Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-11-26
ABOUT THE DUNKARDS.
A SKETCH OF A PECULIAR CHURCH.
MUCH TALKED OF BUT LITTLE
UNDERSTOOD,

The vast majority OF ordinary well-in-
formed people know there is such an or
ganization as the Dunkar Church, but
few know more than this, and an applica-
ton to any standard authority on eccle-
siastical or denominational matters will
be sure to result in erroneous views
Every authority, from Webster's Die
tionary to the latest History of Demon.
nations, has seemingly copied the er-
rors of the preceding historian.
The exclusive character of the Church
and the absence of any extensive litera-
ture within the body have probably con-
tributed largely to this end, and then
there are causes within the Church,
readily understood by the intelligent
member, but difficult to define on paper,
that prevent the inquirer from getting
more than glimpse of the order Of wor-
ship and faith of this little-knowi peo-
pie.
Nevertheless it is possible to obtain a
generally correct knowledge of the Ger
man Baptis.s, as historians know them,
or Dunkards as the people call them,
and which latter is readily responded to
by the members The Church is of
Germanic birth and originated at
Schwardzenau in or about the year l7OS.
Six or seven persons constituted the
original body. which, after mature de-
liberation and deep study, settled down
upon triple immersion as the primitive
and correct baptism, without knowing
that there was any body Of Christians
that practiced immersion in existence
in the world The word Dunkard is de-
rived from the German word tunken,
signifying to plunge, and was given the
body in derision, just as the Methodist
and Campbellite Churches obtained
their present names.
sent chosen the leader of the little band,
and from special causes not now obtain
able and from the usual persecution that
attaches to religious innovations emigra-
ton to America in 1919 was the result,
and in 1928 the first church was ergan-
lied in Germantown, or practically
Philadelphia of too day, and q church
has existed from that date to the present
and the curious may find the present
church on Marshall street, of this city.
The numerical strength Of the Church
is sixty thousand, and out of this num-
ber fifteen thousand are found in Penn
sylvania The people spread out over
the country by immigration, and cOnse-
quently the Church population lies in
the direction of the Star of Empire
The Philadelphia church is the best
known one East, and the Western boun-
Diary is the Pacific coast. There are no
churches in New England, and none,
practically. in the South.
-FThe author Of this article is mistaken
Jthe churches in the South. This
domination of Christians has num-
ger of churches with considerable mem
bership in the Valley of Virginia-par
ticularly in Shenandoah, Rockingham,
Augusta, Roanoke, and Botetourt coun-
ties: also, In other portions Of the
South.-ED. SPECTAToR.]
Entire States have no organized
churches, and with the exception of q
recently formed organization in Den
mark-the result of the labors of Chris.
tian Hope, aconverted Dans-the world
knows nothing of the Dunkards. This
Is not a very good showing for the
Church as body, but the causes thai
produce such a result must be looked fol
in the constitution of the German mind
and not in the eligibility of the faith te
popular acceptance.
CHURCH GOVERNMENT.
The Church territory is cut up into
districts. Thus Pennsylvania has three
the Eastern, Middle, and Western
districts-and the territory, geographic
cally is considered, and not the popula-
ton tof the churches, which lattel
changes slowly. Maryland has two dis
tricts-East and West-aud SO or
throughout the States. The individual