The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-06-05
German Baptist Association.

religious dey0tions and practices. The an
nual convention of the German Baptists
or 1.-The Brethren of the United States
convened near Broadway, twelve miles
north OF Harrisonburg. on the LIST inst, and
was to continue in session four OF five days.
Representatives from all the Northern,
Western, Northwestern, Pacific and several
OF the Southern States are present, and
while the delegates proper do not number
over one hundred, the attendance of the
membership reaches to at least 10000, in
GLIDING venerable patriarchs and moth
ers in Israel, whose span of life is nearly
completed; middle aged men and women,
vigorous in health, and earnest in purpose
the young and elastic, just entering upon
the Threshold OF business activities, and
those just budding into manhood and wo-
manhood, who come to gather knowledge
and inspiration from this great fountain
source of religious experience and devotion,
and who in the near future will have to
take the places and assume the RESPONSE
bilities now occupied and discharged by the
fathers and mothers who, in the course Of
nature, must soon pass over the river to rest
under the shade of the trees.
1t is an imposing and impressive scene to
glance over the great sea of placid faces,
some furrowed by the cares of time, others
fresh in the vigor Of mature life, and others
still radiant and Joyous with the bloom and
beauty of youth and all inspired by love
and reverence for the ordinances and
usages of the church of their choice and
aglow with ardor and activity in the cause
of the Redeemer. They have come from
nearly all portions of the Union, and some
from across the waters, to meet in spiritual
counsel, to enjoy the rare social intercourse
the occasion offers, and to infllse with new
life the widely extended and numerous
membership-now embracing about one
hundred thousand, and representing more
wealth than any other religious denomina-
ton in America, numerical strength consid-
cred.
We in the Valley Of Virginia, accustomed
to meet in our daily business intercourse
many of the members of this denomination.
and acquainted with the rnpretending SIM
plicity of their lives, and their conscientious
observance of the precepts which they in
culcate, can form some conception Of the
order, the harmony and devotion which
enter into the daily deliberations and hour
ly associations of the vast throng assem-
bled on this occasion but very few of our
readers, not of their number, have familiar
lied themselves with the history Of that
church. We are aware, that while holding
primitive religious principles and adhering
largely to the plain and primitive methods
of domestic life of a couple of centuries
ago, they are nevertheless progressive peo-
pie in secular employments, and contribute
by their industry and economy, mate
RALLY to the aggregated wealth of the State.
To furnish our readers, therefore, with a
brief outline of the origin and principles of
the church, we avail ourselves of the work
of an intelligent correspondent Of the Bal
timore american, now on the ground. He
says:
sit would be difficult to find class of
Christians more misunderstood at large
than these conservators of a system of pie
ty and church polity, which. although pecu-
liarly old-fashioned, seems adapted in a
century. The doctrine, if doctrine it may
be called, set up in 17OS in Germany by Al
exander Mack, the founder of the church,
seems very crude compared with the con-
sistent and elaborate arrangements of re-
ligious truths, which is now presented by
their ablest ministers. Alexander Mack
was not a Luther nor yet counterpart Oh
Melancthon, but, still, he was moral hero,
and established principles based on relig-
ious truths which can never die. Nearly
three centuries ago he Wasconyinced that the
sacred scriptures were not regarded as a
guide of life with sufficient accuracy, and
with seven followers began to live in accor-
dance with the literal guidance of the Bible,
taking as the great essential point of doc
trine that baptism (meaning trine baptism,
by three times dipping was essential to
salvation. He took, as do his followers to
this day, the New Testament literally
throughout. 1t has been shown, conclu-
sively that although other Baptists origi-
mated in other countries before that time,
the action of Alexander Mack was purely
independent, and was the result of his per-
sonal investigation of the Scriptures. The
Lords Supper he regarded as a comment
orative ordinance, but held the full meal
preceding the bread and wine and the
washing of the Diciples' feet as much OBJ
ligatory as the sacrament. They have
been so regarded among the brethren ever
since. Like John Wesley, he and his fol-
lowers taught the necessity of humility, es-
pecially as manifested in the absence of
vanity, and, consequently, of plain attire.
While the Methodist Church, holding fast
to every doctrine, has kept pace with the
march Of progress with what its members
consider non-essentials although the dis
cipline against undue ornament is even We.
regarded, the Quakers, Dunkers, and some
others have continued to invest the subject
of plain attire with great Importance, and
until lately would not tolerate the slightest
variation from est ablished usage. To-day
it is the subject which the church whose
have assembled here from
every quarter, is much concerned, and it
would not be surprisingif something should
be done to bridge the difference between
the younger element, who favor conformi-
ty in some degree to the customs of society
in regard to dress, and the elder folks who
regard the least concession dangerous, not
only to a consistent SplPlC OF ClflStldll meek
ness, but to the authority of the church it
self.
Mack and his followers had scarcely in
stituted two churches in Germany than they
began to be prosecuted. Fleeing from it they
came to this country, settling mainly in
and becoming in time the
body Of what are known as the Pennsylva-
mia Dutch. This was about hundred and
fifty years ago, and the first Bunker meet
ing-house ever erected is standing yet I'M
AS they were accustomed alto
gether to the tillage Of the soil, they en-
gagged at once in agricultural pursuits, and
as sturdy sons grew up they followed in
the wake of emigration, seeking the cheap,
productive lands Of what was then consid-
cred the far, far West. The uncouth young
Pennsylvania Dutchmen settling in Indiana
and Illinois became in time the prosperous
possessors of great estates and myriad herds
Of stock, and in return their boys went out
TO Kansas and Colorado and did likewise.
Thus they have spread through the agricul-
5ural region of the country, in each instance
into a large community, living
Closely to themselves wherever they have
settled. All through the war the Dunkers
in the valley here remained unmolested by
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