The Washington critic., 1889-06-10
THE GERMAN BAPTIsTs.
a Peculiar sec. Meeting IN virginia

A Peculiar Sect Meeting In virginia
Some OF Their Customs.
Special TO The CmrIc
STAuNToN, VA, June S.--For some
months there has been contest between
Harrisonburg, Va, and the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad on one side and
Staunton, Va, and the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad on the other to secure
the annual meeting Of the German
Baptist Association OF the United States.
The railroads were interested In carry.
ing the 10000 or 10 900 people who are
expected 10 attend the session Of the
association, and the towns in entertain
ing the people, not alone for the profits
arising from the sale of supplies, but
also as the best and most direct means
of advertising the town and counties in
which or near which the association
might be held.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
and Harrisonburg prevailed, and the as
. sOciatioD meets near that town to-day.
But man proposes and God disposes,
and so far as the railroads are concerned
the late floods have come to throw this
immense travel over the line Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, for
while the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
has been rendered impossible by the
floods the Chesapeake and Ohio Is run,
ming regularly along its entire line.
The good people who met in Har-
risonburg to-day have their peculiar
views on all subjects, and their views
on the question Of temperance was a
large factor In deciding their place Of
meeting. There Is a law of the asso.
citation, that the annual meeting shall
not be held within one mile Of any
place where intoxicating drinks are
sold. Staunton is wet town, Har-
risonburg dry; and that was sufficient,
to decide tie question. There are
present at this meeting large numbers
from Ohio Indiana, Illinois, Missouri
and the great Northwest, and California
furnishes its quota also.
The order Is largely represented In
Page, Shenandoah and Rockingham
counties, Va, and to some extent in
Augusta County, Va. Some of Its
prominent members live in Augusta,
among whom is Rev. Samuel Driver.
The association met in a beautiful
grove just on the southern limits of
Harrisonburg. A beautiful green swardi
covers the land, aud q cooling stream Of
pure water flows through its entire
length. 1t has long been famous
camping ground. During the late war
this lovely valley, now bright and
beautiful In its dress of sping green.
was the uamping ground Of the con
tending armies.
The men from both armies alternately
camped on this ground, where, by It's
refreshing stream and under the shade
of its beautiful grove they recruited
their wasted strength. The encamp-
ment now held there is of peaceful
character. No war-like preparations,
no bugle call nor beating of drum will
arouse the camper to arms and bloody
contests; but peace and good will will
be preached, and lessons of humility
will be taught
The German Baptists are singularly
plain and simple people. The dress Of
both men and women are plain and
sombre. The men dress in a cutaway
coat, peculiar to themselves, with broad
brim felt hats, which mark them wher.
ever they are seen. The women are en-.
tirely without ornaments. Their brown
dresses of plain cut and finish, with
straight skirts and small capes falling
from their shoulders; their poke"
bonnets, made of plush, or quilted silk
or calico, in the style known generally
as sun bonnets. make them conspicuous
also.
They are often seen an our streets, /
and from under those plain poke.
bonnets one sees beautiful faces, pc.
culiar TO these people, full Of ruddy
health, in their native strength OF
character. unmarried by fashionable
dress or any of the methods resorted to-
to give beauty and symmetry to the
modern female figure. They are
thoroughly honest people; have no dis
putes before the courts: settle all their
differences among themselves, and take
care of their own unfortunates, never al
lowing them to be burden upon the
State. Such are some of the peculiar
traits of the people who meet in annual
camp, near Harrisonburg, Va, for one
week, beginning to-day, when will be
settled and adjusted all questions re-
lating to their people.