The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-09
A Scot of Strict Religion, Simple Ways, and
Worldly Prosperity.

'SAA
CHURcHTowN. Pa. Oct. S.-The theatre or
church hat makes no trouble at the religious
meetings OF the Omish. the Dunkards. and the
Mennonites. SO thickly settled in this part of
eastern Pennsylvania. Babies. little girls. biz
girls and women all wear caps. The black silk
hoods are taken OF and hung up in the vesti-
bules Of tho meeting house. The women and
girls sit on one aide and the men on the other.
The caps are OF thin white material. snug TT
ting. doubled and creased once on the back.
with q small rufle In front, and are severely
plain all the way through. All caps are made
on the same pattern for young and old. No
woman can look at another's cap and think
that it is higher priced or better than her own.
There is no millinery envy, and no one sitting
behind q sister can complain Of an obstructed
view Of the pulpit.
So with the gowns OF the women and girls.
All are severely plain. Of dark green. brown.
gray or black. The gowns are made as they
were fashioned q century ago. A black silk
handkerchief serves for a shoulder cape. "
shaped. front and back. No gloves are seen.
The little girls are as plainly gowned. Coca
~sionally q child may be seen In q purple or Law
enderdress. Some OF the boys have purple suits
The men all wear wide brimmed black wool
hats. The hats are hung up upon o standing
rack in the vestibule. Their garments are all
made by the tailor Of their sect. without but
tons. Hooks and eyes are used. and there are
no collars to coats or waistcoats. The hair Is
worn long summer and winter. and cut OF
sQuarely behind. exposing very little OF the
neck. Throat boards are worn among the old
men. chin whiskers among the middle aged.
but moustaches never.
Tomorrow Is communion Sunday among the
Omish. Last Sunday was preparatory service.
The Omish are of two kinds. one branch still
keeping up the old custom OF meeting at farm
houses. as was done hundreds OF years ago.
before churches were built in America. Omish
farmers and their families come driving for
miles to meeting. All their vehicles are OF the
same pattern-an ordinary spring wagon. top
covered with gray or drab cloth. and drawn by
q strong horse with farm harness. No whip is
shown. Arriving at the farm whore Sunday
meeting is to be held a half dozen men are
ready to assist to unhitch and feed the horses.
The wagons stand in a row and the horses are
stalled IN I'll the d larEEs and aa6.o connection aGds ow sts5i
| by these patient aud Industrious farm
ers. In the farmhouse ample preparatiops
Y T%;sb made msIa s on EEtid q a and Salf Sddt oHen farms gf ie
the neighborhood were sent to the meeting
place to assist in getting things, ready. for all
Children remove their black silk bonnsts or
hoods and sit IN one room the men cit IN an
Bishops Of the neighborhoOd stand between.
The elders sit by Themselves str9ng.faced
White throat boards. looking like patriarohs q
old. They carry their ages remarfaDly well.
s these d elders 1e GSH oae Is abls sh 70 a hasS d farm ds SSsF
a common-sense address, II called upon. 4
|aS%,g of Of i SISsrl BKi 4%iih pRIa ittiSEs s Sd r shs G41TSe
SrehSi Tesem blance; The bishop has long
beard. His apparel is similar to that Of the
other brethren. Reading Of Scriptures. prayers.
mony, involving Investigation Of character and
Tt14aipg 81 al Al %smGSes tn F fo Be- sidStRts Sd ioF T tSis
each member must arise at the preparatory
pented Of his sins. is heartily sorry for his mis-:
s SSSisfSt I. RSI M ;s, Sna asks sksIn iSf i f say ass In iF {Ss
congregation has a charge TO make against any
one else. or is unsstisted witha brothers state.
with a view to a satisfactory adjustment then
After the communion service. as well as after
any Ss9sr h eSTitSYii a. Hot coffee, cold ! roast
good sweet butter. pickles. cold ham. cold
tongue, pies. cakes and fruit are served; The
SsripH 3!so ~ /. ~ pnt sSaibseaasntly the men meet
together, chat over crops and cattle, and the
women folk gossip over domestic AFFAIRS until
The same followed at the farm
house goes on 81 the m meeting b aoSSs @is SS1SSsI TpidsSS
on this account. Some wanted a meeting house
and others wanted the old custom. Many OF
the meeting house supporters We're OF that
leaning because, they could not afford to have a
meeting at their homes and, did not wish to
accept Entertainment unless they could return
Il. Some who could afford II thought q meeting
house was proper for all concerned; they said
times were changing and the omlsh enStom
who had large arms kept together and main
tain the house worship. while the others built
meeting houses Some Dnnkards and Mennon;
ties have meeting houses with Kitchens and
dining rooms attached. and serve Dountitul
meals upon all important occaslons.
During these reaplng days, the harvest SER
mons are very important. the, prayers being
| Just as earnest and devout with wheat at u
cents a bushel as when " was $l.3S last year
about this time. Some Omish farmers who
! never sell wheat until a certain time refused
last year 81 so for their wheat and held 1t until
their regular season for selling and got only
90 cents. They have their regular set ways in
meeting and In business,
The preachers or Bishops are chosen from
among the congregation. When there is .
vacancy the names OF the candidates are placed
in SO many bibles, One Bble is drawn. and
the name 1t ~contains Is that OF the Bishop or
preacher. other places a slip 81 paper Is Put
tri6uted. Whoever draws the Bible with the
paper in it Is the chosen one, I b mar chosen
GraWaraa htnaaall for \ diaanuFaa nnaa AVaHW