The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-30
The daaehita 1alu Eagle Tnesdag urno, 5ay 50, 1898
QUEER CHRISTIANS.
a Peculiar Sect Located II Phil
adelphia
They ReliSiously Refrain from Eating
Meat-Sonne of Their Beliefs and
the Conditions Of Church
Membership.

Il has often been remarked as curious
by residents il the northern portion CT
Philadelphia that the block bounded
by Broad street, Park avenue, Berls
street ard Montgomery avenue cQn-
tains the smallest church and the
largest one in Philadelphia. For those
fronting on Broad street is the Baptist
temple, with its seating capacity OF
five thousand, and Immediately behind
it, fronting on Park avenue, is the lit
tie, quaint, gray stone edifce belong
ing to the Bible Christian church, with
a seating capacity of probably not one
hundred. Quaint it IS indeed inside as
well as out, as described by the Times
The walls are Of wood. some Of them
plainly whitewashed and hung with
the usual illuminated texts, and il
place OF the luxuriously cushioned
opera" chairs now introduced into
churches, narrow wooden benches
painted gray, are provided for the
worshipers, and are perfectly in keep
ing with the boarded floor. uncovered
save for strip OF carpet down the
aisle. Though the church is really the
Bible Christian il is much better known
as the vegetarian" because vege-
tarianism is exacted OF its members.
This popularity of creed is the reason
for its lack of growth and the conse-
uuent snallness of the edifce. Its
creed includes the belief that the laws
of health require abstinence from meat
or flesh OF all kinds and strict al
herence 20 farinaceous and vegetab BILE
foods. It IS claimed by the vegetarians,
with the support OF scientists 20 some
degree, that some diseases would have
had 10 existence among human beings
but for their partaking OF the flesh OF
animals, which, being impregnated
with disease microbes, introduced tke
ills Of the animal kingdom into the
human family.
The Bible Christians believe also
that the words TO be found in the first
chapter Of Genesis. spoken by GOD TO
Adam and Eve--Behold, l have given
you every herb bearing seed which is
upon the face OF all the earth, and
every tree in the which is the fruit OF
tree yielding seed; TO you it shall be
for meat'-imply distinct commend
ito partake only of vegeta BILE foods, and
that this commandment was kept until
after the flood. From humanitarian
standpoint they are opposed to the
wholesale slaughter OF animals as
'crueL You may have noticed, said a
member Of the church in speaking of
Its creed, that the same laws OF nat
s.I, aal-roarr-7a 2cr.
also govern the action OF animals.
They love, grieve, joy and suffer in
their degree the same as we do in ours.
They possess many Of the higher at
ributes Of our nature, such as faithful
,ness. courage and devotion. This be-
fling so we do not feel at liberty 20 de-
lstroy their lives at random, and though
rye do not absolutely claim the exist
.ence OF q future life for them. yet the
reference of St. John in the Apocalypse
to the four-footed beasts about the
throne remains to be interpreted in
some way and seems TO point to some
thing of the sort" With the exception
-of Geterianism the Bible Christian
church differs from other Christian
but slightly. The conditions
,of membership IN this church, bsti-
nence from meats and Intoxicating
liquors of all kinds-are severe enough
to prevent many from joining it, and
The membership IS at present only be-
tween fifty and sixty. Of this nunber
some live in Frankfort, and they are so
sea tered that it is seldom they all meet
together At their entertainments when
the serving Of refreshments is included,
the uninitated would be amazed to see
what diversity of tastes can be suited
and what wide d range OF choice is re-
vealed in the delicate and skillful prep
aration of vegetable and farinaceous
r,rnf rratinr1S