Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-06-23


near Mannheim, one at Petersburg, an
other at Mt. Hope and the other at
Gray bills, near Ponnvilc. The love
feast is held overy year and the place
for holding il is selected by the com
mon consent of the members, no diff
Guilty ever being experienced in sccur-
ing the necessary accommodations
The general expenses of horse feed, &c,
are paid by voluntary contributions
and the provisions are furnished by
the members according to their respec-
tive means. Mono of the clerical order
receive any salary, they looking, as
our Informant said, 'to the other side
of the grave for their wages" They
take ample care, however, Of the poor,
whether lay or clergy, and "sec to it
that none of them get into the county
poor house"
The religious services of this occasion
were under the general direction of
Bishop Garliclt, who had associated
with him three or four preachers from
other counties and several more are
expected before the close of the meet
ing A portion of the services this
morning were in English and part in
German, sermons, singing and prayer
alternating in the two languages. The
English preacher delivered q plain,
simple exhortation, pointing out to his
hearers the narrow way in which they
were directed to walk, and expounding
the scriptures in the most orthodox
and, at the same time, plain and forci-
BILE manner,
No hymn books were used by the
congregation, the hymns being lined
out by the preacher in tho sing-sing
tone of eye olden time" and their sing
ing being heartily joined in by the
whole congregation. The place of
worship was delightfully."- cool, and
its rude and novel appearance in no
wise detracted from the eamestness
and effectiveness ofthe services. About
ia o'clock, after numerous addresses
and other religious exercises in both
languages, the meeting adjourned for
dinner, and the brethren and sisters
began course of handshaking and
fraternal greetings, the practice of the
men universally kissing each other being
one of the most striking features of
these salutations. OF the "love-feast'
proper we will speak hereafter
j At the time at which our reporter
closed his account of the Dunker's love
feast at Johnson Miller's in Warwick
township yesterday, the religious sec.
vices of the morning had just concluded
and the congregation were preparing
TO engage in that special feature of the
occasion which has given to the latter
its distinctive name, LieJes Wdhl-love
meal or love feast
During the latter part Of the religi-
GUS exercises Of the morning, u com
mitteo of men and women had with
drawn from the barn floor and pro
ceeded to make arrangements for the
more material feast
In the wagon-shed, carefully cleaned
for the occasion, and undcr its protect
ing roof were erected three tables
made of pine boards, OF ample width
and covered with linen cloths which
bore the appearance Of home-spun.-
The table furniture consisted OF knives
and forks, and such plates as were nee
cssary to accommodate the batter, ap-
pie butter meat and pickles, all other
victuals being laid upon the cloth and
no plates being considered necessary
, for the accommodation of those eating
The viands consisted OF boiled beef,
cheese, pickles, butter as yellow as
gold, bread as white and light as snow
: "schnitz" pics and coffee. The meat
which had been cut in pieces of two oil
three pounds was boiled at the house
brought out to the place et dining IN
tubs and put upon the table warm
The bread cut in huge slices was car
= |, ried up and down the tables in bas
ket and laid in piles which were re
plenished as fast as they decreased IN
, height. At the table the same distinc
ton between the sexes was observed
. as in the meeting and at the first sum
!, mons to dinner two tables were filled
with women and one with men, th,
latter including all the preachers anC
+ eldest brethren. The committee il
charge waited upon the table. In the
absence of plates, the victuals were
laid before each one on the table-clotl
and those eating did not hesitate t
cut their meat as freely upon the clotl
as though plate interviewed between
, Pie, pickles and other relishes were
treated in like manner, and they whC
r were fastidious about tidy cloth die
well to secure reserved seats at tht
first table, for there was no change o
: cloth, cleaning OF dishes or new dea
G of knives and forks between the differ
n ent tables. Coffee was poured out il
0 the bowls by women, who passeC
9 through the dining-room, pot in hand
Y and the water was served out from
J. huge watering cans or buckets. Al
v ate with q hearty zest, the primitive
4 surroundings of the occasion sharpen
/, ing their appetites Mothers encour
+ aged their chidrcd to be not backward
!, in well doing at the table, and the sug
- gostion of a five-year-old shaver tina
he lacked the necessary knife and forl
0 to make a satisfactory inroad upon {
# huge slice of beef was answered will
G an encouraging nehmt NIT dngern, (tak,
J 1t with your fngcrs) and the lad sool
# became so emboldened that his tw'
!, hands were shortly aiterward FULLY oc
n cupied in struggling with segment 0
$ pie, the arc of which he vainly sough
q to compass with his limited cndowmcn
It of mouth A young girl engaged on
n attention by the apparent relish witt
which she soaked her bread sprea'
d with apple butter in her coffee and tn
d reckless manner in which she nike
Is her drinks. After about $50 Of tn
g Dunkers had partaken Of dinner th
d outsiders crowded to the tables an
d they were as plentifhlly helped as thos
ie for whose special entertainment il ha
Il been spread and the eating continue
It for several hours. After each tabl
n had eaten those seated at il passed on
(, and others took their places Beior
10 each meal blessing was asked,
g hymn sung and thanks were returne
L at the close and before the sittcrs aros,
10 Having finished eating, the member
resumed their social greetings, the meI
1t however, for the most part keepin
s, apart from the women. Their generi
J. conversation was mainly of spiritu,
SO matters and in this respect they difc
a from most similar religious convoci
d tons. We were surprised at the read
T. ness with which the brethren quote
4 l.. Al A