The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-06-04


Floyd. Franklin, Montgomery, Bote-
tours and adjoining counties were to be
seen and heard travelling along the
country road to the Brubaker farm, the
Mecca Of their pilgrimage. Bright and
early Sunday the folks in Salem, Roa-
noke and the country adjacent started
for the same place, going more as spec
tators than worshippers, and by 10
o'clock the folds near the Brubaker
homestead were black with vehicles and
alive with humanity, perspiring, roast
ing and melting under the in.ense heat
of the June sun.
Salem was deserted, Roanoke nearly
80, whilst the inhabitants Of both places
could be found at the Dunkard meeting
Some went prepared with dry and wet
groceries as for pic mic, whilst others
trusted to the booths for refreshments;
quite number, however, relied upon
the hospitality of the brethren for
meas. and were not disappointed, whilst
hundreds came and went away before
dinner, being replaced by fresh legions
OF visitors, who arrived during the
afternoon. Quite sensation was caused
in the morning by the arrival of large
number of oicYclists from r oanoke
And still the sun shone; and the heat
grew hotter, and the roads dustier,
whilst the poor horses, drawing the big
loads OF melting humanity up steep
hills and across rocky fords in the
creeks, painted and suffered and won
dored II Hades was far off. Several
horses were Frustrated by the heat. q
vehicle or 80 broke down, but still all
was good humor, and rarely ever does
one see so large a crowd with such ex
cellent behavior, for although the num-
Der present was variously estimated
during the day at between six and ten
thousand, only one arrest was made,
and that so quietly that few knew It,
a Franklin young man not liking the
way an officer told him to move on,
"sassed" the cop" using cuss word
or two in doing 3d. When arrested q
few minutes later he was found to be
"loaded for bar" having on his person
couple OF bottles of whiskey, pistol
and knife. The pistol was conhacsted
and the young man told TO git" which
he did In aspeedy manner.
The brethren held their regular SER
vices in the morning and afternoon in
outsiders came and went as they felt
inclined. About noon the dining hall
was opened and during the next two or
three hours about 2 1000 people were fed
by the brethren, who never stopped to
inquire ones name, address, occupation
or religious belief, but fed all with
the same unstinted hospitality.
About 6 p. m. the brethren and as
many spectators as chose met in the
dining hall, where services preparatory
to the celebration Of the Lords Supper
we're held. Some eight or nine speakers
explained the belief Of the Dunkards in
regard to the literal occupation OF the
word supper and the brethren were fire.
quently warned Ito examine themselves
thoroughly to know whether they were
in the faith" At 1880 recess was
taken, and during this interval DR..
Gale, Of Roanoke, who was present
was called out to render assistance to
the wife OF one Of the delegates from
Ohio, who had been knocked over by
buggy wheel and was painfully bruised.
At o'clock candles were lighted,
giving but dim light, however, and
the services continued. chapter,
probably the 18th OF st. John, was read
by one OF the elders concerning the
ordinance OF feet washing" followed
by several Of the brethren who pre-
sented this observation from their
standpoint in most forcible manner.
One. speaker, however, took occasion
to inform the spectators that the feet OF
all the brethren were clean, having
previously been washed.
Alter this the ceremony took place,
one brother bathing the feet OF another
whilst another wiped them dry with q
towel with which he WAS girded AS
each brother finished he shook hands
n hn
had washed or wiped. The rule seemed
to be for two men to wash and wipe the
feet OF two other men, who in turn
performed the same office for two other
brethren.
This work OF love completed, the din
ing tables before the brethren were
spread with bread, cold beef and pans
OF hot broth. Before these were eaten
the reasons were sptly stated By an
elder for the presence of the supper and
these were supported by texts from the
Bible Then a verse was sung, PRAYER
offered and the supper eaten in silence.
by the dim light of the candles, the
long hair and boards of the brethren,
the Pile food on the narrow tables,
the strange stiffness and the renem.
brance Of the words and texts Just ut
tered by the elder, all brought to the
htHu W tuo IopOrLcT, btOnaEQO DC
Vincis famous last supper"
Then came the salutation of the holv
kiss. Here each brother grasping the
right hand of his neighbor would give 1t
q warm shake and would then exchange
fraternal kiss Further hymns and
exhortations. and then followed that
most sacred OF all eesentials-the Com
munion. In this instance the bread was
in long strips and was passed down the