The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-12-01
Church gistorp.
The German Baptists or Dunkards,
VINO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY BELIEVE.


States about one hundred thousand people,
whose religious faith and practice are
very imperfectly understood by the gener-
ality Of the American readers, and in Eu-
rope very little is known of them. Many
papers have gone forth purporting to give
a full and correct account Of their religious
tenets and some of their peculiar princi-
pies, but so far, have been quite vague
and often very incorrect. This article can
be strictly relied upon as being correct
and is likely the most complete account
of that people that has yet been published,
and is intended to set forth some Of their
arguments by which they defend their
faith and practice, along with many Of
their peculiarities for which they are noted
THE NAME.
In history they are generally known by
the name German Baptists, but more COM
monly among outsiders as Tunkers, or as il
is more generally spoken Dunkards. The
latter however, are nick names, derived
from German word meaning TO dip, and
is somewhat expressive of their manner Of
baptiEing. Among themselves they are
known as Brethren, taken from the decla-
ration of Christ on a certain occasion when
he said, GAN ye are brethren" Matt. 23;8.)
THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY
of this reformatory movement dates from
the year 1908, having taken its rise in
Germany about that time, in portion of
country where Baptists are said TO have
been wholly unknown. Some eight per-
sons in number, who had been bred Pres
bytetians, excepting one who was Luth-
eran, became much dissatisfied with the
then prevailing religious principles of the
day, tonsorted together in order to pray
erfullY read the Bible and comfort one
another, aud if possible, find the old path
and walk therein, for as yet they knew not
that there were any Baptist churches in
existence.
After careful study of the sacred
word, they were fully convinced that faith
and stric. obedience in all things, laid
down liz the perfect law of liberty, were
essential 10 salvation, and agreed to "obey
from the heart that form of doctrine once
delivered unto the saints" Consequently
in the year 1908, they all repaired to the
river Eder, by Schwarzenau, and were
buried with Christ in baptism. They all
were baptized by trine immersion, organi-
zed themselves into church; and chcse
Alexander Mack for their minister
Though Alexander Mack was chosen as
their first minister, yet the church has
never recognized him as the originator OF
either their faith or practice.
They increased rapidly, their doctrine
spread far and wide, aud soon excited the
hatred of persecution by which they were
driven from place to place, till the year
1719, when they commenced emigrating
to America, and settled in the vicinity Of
Philadelphia and Germantown. In 1923
nearly the whole church found herself
quietly settled down in the western world
Among these was their first preacher
Alexander Mack, though formerly a mar
Vf considerable property, was now poor il
this worlds goods, yet rich in grace anC
knowledge. He quietly settled himself OF
a small lot near Germantown, in the vi
cinity of Philadelphia. He did not live
long to enjoy the quietude of home il
the new world, but only six years aftel
his arrival in America, he closed his la.
bors on earth. And now in the Breth
ren's public burying ground in German
town, the stranger is shown the spot where
rests the remains of this humble and ven
erable reformer. He is said to have beer
a man Of great piety, and exercised good
influence in his own family. All his SON.
united with the church in their seventeenth
year, and some of them lived to be usefu
men in their Masters cause.
It may be proper to observe that all
the Dunkards in America have sprung
from the little band Of eight souls, who
started up in Germany in the year 1908,
and that, too, in portion Of the country
where no Baptist had lived in the memory
Of man, and even now, none exist there,
Most all reformatory movements have us.
ually been introduced and kept up by some
one of great influence and talent, but moi
so in this This movement was put on
foot by men and women who occupied
humble positions in life, and consequently
at the head Of the organization, is no man
to whom the body can appeal for human
authority or precedent, and hence in all
their faith and practice, they are under
the necessity of appealing directly to the
Scriptures, the only infallible source OF
correct information, for all their authority
in religious practices.
This little leaven has spread itself far
and wide till now nearly every State and
Territory has its members. They are,
however, most numerous in Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Hi.
nois, Kansas, Iowa aud Missouri.
But while the present organization dates
its history from the movement in Germany,
the careful reader will observe that the
rise of their faith and practice generally
is hid in the remote depths of Christian
antiquity.
PRESENT CONDITION.
Owing to the fact that they have never
published any denominational statistics, il
Is somewhat difficult to determine their
exact number. Those, however, who are
aoluaihtta WIN tHC cutlft DOQ1, hthlc tnAI
their number is not far from one hundred
thousand. As this estimate was made
several years ago it is likely short Of their
number, for in various localities they have
increased in numbers very fast, and il is
perhaps safe to place their number consid-
erably above one hundred thousand.
WEALTH AND OCCUPATION.
The larger majority of them are farm
ers, and where they settle to any great
extent they are sure to make a well i'm
proved country. Many Of them are me-
chanics, while small number are profes-
sional men. Such thing as Dunkard
lawyer is wholly unknown. They are us
ually in goCc circumstances, and many Of
them are men Of considerable wealth. As
it Is part of their religion to inculcate
industry and frugality, abstaining from all
extravagance and worldly display, they are
likely to come in possession Of property.
BY abstainin0 from superhuities of ali