Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-30
THE DUNKARDs' LOVE FEAST.
\ Curious Semi-AnnuaI Ceremony of a
Baptist Sect in PennsyIyania.

EphrGtt C0Jvfsp spondeHce Nelr York Sun, Nor. e.
The semi-annual love feast of the Ger
man Baptist Brethren, or Dunkards, cele-
brated here last week, was a very inter-
esting ceremony. The dress of these ad-
herents to ancient forms and customs is
very much like that of the Friends. The
men wear a closely buttOned shad-bellv
or swallOw-tail coat, with standing collar
of coarse. brown, pepper-and-salt or blu
ish-gray-clOth, trousers and vest, and
heayiiy-caped OVercOat OF the same ma
terial. and a lOw-cTOWned. black felt hat,
with enormous brim. The plain, unOrna-
meuted dress of the women is generally
black, although sometimes snutf-brOwn,
with a large black shawl and a black bon
net OF the sunbOnnet shape. In the plain
meeting house there are two rows Of
benches running the whole length of the
room and forming middle and side aisles,
while rows of benches. facing these, as
cend theatre-like on either side to near
the low, fiat ceiling. The middle rows are
for those celebrating the feast, and the
others for the spectators.
Every third bench, of those upon the
floor. is so arranged that the broad. move
able back can be brought up and fastened
on the top of the end boards, thus making
a long. narrow table. After the Dunk
ards had marched in, two brothers ap-
peared with long white tableclOths, with
which they covered the ten tables. five OH
the wOman's side of the cen
tral aisle and five on
the mems side. Other brothers came
armed with black-bandled knives, three
tined forks, and tin tablespoons. Other
brothers brought little white bowls,
which they set spaTsely around. Other
brothers carried, two and two, great bas-
kets Of bread-huge lOaves cut into quar-
ters-which they placed in long middle
lines. Other brothers { it was never sis
tiers bore trays containing plates of but
ter. Other brothers brought deep tin
dishes where pieces of mutton swan in a
graVy-like soup.
supper being ready, and the swinging
lamps drawn down and lighted, the
brethren and sisters seated themselves
around the tables-ninety of the former
and 40 of the latter. How repOseful the
women looked, with their plain, neatly
fitting black dresses, and little white caps
Of nightcap shape and of a semi-trans-
parent material, underneath which the
mOdestly parted hair lay smooth, exposing
the broad white forehead. The long hair
Of the men, brushed straight back from
the forehead and falling to the shoulders,
and their long boards. both hair ana
boards being largely gray, and sometimes
silvery white, gave them very venerable
aspect.
Next. two small tubs half filled with
water were brought in, and two elderly
brothers diVested themselves of their
coats, one seiZing a tub and the other
girding himself with a very long towel.
Two sisters did likewise with the other
tub and towel. Immediately the breth-
ron seated on the front bench facing the
broad space in front of the minister's table
and seats began to take off their shoes and
stockings. and the sisters on the CORES
pOnding row on their side of the house
did the same. Then the brother with
the tub placed it at the feet of the
first barefOOted brother. who put his feet
into 1t, where they are rinsed off by the
washer, who then grasped the hand of the
washee and imprinted a sounding kiss
upon his lips. The towel girded brother
/ followed. wiped, shook hands, and kissed
and passed on to the next; and the wash
I ing and wiping sisters did likewise on
/ their side of the room. After the two
! rows were washed and wiped all fell to
/ putting on their shoes and stockings, the
/ younger women showing much mOdesty
/ in their efforts to get on their long stock
I ings deftly and quickly.
After an address and prayer and Il
( lined-Out hymn in German, the eating be-
l gan, slices of bread serving as plates,
| and one dish of soup and meat for four
eaters. There was no noise but the clat-
7 ter Of spoons against dishes and knives
against forks and a general sound of
munching. Everything eatable having
+ disappeared, there was more exhOrtatiOn,
prayer and singing. and then three broth
Z ers appear ed with several enormous bot
I ties of wine and number
! of large. fiat, indented cakes Of un-
+ leavened bread. The cakes were broken
I into long strips, which were passed
around among the men, who broke for
/ each other, but the women were not
allowed to do so, the presiding Bishop
breaking it for them, and handing it to
/ them as they sat in their seats. After the
/ bread came the wine in tall tin cups, and
I again the women were not allowed to pass
4 the cup. but 1t was passed to them by the
/ Bishop. The drinking of the wine ended
] the ceremony.