The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-26
AMONG THE DUNKARDS
THAT QUAINT AND PRIMITIVE SECT
AS FOUND In VIRGINIA.
Grent Distrust Of the Worlds People
mersion a Saving Ordinance.


people marked by peculiar notions. beliefs
and customs.
In the Valley of Virginia a peculiar sect
called Dunkards, who are law unto them
selves, is represented by several thousand
adherents. They form among themselves
a kind of religious communism, and pos
sess and practice some unique customs
which they defend, and to which they adj
here with a tenacity worthy OF the Ia
mented Pilgrim Fathers. They hold the
Bible responsible for their odd belief, and
endeavor to literally follow its teachings
They are not apostles Of the higher criti-
cism however, and some of their inter-
pretations Of holy Scripture express, per-
haps, closer conformity to the letter
which killeth than to the spirit which
maketh alive.
This conscientious endeavor for literal
ism brings into some Of their customs
curious flavor of orientalism and Is re-
sponsble in some cases for transplanting
into temperate America Of the manners
of far away Judea, whose ways never
change. The admonition of one OF the
saints about greeting each other with
holy kiss they interpreted as an impera-
tive command and attempted to practice
this form of salutation which seems right
flowing robes, but among American farm
ers--it was simply grotesque. And, them
complications arose. Some Of the brethren
insisted that it was quite as proper to
kiss the sisters as to confine the custom
to the masculine part of the fraternity.
They argued that there was nothing TO
show that the scriptural injunction did not
include women. But the women objected,
and so this practice is often ignored.
The church forbids it's members to go to
law one with another. 1t is sin. But they
are at liberty to defend themselves by law
should a suit be brought by a gentle.
1t is against their rules to accept interest
for loaned money. 1t Is acceding to the
spirit of worldliness. This is more than
human nature in the guise of money
lender can stand, however, and there are
those who favor a more figurative inter-
probation of the words of the psalmist
about usury OF course they only lend
to members of their own sect on these
terms.
OTHER SINFUL PRACTICES.
They are apt to regard the wearing OF
artificial teeth as a sinful practice. But
no text of the Scripture could be produced
which forbade this tribute to STYLE" and
owing to this oversight the sisters are al
lowed to adorn themselves in this manner
If 1t becomes necessary The wearing OF
gold ornaments is strictly forbidden. The
men wear broad-brimmed soft hats and
shave only the mustache. The women are
not allowed to wear hats but must cover
their heads with unsightly sunbonnets. and
cruelty deny themselves all the rufiies and
jewels and fripperies usually supposed to
be indispensable to feminine happiness.
The older women on Sunday wear little
white, close-ftting caps. made of Swiss
muslin, and when in church remove their
bonnets. Some women look demure and
picturesque in such caps, but that isn't
the reason they wear them; but because
ST. Paul-who was hard on women, being
a confirmed bachelor-commanded them not
to pray or prophesy with uncovered heads.
The Dunkards believe in what they call
trine Immersion; that is, no soul can hope
to enter the realms of the blest unless
the body has been plunged three times
face downward into the water This is enc
of their cardinal points of doctrine, and
they hold that if there is any chance at
all for other denominations to see future
glory the Baptists will come first
Their ideal Of personal conduct is high
one. They are temperate to abstemious-
ness, Industrious, economical, and, natur-
ally, prosperous. Carlyle's gospel of work
is theirs, but probably few Of them ever
heard of Mr.. Carlyle, for book-learning is
something of which they do not unani-
mously approve, though of late years they
have made progress in this line. They
have established a number of schools which
are conducted exclusively for and by MEM
bers Of their own church. They take no
risks on outside contamination. 1t was
serious question whether they should intro
duce in these a course of instruction in
music and painting, as some of the ven
cradle fathers OF the church regard these
things as worldly in tendency. Many of
these older members look upon the piano
and fiddle as among the choicest methods
Of Satan to lure the soul from righteous
ness. They do not allow organs in their
churches. Ministers are chosen from the
laity by the elders. A minister is expected
to support himself-he is usually farmer
and receives nothing for his labors as a.
shepherd to his flock. Under these con-
ditions, as might be expected, a man loses
something Of effectiveness in the pulpit
The sermons are usually expostions of
their peculiar doctrines and can oftenest
be summed up as nineteen good
reasons why am right and some
body else is wrong. These sermons
however, must De means or grace to
those who listen, for they certainly breed
an enviable fiber OF endurance The perse-
verance of the saints to the final hymn
is virtue worthy Of emulation.
THE ANNUAL LOVE FEAST.
One Of the important observances of the
church is the annual love feast-a solemn
religious festivity. Each plain church has
its kitchen provided with great kettles and
plain dishes for this purpose. When the
occasion is al hand, after a day of prea CHI
ing. lamb is killed and clear soup made
into which bread is broken. and then served
in great bowls placed on long and very
narrow tables, at each side Of which sit
the participants. Four persons eat from
each bowl. After the broth is eaten the
rite of feet-washing is observed A small
tub and towel passed along as they
sit at the narrow tables and each washes
another's feet Such q feast as this Is a
strange. almost dramatic sight. The plain
interior of the church, the austere manners
of the people, their severe style of dress.
absolutely without ornament, the solemn
character of the observance-all has In IL
something suggestive OF a primitive time.
perhaps recalls the feasts OF the Jews. or
brings back the thought OF Puritan Sc
verify. No Puritan of stern Oliver Crom-
wells time could have held amusements in
| greater adherence than do these simple
| country folk. They hold themselves and
their children firmly apart from It that