People's voice., 1900-06-14
WAYS OF TWO QUEER SECTS
Peculiar Practices of the BOOk-nnd.
Eye People and the Ana
baptlsts.

baptlsts.
In Croghan, a small village in Lewis
county, this state, ara hving what ART
known as the Naumberg sects AS these
people regard strangers with suspicion,
and are unwilling TO have any statis-
tics regarding themselves published,
little is known Of them outside Of their
immediate neighborhood. They are
industrious, frugal and thrifty people,
bound together by a 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
Quakers, without ribbons, feathers or
flowers to adorn their headdress. The
characteristics apply TO both these
Naumberg sects-the "Hook-and-Eye,"
and 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 anyone wish TO join them
they are rebaptized, no attention being
ptid 70 previous baptisms performed
by any other religious body. The Evan
gelicals place little or no value on ed
ucation. even for ministerial work. The
minister labors gratis, and has not q
little influence In the equalization Of
marriages among the flock, as 30 COM
potency, money matters, etc.
II sometimes happens that all the
members Of family are not Of the
same religious belief. Should a per-
son die who is not a member of the
Eyangelicals and yet member Of such
household, the corpse must remain
in the hall Of the church during the
services, and lot be brought in front
of the pulpit, an honor that is accorded
to members only. They seldom have
a hearse in attendance at the funeral,
and their coffins are of the plainest ma
terial.
To them creeds are the only devices
of men The "Hook-and-Eye" people
fasten their clothing with hooks and
eyes, even the male members believing
that bustons are 100 snowy, and ex-
hibit pride in dress that should be
concealed.
They have little to do with outside
people, but greet each other with the
holy kiss after an absence or on leav-
ing for journey. The men do this;
the poor sisters are strangely omitted.
Having DO house of worship, the
"Hook-and-Eye" hold meetings at the
homes OF the different members. They
do not meet with tie Evangelicals, yet
hold many things in common with
them as TO belief and practice.
Dealing in tobacro is against their
rules, and in stores where il is sold the
merchant makes al arrangement by
which a clerk takes care Of that part,
and so the proprietor escapes that
shocking and irreverent piece of busi
ness.
They have no firearms; they do not
go 10 law and seldom take interest
for money loaned to poorer members
OF their sect.
They have no paintings, photographs
nor pictures of any description to
adorn their walls.
The men are not allowed TO wear mus
taches, TO vote or to hold Office. They
care for their own poor, and are care
full Of the treatment of each other.
As in almost every religion, the old-
er members Try to maintain the dignity
of the church, while the younger ones
pay less attention to the more rigid de-
tails.
4 very odd and unaccountable rule
amos; them is that no man is allowed
TO lock arms with his wife in public,
especially in going to or in coming
from church. Such rule in this local
fly would be entirely uncalled for. How
ever, the ofrense there is punished by
calling the offenders to front seats,
known 10 all as seats for discipline.
They are an honest. God-fearirg peo
pie, al peace with the world and with
themselves. They neither fill our coun.
ty houses nor our jails. They are en-
titled 10 all tie privileges ard protec-
tion our constitution extends, and our
country is benefited by their industry.
Utica (N. ~ Observer.