Smyrna times., 1875-06-23
The Tunkers.

During last week the Tunkers, one of the
most peculiar religious sects in the country,
held their annual Convention near Lancas-
ter, Penn. Only those of our readers who
kave lived in the farming districts of Mary
land, Pennsylvania, or Virginia will have,
perhaps, any personal knowledge of this
feeblest Of Christian flocks, and they, prob
ably, will remember them only as hatless old
men, with patriarchal boards to their
waists, and bonnetless women, in linsey
gowns, who came down to the villages from
the hills once or twice a year in their old
fashioned wagons to sell their produce and
be hootcd at by the children. A Tunker's
wagon used to gather a staring crowd about
it as readily as the band of the coming cir
Gus. In all parts Of the country they are
known as solitary people, dwelling in
hill-places, apart from politics, fashion, or
any kind of worldly turmoil. Their recent
convocation was Held on a quiet farm,
according to their habit, rather than in a
town; but it attracted large crowds from
all parts of the State, who apparently were
of the opinion that no circus or collection
Of wild beasts could offer so amazing a
spectacle as this unnoticed sect that fol
/ generations, without conflict or heat of any
/ sort, had held itself aloOf from tho world in
| belief and department. The services alsc
were of remarkable character consisting
of the usual religious exercises of preach
ing, prayers, and singing in Pennsylvania
Dutch during the day; and in the evening
the asscmblage Of all the brethren and sis
ters in a barn, where a love-fcaot supper o.
mutton broth was Solemnly eaten, followed
by an equally solemn washing of the feet
of the whole multitude Of believers. After
these ''scrvices Of love and humility" tho
communion was partalien of.
In spite Of the oddity Of these rites, we
are told by Observers that 81 the simplicity
and devotional feeling of the worshiper
was so great as to command the sympathy
of the great multitude Of Spectators" W,
can readily conceive that the sight nowaday
Of hundreds of women, many OF them youn;
and pretty, dressed in scrupulously coars
and ugly attire, was enough to take tn
breath of any spectator. There is deli
cate, devout coquetry in the Quakers' spot
less white and dove color, Of which tn
pretty Quaker knows how to reap the ful
advantage. Bat these poor Tunkcr womcl
III their ugly gowns and tight mob caps
were literally mortifying the flesh for re
lgion sake. This recent cOnvocation Ina
brought other things to light about then
Not only do they adure all vanity c
fincry in their dress and houses, but the
+ utterly refuse to be led into quawcls, publ
t or private: 10 Tunkcr bears arms, or wg
ever party to lawsuit; they urge har
, work as all essential of religious life upo
| all their members; no Tunkcr was eve
: seen in a poor-housc; when holy men
g God among them are moved to preach II
t they have no theological schools cons
) quently they never quarrel on dOctrin
r points; their ministers, having to eal
?. their bread 10y the sweat Of their brow,
ildNC ITO llilt 10 NiCdl Ill llIBltl dlldl
IS Of sentiment, or to cover Christ's simp
e truth with their own foggy, hyperbolic ia
e cies, or shame His church by their person
d passions or prcjudices. Their fruits"
If the Christian life are not very apparent pc
is haps; they build no million dollar tempt
n on the streets to glorify God in the holine
q of architectural beauty: send ont no m
e sionaries to convert other Christian sects
o their own way of thinking; there is
le chance in their religious development +
N the outgrowth of a Cardinal McCloskey
m Spurgoon, or a Beecher. The quiet Tunk
Is in the mountains of Pennsylvania or Virgin
tries to deal justly, walk humbly, and Ike
of himself unspotted from the world, and
10 contcnt.-N. j. Tribune Of last ,ccck.