The herald., 1898-11-28
DUNKfRS' RITUAL
THE WASHING OF FEET AND THE
KISS OF PEACE
The Brethren and Sisters of Hancock
Street Observe the Religious
Rites of Their Sect

The sect of Dufkers, or German Baptists
have many pec&liar customs, among these
that of the celebration of the passover is
of primary Importance. The ceremony is
carried out according to the rigid letter oi
the Biblical law.
| Last evening the congregation of Dunkers
on Hancock street and many visiting breth-
ren came together and observed what the
laity term "a feet washing" from the fact
that the washing of each others feet by
the brethren and sisters is the most strik
ing incident of the ceremony.
| Six long tables were set, and at these were
seated at different tables the men and wo
men of the church. Men apparently form
only one-third of the congregation, as they
| filed but two of the tables. No distinction
was made in the seating of the married men
and bachelors, while the women were di
vided, the matrons being at different tables
from the maids.
| No distinctive dress wasworn by the men
while in the church, but on the street all
wore large, broad-brimmed hats. The wo
men, whether married or single, had little
caps of netting, fitting close to the heac
and completely covering the hair and ears
The opening of the service was most strik
ing. The benches on which the congrega
tion were seated were moved back from the
tables, while basins of water and towels
were brought in. All removed their shoe,
and stockings and the pastor first washed
the feet of one of the elders, who supported
him on the right and left. The ceremony
was preceded by the quoting of the scripture
describing Christ's washing his disciples
feet. The others seated at the tables ther
turned, one to the other, and followed the
example of the leader of he flock, washing
and drying the feet of their right t-hant
neighbor.
At the conclusion of the washing hymn
of the verses from the New Testament
which authorizes the giving of the kiss o.
peace. The pastor then turned to his right
hand neighbor and gave him the kiss, which
salute was in turn enjoyed by all those
around the table. The kiss was then for
warded by several of the brethren to the
sisters, by rising and passing to the tables
at which the feminine part of the congrega
tion was seated.
Before the bread was passed for the com
munion the authority for the ceremony wa.
given. The pastor then took a handful o1
the bread and breaking off a small part gave
it to each of the brothers and sisters present
with the formula: SIN this communion we
partake of the blood and body of Christ >
The bread was then eaten in solemn silence
by the congregation, after which another
hymn was sung.
A like ceremony preceded the passing oi
the wine, which was poured into six cups
one for each table, and passed from one tc
another, always going from left to right
until all had partaken. Another hymn
ended the love feast and the congregation
dispersed, after giving each other another
kiss of peace. The kiss, moreover, is the
common salutation of Dunkers of botf
sexes.
One sect Of Dunkers also has peculiar
method Of baptism, in which the candidate
is placed on his knees in stream of water
and is then bowed forward three times with
the usual formula of baptism.