Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04
in a sober way, highly appropriate for the
The Love Feast.

The Love Feast.
The Dunkards date back to the sixteenth
century. when they were called the German
Baptists. Some Of their church ceremonies
are peculiarly their own. especially the love
feast, followed by the washing of feet. At
these love feasts the men and the women
sit apart, as at the usual services. After
the partaking Of the love feast basins of
water and towels are brought. and on each
side Of the church the washing Of feet is
commenced. This ceremony is confined to
the members Of the church. although at
some portions Of the love feast all are in
vited to partake. The brother who COM
mences the ceremony washes one foot of
the brother next to him and salutes him
with kiss, the brother who has
thus been washed and kissed then per-
forms the same office for the brother next
to him. and this course Is followed until
all have been waited upon, the same line
of action Ia pursued by the sisters Of the
church.
How do you manage when you come to
person in the church that you don't like?''
was asked Of a sister concerning this cere-
mony. "Oh." she replied, I'VE always man
age to sit beside some one we are on good
terms with" So 1t seems that there are
persons from whom the great lesson of
humility has not entirely leavened the
spirit OF caste and worldly preference.
Dunkard Characteristics.
church ceremonies the Dunkards have
other characteristics which identify them
in the community in which they reside
they are usually very thrifty and their
farms are well cultivated. Brawls and
dissensions among them are rare. they do
not seek for political preference and in
some localities 1t is extremely difficult to
induce them to go to the polls to vote, even
during the most heated political excitement.
some nave been known to visit the polling
precincts and vote and then retarn With
out waiting to learn the results Of their
vote or remain long enough to see whether
the candidate of their choice could be elect
Cd by their remaining for another ballot.
They have discharged their duty by voting
once and are then ready to wash their
hands OF all responsibility in the matter
and 60 home to the more congenial occu-
pations Of the farm.
The Dunkards as a class are strictly tenn
perate; their lives are as quiet as the hills
and valleys about their farms. While they
take but little interest in the management
they live they are good citizens and man
age to live without helping to support law
yers or courts Of justice.
or late years the boundaries, which sepa-
rate them from their neighbors have been
somewhat broken down-the plain Quaker
lsh garb Is considered a yoke Of bondage
oy the younger generation, the manner Of
dress has become so much modified by the
class who seem to be able to think for
themselves. that it is safe to say that not
one-haif of the church membership wear
the Dunkard garb. Their close proximity to
other religious bodies has somewhat broken
into their church membership, and many
Of the younger Dunkards have left the
church In which they were reared and al
lied themselves to other churches which
seem to them less exacting In the pre-
requisites OF church membership.
Wash Day.
The next day being Monday, and conse-
Quently wash day. 1 managed to get around
somewhat through the beautiful valley Ct
the Antietam, to take a look at The Dun
kard farms. The weii-tilied fields and over
flowing barns everywhere bore witness 10
the industry and prosperity of this thrifty
class; indeed, a Dunkard farmer who is
not prosperous would be a curiosity, If not
an exception or impossibility. Their sue
cess seems to be due to the wise selection
of farming lands. their untiring Industry.
and simple. frugal manner of living The
same rules followed by other formers
would without doubt yield the same degree
or prosperity, and help to solve the prob
lem: Does farming pay?"
An Interview With the Preacher,
A visit to the Dunkards would not be
complete without a chat with the preacher
Che term minister or pastor is not used), so
l managed to find an excuse for calling
upon the preacher to whose sermon 1 had
listened the Sunday before
l found him at work upon the little farm
for he Is farmer. and soon was engaged
IN conversation with him. Our talk soon