to
cad political papers, on the plea that it has
tendency to lead their minds astray and
reate discord among the membership"
To those who enjoy the fuller liberty of
ther Christian sects, these small restric-
ions and minute details of custom and NOR
lity may seem trivial and unimportant, as
indeed, they are But it should be remem-
ered that these people, while attending to
hese affairs, do not neglect wcightier mat
ers. They are sincere Christians, good
itizens, and kind Observation-Disclosures
1nlertcan.