The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-11
THEIR FEET WASHING.
Interesting Scene Among the
Dunkards in Oakland.
4 BIBLE CUSTOM HANDED DOWN.

AAAGES w GEO 9A3EJ &4AOI0ABCS- \ AAS
Mem Washed the Mems Eeot and the
Women tho WOmsn's.
When the woman told of in the Bible
washed the feet of Christ and dried them
with her hair she probably had small
notion of handing down an example of
love and humiliation that would be
emulated in fact 1900 years afterward in
the vicinity of Topeka and many other
places at least once year.
But the religious sect known as
the Dunkards thought of it afterwards
and perpetuated it and Saturday night
in their church at Oakland the Topeka
Dunkards to the number of sixty in
dulged in good healthy foot bath that
was supposed to prove their love for
each other and their humiliation before
the Spirit.
1t is a cosy though plain little church
the Dunkards have and it was we'll filled
to witness the ceremony as conducted by
Rev. Dir. Vaniman the resident pastor
and Rev. Mr.. Young of Missouri, who
had come over to assist.
At three long tables in the middle of
the meeting house sat the sixty candi-
dates for foot cleanliness and the rest of
it. The men were to themselves and the
women were in the Same condition.
There were no CANDY colors among the
participants. The men dressed for the
most part in clothing of sombe hue with
the exception of few of the younger
ones whose humility did not prevent
them from wearing smart suit or two of
gray or check.
The women were dressed in black and
wore upon their heads pretty little
crocheled caps. Most of the candidates
wall nlOncy in Of M
women were of middle age. Only two
or three were very young. With the mem
the ages were more diverse. Next to the
sturdy boy of seventeen sat the white
haired veteran of seventy. The partici-
pants were most equally divided regard
ing sex.
Around the church sat and stood per-
haps 200 spectators, Interested. many of
them, almost to mirth, though the ser
vice was solemn enough.
The footwashing came first after there
had been a short season of Bible reading
and prayer by the ministers in charge
A bowl of water for each sex, and plen-
ty of towels were provided. Hair as q
dryer was not plentiful. Shoes were re.
moved. None of them were of patent
leather, and none of them looked as
though they pinched. If there is one
thing above another the Dunkard is SEN
sible and liberal in. it is the matter of
shoes.
Stockings were next taken off and SO
men and women we're barefooted and
ready for the ceremony. There was nc
mixing of the sexes in it. The men
washed the mems feet and the women
washed the womens.
John washed James feet and dried
them with a towel James then pushed
the bowl along and kneeling in turn
washed Simon's and Simon in his turn
feet of Israel. Tho washing began with
minutes before the circle of the tables
was completed.
There was another short season of
Bible reading. speaking, and prayer by
the two ministers, and the next sym boil of
brotherly and sisterly love as the Dunk
ards see it in the Bible was reached. 1t
was the kiss, and was passed around in
the same manner as the washing. Each
man kissed the man next to him, and
each woman kissed the woman beside
her Grayhaired men with whiskerx
kissed each other. In no case were
kisses exchanged between persons of
opposite sex.
The communion was very like any
| other communion.
Rev. MIR. Vaniman blessed the bread
as q part of the body of Jesus Christ,
| and the wine which was poured from
a bottle with label on it, as His blood.
Each ate in turn a little of the bread and
each in turn drank little of the wine.
This was the last ceremony, and after
! it WAS over and there had been another
prayer the participants and spectators