Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-11-23
THE puNKERs.
a Peculiar People Down In Penn
svfvanIa.

little village Of Ephrata 1t Is very
secluded, slecpy-looking little place, in
spite OF the railroad that runs through
il. shut in by surrounding hills and by
a low line of mountains dignitied by
The name Of Epnrata Ridge. The houses
of the town struggle along a broad
-oad which crosses the railroad near
the station, dips away until it sweeps
around in curve over bridge. past
IN old mill in front Of a proad-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 in every
oy-road and lane-me with long
boards and flowing hair parted in the
middle. The style of living Of these
good people, their manners and Gus
soms, are OF the most primitive type.
There is absolutely no distinction of
caste among them.
They settled at first near Philadel-
phia, in "A spot which has since been
called 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 Penrsyl-
yania, but has spread 10 other states.
principally those OF the Northwest.
Their dress is Of the simplest descrip-
ton, quaint and old-fashioned in its
cut, they offer no resistance to injuries;
they observe no conformity with the
world ana its manners and customs;
they refuse TO take oaths in courts OF
law; ia these and many other ways re-
sembling the Society OF Friends
Some Of their religious ceremonies
are exceedingly curious. They cele-
brate the Lords supper after the
manner 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. carrying tubs Of lul5ewarm
water. and each member on the front
benches removes his or her shoes ana
sto kings. A man on the mems side
aud woman on the women's then
wash the feet one by one. taking the
right hand Of each Individual. rs they
finish the washing, and giving the kiss
81 peace. After the one who performs
the washing follows another. with a
long towel girlel around the waist,
who wipes the feet just shed, at the
Same time giving the right hand and
4 the kiss OF peace. As one bcnchful
us the ceremony performed, il gives
i place to another.
/ The next ceremony is The supper
Itself. Each third bench is So an
ranged that the back can be turned up
on a pivot at each end, so as to form
the top OF long table. This is covered
with 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, aud the whole cere
mony is concluded By the singing OF
hymns and preaching. This the
brethren hold is the only true method
Of administering the ordinance Of the
Last Supper, and also hold that il is
similar to thatceremoney 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 in
James, Y. IL. The ordinance Of
baptism is administered in running
water aud by threefold immersion. the
officiating minister then laying his
hands upon the recipient. who still
kneels in The water, aud praying over
\ him or her.
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, either gira uoce,
in whispers, or by closed ballots. II
no candidate has a majority, or il there
are greater number OF blank votes
east than for any one candidate, the
election is pronounced void.
| Such is a briefand condensed account
Of these people. and Of their religious
customs aud ordinances They are
called Dunkers or Thinkers, from the
German tnnkca which may be inter-
preted to dip, or probably ito sop" is
better equivalent word. They as
sumo for themselves the name Breth-
rem ON account of the text, Matthew
xiii. s, "0ne is your Master, even
Christ. and all We are brethren They