The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-07
AMONG THE DUNKARDS.
Their Love-Feast and Method of Celebrating
the Lords Supper.
Washington Star.

the LORDS supper.
Washington Star
The church was divided down the center by
long table, and this table was divided in the cen
ter to allow passage between. AT one end the
men sat on benches ranged along the table. The
other end or division of the table was in like
manner occupied by. the women strip of
plank, with pegs in it, was over the mems table,
and was hung full of their immense hats. A
staircase in one corner went up into the loft
above, where all the congregation who have to
come any distance sleep on the floor and in
hunks They bring their bedding with them,
and, as they do not insist upon the separation of
the sexes, a great many may be accommo-
dated in this garnet. People acquainted with
their habits said that they slept in sackcloth
and ashes while here for several nights. A door
at the foot of the stairs led into the Kitchen in
which tremendous fire cracked under a great
iron pot, hanging on crane in a spacious Chin
ney that would easily burn cord of wood uncut.
From this pot savory steam escaped and made
its way through the open door, pervading the
atmosphere with a most appetizing odor of beef.
Soon there were prayers from first one and then
another of the men, alternated with exceed
ingly brief and crude addresses. Hymns were
also lined out and sung to very monotonous
tunes. During all the time the men and women
at their respective tables were embracing and
kissing each other 1t looked rather strange to
see two men with Esau-like boards kissing each
other There were several negroes at the tables,
who were embraced and kissed just the same as
equally as freely.
After these addresses, prayers and hymns had
gone on for an hour or more, some of the men
and women brought little wooden tubs and
towels. Then one man one woman, as the
case might be, washed the feet of another, after
their boots or shoes and wooden stockings were
removed kissing them both before and after it.
Another, with the coat removed (if mani, and
a towel about the waist, wiped the feet after be-
slowing the kiss of brotherly love- as it is called;
then gave up the towel and tub to some one
else, who performed the same Office for them in
turn. This custom, as one of the preachers ex-
planned was to show their humility and broth
erly love- and also to follow Christ at the last
supper. After this office had been concluded,
praying, singing and speaking went on as before.
A man now entered, bearing great basket of
bread, slice of which, about nine inches long,
five wide and of an indefinite thickness, was laid
in front of each person; next, spoon was put
at each place; then dishes of soup with square
bits of bread broken in it We're placed so that
there was one for every four persons; then APP
peared huge pieces of boiled beef Everything
being thus prepared, one Of the preachers ex-
planned that according to their reading of the
Scriptures the communion did not mean simply
the taking of the elements of bread and wine,
but that the last supper of Christ
was feast, and their aim was to imi
tate Him exactly. After blessing had been
asked in the ordinary way, with all standing
around, they began to eat heartily. Without
waiting to clear up the table they proceeded to
complete their communion by taking the latter
part of the feast This consisted of what APP
peared to be unleavened bread, made into long,
thin strips, eight inches long, an inch wide, and
about the thickness of a newspaper when folded.
An explanation of the ceremony was made by
minister and sort of informal blessing of the
elements was pronounced. The slices Of bread
were lying in a napkin, while the wine was in
tive patentrmedicine bottles labeled liver cor
rector"
The bread was distributed, one person taking
a strip with two of his companions, and break
ing it into three pieces thus again following out
their idea of preservation of the Trinity as
they do on every possible occasion. The wine,
or Liver corrector," was next poured into tin
women and men. as the bread had been Dur
ing and after the ceremony there was much kiss
ing and embracing, and after the communion
singing, praying and speaking was again re-
sumed