Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-02-16
THE NAuMeERe sEcrs.
Pecuiiarities OF Tic "IsooIx nnd eve,
End OF The Aurhnnaixf.

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and az the Anabaptists.
In Croghsn. small village In Lewis
county. n. y. are living what is lnown
as the Nausberg Sects. AS these PEG
pie regard strangers with suspicion
and are unwilling TO have any stats.
ties regarding themselves published.
little is known OF them outside OF their
immediate neighborhood. They are in
dustrious, frugal and thrifty people.
bound together by n common religious
belief in which baptism is the central
idea The peculiar manner of their
dress, which Is always plain. yet with
no attempt at uniformity. made them
an object of interest whenever seen.
The women dress similar TO the Ouak
ers, without ribbons. feathers or flow
ers to adorn their headdress. The
characteristics apply to both these
NaunberS sects-thc Hook and Eve
aud the Anabaptists. The latter call
themselves Evangelical Baptists and
practice baptism with adults or those
OF ripper years. while the Hook and
Eye" people include infants In the holy
rite. Should any one wish to Join them
they are rebaptized. no attention being
paid TO previous haptisms performed
10y any other religious body. The Evan
gelicals place little or no value on edu-
cation even for ministerial work. The
minister labors gratis and has not n
little influence i'm the equalization OF
marriages among the flock as to com.
potency. money matters. etc.
Ii sometimes happens that all the
members of family are not of the
same religious belief. Should n person
die who is not member of the Evan
gelicals and yet member of such a
household the corpse must remain in
the hall of the church during the serv.
ices and not be brought I'm front of the
pulpit. an honor that is accorded to
members only. They seldom have q
hearse in attendance ut the funeral
and their collins are of the pla inest ma
terial
To them crecds are only the devices
or men. The Hook and Eye" people
fastcn their clothing with hooks and
eyes, even the male members believing
that buttons are too snowy and exhib-
1t pride ia dress that should be con.
cealed. They have little to do with
outside people. bat greet each other
with the holy kiss after an absence or
on leaving for Il Journey. Having no
house of Worship. the Hook and Eve"
hold meetings at the homes of the diff.
ferent members They do not meet
with the Evangclicals. yet hold many
things In common with them as 10 be-
lief and practice. They have no fire.
arms. they DO rot so TO law and seldom
take interest for money loaned to poor
er members of their sect. They have
no paintings, photographs or pictures
OF any description TO adorn their walls.
The men are not allowed TO wear mus.
tachcs. to vote or TO hold office. They
care for their own poor and are care
full of the treatment of each other.
a very odd and unaccountabe rule
among them is that no man is allowed
to lock arms with his wife in public.
especially in going 10 or in coming
from church. Such rule I'm this local.
ity would lie entirely uncalled for.
However. the ofrcnse there is punished
by calling the offenders TO front seats.
known to all as seats for discipline.
They are an honest. God fearing pco- |
pie, nj peace with the world and with
themselves. They neither fill our coun- |
~ houses nor our jails. They are enti- |
tied to all the privileges and protection |
our constitution extends. aud our coun- |
try is benefited by their industry.-Uti-l
CT Observer