The San Francisco call., 1899-04-09

They interpret Christs injunction liter
ally by carrying their petty troubles to
church for settlement. Differences be-
tween husband and wife and ill-feeling
in families are commonly adjusted by the
church.
They abhor a creed which palliates the
shedding of human blood and they will
sacrifice all their possessions rather than
do military service. They abominate fire.
arms ard weapons of defense of any kind.
Several years ago a young Dunkard was
put out of the church because he had
gone hunting several times in spite OF
brotherly warnings. In testifying in court
they do not swear but affirm and no
brother may join secret order. A Dunk
ard marriage bond may be dissolved only
by death. Divorce is unknown in the
sect. The church keeps it's poor, as the
members are all considered as belonging
to one common family. The Sick are
healed by the elders, by amounting with
oil, but in extreme cases doctor is usu.
ally called in. They are strictly tenn
perate and, in fact, are the oldest prohi-
bition organization in the United States
cardinal sin or the Dunkard doctrine
is unnecessary expenditure OF money and
display of prosperity or wealth. To
this end the sect presCribes a uniformity
OF garb. The five-year-eld boys and girls
are sometimes dressed as their serious
minded parents are. and the sight al
Lordsburg of five and six year old tod
ding boz s wearing long black coats,
closed to the chin, and su.nouuted with
broad-brimmed hats, at play with black
gowned and bonneted little girls. Is al
ways amusing to strangers.
Jewelry and decoration are not toler-
ated. The Dunkard is ever alert for fear
he may have some unconscious vanity.
For that reason he does not build fine
houses, do unnecessary travelling, get a
superior education and develop any ac-
complishmcnts. Very many Dunkard
homes have no reading matter but sew
eral Bibles and possibly a patent medi-
cine almanac. Secular newspapers and
magazines are unknown quantities in a
large part of the homes of the richest
Dunkards. The rules of government of
the sect make 1t questionable for a mem
ber TO have portrait taken or a portrait
painted
The Dunkards carry their religious be-
licfS Into Their eSery walk of life They
viii not give prom ssory notes except to
one another of the same sect. and they
seldom do that. 1he4 are proud Of their
word CT honor. They will not mortgage
their property. If they are needy aud
worthy the church viii discuss the
brothers. or sisters case in open meeting
and vote will be taken whether to ex-
tend the weak vessel financial or other
help. lazy Dunkard is an abomnation
to the sect, but a SEX and worthy one
is sometimes tendeTly rursed through a
generation.
young Dunkard who proves his in
dustry and honesty of purpose can have
almost unlimited credit in a Dunkard
community. The sect is very proud that
1t never let's a member get In the poor
house and that one of its members in a
jail is almost unknown. They have no
salaried preachers, but they are wonder
c.11lr y x1jf.
worship are Puritanically plain, and their
services are somewhat like the Quakers'
Meditation on the way to a life like
Christ's is a prime feature of their Sum
day services.
Work, economy and humility are the
goals always kept before devout Dunk
ard. They have no knowledge of the jovs
of life as degenerate mankind in Other
sects know them. A Dunkard who plays
dominoes, checkers, and above all sin
ful games with cards or billiards, would
be warned to desist or suffer expulsion
A Dunkard who danced would not be dali
lied with even that long. Picnics and
church sociables are tabooed. The Dunk
ards have never found that Christ said
anything concerning such institutions
quiet ride to church in queer square-cov,
cred wagons is about all the relaxation
that is allowed the members TO this
must be added visiting at one another's
homes. Friendly communion of this sort
is their delight; nor is it confined 10
neighborhood calls, for to it is due one
of the sect's most interesting customs.
Here is a little story which might be
called the sin of vanity. A young orphan
girl, after the death of her parents, found
her home with rich old uncle, a mos,
jealous member of this peculiar sect ana
a firm believer in all their eccentric doc
trines. He was very old man now, and
these beliefs had been so fostered in his
mind and were now so hardened there
that he thought the only salvation for
the soul lay in such adherence. The girl
was the daughter of q favorite sister and
he loved those of his own blood. He was
willing to give her the advantages of edu-
cation and gentle training and make her
heiress to his wealth If she would make
his religion hers and conform her young