Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-09-21

other persons baptized one an
other in the River Aeder, in
: Germany, 170S. For this dire
. ofense they were fined, impris-
oned, and impoverished at last,
and at length compelled to flee
to the wilds of America. That
one man of this little band Of
eight might not be held in more
honor than another, they entered
Into a covenant never TO reveal
the name Of him who first bap-
tized, or was first baptized, and
to this day it is not known.
THAT little circumstance is an
exponent of the character of
the German Baptists. A strict
avoidance of all ostentation and
of worldly honors, even to the
extent of refusing to hold po-
litical Office, is among their
most distinguishing traits.
They do not baptize children.
They say it is not commanded.
The central sun and principle
of their religion is this: They
study the New Testament, and
claim to take it literally, word
for word, as their guide in all
the transactions of life. Their
members are forbidden to take
an oath, to go to war, to collect
debts by law, or to go to law in
any case whatever. All their
difficulties and differences must
be "worked through in spirit,
and settled between man and
man, or by the aid of the
church council. Whatever evils
cannot thus be removed are en-
joined simply to be endured, in
the spirit of love and patience.
If one of their members re-
fuses to pay his debts, he is
summarily dealt with in the
Church. They are forbidden to
let any of their members go to
the County Poor-house, and
their members are forbidden to
go begging, on the authority of
the Bible text, ''There shall be
no beggar among YOU" They
find a rule for everything in
the Bible. y-.
"Thei, preachers do not take
the name of Reverend" They
do not find it in the Bible, they
say. There seems to be no for
mula or arbitrary authority a.
mong them. Their very church
rules are pnt in the form of mild
advice. "Considercd that it is
not advisable" &C., the printed
rules say. 1t is wonderful,
though, the authority this gen.
tie advice has over their people.
The whole manner of the Dunk
ers 1 saw seemed so gentle, tol-
Grant and sweet, that | could
scarcely believe it was real.
"Do you mean to tell me that
they really live up to all these
fine principles?" l asked of a
gentleman, a Presbyterian, who
gave me my first information in
regard to these people.
"Yes, they do," he said; cat
least more than any other Chris
tians do"
They really are more honest
than other people in their deal
ings, and they do not take ad-
vantage of people in bargains,
like tho rest of mankind, If
people would live as the Dunk
ers do, / tell you, it would be a
different sort Of world.
l learned, much of them from
a conversation with their preach
er at Dayton, Elder George
Insim1c" Hale.
aI observe your Church rules s
forbid members to Sc 10 war,
aid your corTesponac.'' L
'Didn't any of the Dunkers
fight in the Union army?"
Elder George Haller smiled a
smile which was partly to him.
self and partly to me. eyes,
they did," said he, "and they
went in spite of the Church
rules" ban ga
"Were they turned out of
meeting?" -a g go. 37s
Elder George Haller smiled
again. 81 couldn't say that
they were, to any great extent.
There was my son, whom you
saw to-day, preacher himself,
who. served, through the war.
He said he felt called to go,
rules or no rules, and go he did,
and the Captain told me he was
one of the finest soldiers in the
regiment" s,.ss
I wouldn't take my oath that
there WASH t a little carnal pride
in Elder George Haller's eye as
he said that last.
| swell, they didn't do any
Thing aboutit, one way or the
| n mn Il - 2,