Catoctin clarion., 1898-11-24

Miss Mary Troxel OF Thurmont spent last
week with friends in this vicinity.
Mrs. Mary A. 10y returned this week
from visit to relatives in D. p Creek
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Sketch Of the History and Doctrine of the
German Baptist branch Of the Church.
The following able and instructive article
was prepared especially for the ZEPHYR by
a prominent member of the German Baptist
Church:
"R'adcrs Of the ZEPHYR probably know
the religious body sometimes designated as
German Baptists, as they see them on the
streets; and they are frequently called Breth.
rem and often Dunkard. This latter title,
while not officially recognized, is accepted in
good faith by the people themselves Beiev-
ing in trine immersion, and being OF German
origin, in their earlier history they were
called Tunkers from the German word "tun.
ken," literally dippers, and this, given In
derlsion, has been accepted and generally
adopted after being anglcized into Dunkard.
While our public know in = general sort
of way about the Dunkards in our midst
there are some facts that are out of the ord-
nary when they are fully understood con-
cerning them. Briefly, the church started
in Germany about 1908 and emigrated to
America and now numbers perhaps $4,000.
The peculiar garb they affect was brought
about in this wry. About the revolutionary
era and even then the fashion shifted and
changed more than was deemed good for
christian to follow, it was decided to adhere
to one thing, the fashion then in vogue. and
thus it comes that this distinctive d'ess is
simply a continuation Of a colonial costume
"a replica of the dreas William Penn wore.
This is all there is to it, and is known among
themselves as tho "ordcr of the church"
The head dress of the women is pccu-
liarly attractive one, and nothing ever devised
sets off a pretty face to better advantage.
Recently there was some trouble in the
church about the compulsory wearing of the
bonnet, but in the estimation OF the writer
refined or pretty face, and both are common
enough among them. was never more grace
fully frsmed than in the orthodox head
covering.
A good many people imagine that the
Dunkard church Is given to agriculture in
the main and places no value on the educa-
tional or artistic side Of life. On the contrary
there is nothing further from the truth. 1t
would be difficult to specify another denom-
ination of christians numbering much less
than hundred thousand, and yet having
eight colleges fully equipped and thoroughly
we'll patronized. Yet this is what our Dun
kard brethren have while their publishing
house in Illinois did business last year of
much more than hundred thousand dollars
There are many authors and skilled writer's
among them, and some Of their literary pro.
ducts would be credit to any people any
where. There are hundreds and hundreds
OF college graduates among them aud not
few of them have been recognized in Euro.
pean literary aud learned scientific circles.
Their popularity OF keeping themselves to
themselves has prevented any display that
would lead to to their being generally known
Every element of training that enters into
the educational makeup Of Dunkard is
diametaically opposite to ostentatious display
and while not infrequently there appears tho
grossest misrepresentation of the people in
public prints, il is rarely refuted by any one
of them who knows. Whatever of modesty
is reflected by this, it often happens that
historical inaccuracy Is allowed to fasten
itself on the public mind. 1t is pretty well
established by the records that the esriest
Dunkards started the first Sunday schools,
while it is fact that the first German Bible
printed in the United States was done at the
publishing house of Christopher Sauer, in
Germantown. 1t might be well for any Of
our readers who happen TO have German
Bible at home to examine whether or not 1t
is Sauer Bible and If 1t is and is discolorcd
by hoof marks in its pages it is worth con.
siderably over thousand dollars. 1t appears
that the British soldiers stabbed their horses
near where Sauer had his printing outfit and
bedded their horses with the unbound leaves
of his Bible. After they had gone away he
gathered up the cleanest Of them and had
them bound, making a very valuable book
to whoever may have one of them.
Branches of the church exist in Norway,
and Sweden, India, Turkey, and other tor
eign parts, very great interest having been
taken in missionary efforts within the past
twenty years. At the rate the church is
advancing at the present time the generations
to follow will find the Dunkard not only to
the fore IN educational and mission matters,
but far ahead of the more observation-disclosures
and their work. As IS we'll known there Al e
three kinds of Dunkards in this community
known respectively as the Conservatives,
the Old Order and the Progressives. This
division was the result of difference OF
| opinion as to the policy Of the church, and is
net in any sense doctrinal In it's character. .
The Dunk.rd church in the city, and the one
known as Welty's belong to the Conse-va-
tives as do the colleges and vast publishing
interests herein referred to,
1t Is difficult to forecast the outcome of the
present forward movement of the church,
but 1t would be pity and great moral loss
to the world If 1t should result IN the extln.
guishnent of the distinctive features Of the
body as 1t appears today. Some of its more
prominent men are being alarmed and favor
calling halt, being desirous of preserving
the old land marks while honestly wishing
the substantial progress Of their people in 4