Mower County transcript., 1889-10-30
A PECULIAR PEOPLE
The Dunkers 0f Pennsylysnia and Thcir
oId-Fashioned Religious Life.

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Some fifteen miles from Lancaster
by turnpike and twenty by rail lies the
little village of Ephrata. tt is a very
secluded. sleepy looking little place.
IN spite of the railroad that. runs
through it. shutin by surrounding hills
and by a low line of mountains digni-
he'd by the name of Ephrata Ridge.
Ihe houses OF the town straggle along
q broad road which crosses the rail
road near the station, dips away until
it sweeps around in curve over q
bridge, past an old mill in front of a
broad-built red brick house, and so
away into the country. The houses,
generally brick-built, in many cases
old-fashioned, are very comfortable
and home-like.
Here one meets the Bunker per Sc in
every by-road and lane-men with long
boards and flowing hair parted in the
middle. At the farm-houses are pleas
ant, matronly faces. stamped with hui
mility and gentleness. while an air of
almost SANITY simplicity is given by
the clear-starched cap, the handker-
chief crossed on the breast, the white
apron. and the plain gray or drab stuff
of the dresses.
The style of living of these good
people. their manners and customs,
are of the most primitive type. Their
aim is to Initiate the early Christians
in their habits of life as we'll as in
their religious tenets. There is abso-
lutely no distinction of caste among
them
They settled at first near Philadel-
phia, in a spot which has since been
allied Germantown. from the various
German religious refugees who settled
there in the early part Of the last
century. The sect is now chiefly con-
lined to Central and Western Pennsyl-
vania, but has spread to other States,
principally those of the Northwest,
though there are churches established
in Western Maryland. West Virginia
and North Carolina Their dress is
OF the simplest description, quaint and
otd-1ashloned in its cut; they offer no
resistance to injuries; they observe no
conformity with the world and its
manners and customs: they refuse to
take oaths in courts of law: in these
and many other ways resem bling the
Society of Friends.
Some of their religious ceremonies
are exceedingly curious. Fhey cele-
brate the Lords Supper after the man
ner of the primitive Christians.
The feast begins about the time of
candle-lighting. The men are seated
upon one side of the Westinghouse,
the women upon the other The first
ceremony is that of the washing of
feet, each sex performing this duty for
its own. Those who are to engage in
the ordinance presently enter the
meeting, earring tubs of lukewarm
water, and each member on the front
benches removes his or ner shoes and
stockings. A man on the mems side
and a woman on the women'S then
wash the feet one by one. taking the
right hand Of each individual, as they
Inish the washing, and giving the kiss
OF peace After the one who performs
the washing follows another. with a
long towel girded around the waist,
who wipes the feet just washed, at the
same time giving the right hand and
the kiss of peace. AS one benchful
has the ceremony performed, it gives
place to another. While the ceremony
is being conducted, the minister or
teachers make brief speech, OF read
appropriate portions OF Scripture re-
lating to the subject
The next ceremony is the supper it.
self Each third bench is SO arranged
that the back can be turned upon a
pivot at each end, so as to form the
top of long table. This is covered
with a white cloth, and presently
brothers and sisters enter. bearing
large plates Or bowls OF soup, which
are placed upon the tables. Three or
four people help themselves out of the
same dish. After this the communion
is administered, and the whole cere-
IoAs II ScISAAACA ~ tAC SAiSSIuS vi
hymns and preaching. This the
brethren hold is the only true method
of administering the ordinances of the
Last Supper, and also hold that it is
similar to that ceremony as celebrated
in the earliest Christian church
Another peculiar ordinance among
them is that of amounting the sick with
oil. in accordance with the text il
James, y. IA The sick one calls upon
the elders of the meeting. and at a set
tied time the ceremony is performed.
II consists of pouring Oil upon the
head of tie sick person of laying
hands upon them. and praying owe,
them
The ministers Or teachers. who re.
ceive no stipend whatever, are elected
by the votes of the members of the
church. he who receives the largest
number Of votes being pronounced
elected These elections are sum
moned by the elders of the
church. who preside over them
and receive the votes of the people,
y asff3ap -,-5,s Ia,