The Afro-American advance., 1900-11-10
A UNIQUE CELEBRATION.
Ths sehwsnkfrIasr., Of rran.y,.
nenRtousIy Ofsserse Thsfx
IGDth AnnlseFsarv

A uniqne celebration. whose obsery.
ance cannot be dup.icatee IN the
world. took place recently in the little
schwenkfeltler meeting house at
KraussdaIe, near where Berka. Le-
high aud Hont gomery counties join.
The occasion. says Reading Pal
special TO the New York Tribune. was
the one hundred and sixty-sixth anni-
versary of the landing OF the fore.
fathers OF the schwenkfelders in PHIL
adelphia. The festival was quaint aud
interesting. All the members of the
society were presept~ In the forenoon
there were religious services. and a
portion OF the history of the society
sus read. At f2 o'clock all were In
vited TO partalke Of luncheon, con-
sistfng Of fresh rye bread, sweet and
handsomely printed butter and the
choicest apple butter Nothing be-
yond these articles were offered; but
these were of the best, and there vas
enough for allZIt is said that the
simplicity of the food Is intended 10
call to mind the priYation Of the fore
fathers. In the afternoon there were
further religious services; then the
brethren shook hands and departed.
They are almost exclusively n rural
people.
THE speedy dissolution OF the
schwenkfelder society has frequent.
~ been prophesied. but it continues
TO live on. Though too small 10 en-
gage extensively in philanthropic
work, il has frequently sent hand
some contributions TO The missionaries
Of other denominations.
The Sehwenkfelders are little
company. but are not on that account
unworthy OF attention. Though of
European origin six little congrega-
tions In Pennsylvania are their only
settlements in all the world. With
a history Of more than 900 years. they
have hardly more than 400 members.
Their natural increase hardly COM
pensatcs for Inevitable losses. ard the
admission of II member from the out
side world in nn event OF extreme rar-
ity, In this happy community finan-
cial distress is almost unknown. for it
by some misehaace brother becomes
i'm mporerished there is an ancient
fund from which his wants are sup
piled, and II he is found worthy the
opportunity II given him for another
start In life.
To those who regard rapid progress
ns the only criterion af success such a
state OF affairs can hardly he intels
lQible Here Ia a religious COM
munity. wealthy and liberal, which
has never desired TO become large and
powerful. Rich enough TO erect fine
churches. its members assemble In
plain meeting houses, such ms their
fathers loved. Closely attached to
their ancient observAnces, they rarely.
IL ever, indulge In controversy with
outsiders. Though manyof their young
people have connected themselves with
larger denominations. the elders con-
tinue to treat them kindly. In former
days they wore religious garh closely
resembling that of the Quakers. hut
this has gradually disappeared.
The history of this little sect goes
back to the days of the protestant
reformation, les founder, Casper
schwenltfeld Won Ossing. was born In
1i90, and was therefore seven years
younger than Martin Luther. As n
sileNian nohieman he received in his
youth the training which was supposed
To be suitable to his station. but In
some way he became physically dis
ahled. and afterward devoted his atten-
tion TO theology,
lie was deprived Of his estates, be-
came a fugitive and died AZ Ulm, De-
eemher 10, 1861. where he In said TO
have been secretly buried In cellar.
I His followers were mostly Silesians,
dwelling In villages ON the slopes Of the
mountains. Ordinarily they were farm
| crs OF the better class, hut among them
were always a few men OF higher intel
! liHenee, who secretly conducted their
/ congregational worship. Aided by
friendly Ilollanders. 40 families at las,
act sail for America. where they ar.
rived ON September 2s, 1894, Two days
after their arrival In Philadelphia they
instituted festival of Thanksgiving
which has ever since been annually eel.
/ ehrated.
The earliest leaders Of the Schwenk.
/ fielder society in America were George
Weiss and Balthasar Hoffman. They
were good men. bat In no way remark,
able Christopher schultz was called
60 the pastorate in 1890. and bccam,
the actual founder and organizer OF the
American society. He was u man oi
extraordinary natural ability Fol
more than so years the chief pastoral,
was In the hands Of members of tn,
Schultz family, who were men of grea,
moral excellence and force of charae
ter.
wonders Of Forbidden Palace.
After the march of the troop,