Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-04-18
THE NAuMeERe sEcTs.
Pecuiinrioes of the "Hook ana Bye''
and of the Anabnptfsts.

~ tne "HnOb ana kuygTl
and of the Apabaptfsts.
In CroghaD. a small village in Lewis
county, N. y. are living what is knownl
ns the Naumberg sects. As these peo- I
pie regard strangers with suspicionl
and are unwilling to have any statis-
tics regarding themselves published,
little is known Of them outside OF their
immediate neighborhood. They are In
dustrious, frugal and thrifty people,
bound together by 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 theu'
an object. Of interest whenever seen.
The women dress similar to the Quak-
crs, Without ribbons, feathers or flow
ers ~ adorn their headdress. The
characteristics apply to both these,
Nnhmhcrg sects-the "Hook and Eye"
ana the Anabaptists. The latter call
n,selves Evangelical Baptists and
( practice baptism with adults or those
of riper 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 baptisms performed
by any other religious body. The EVAN
f, gelIcals place little or no value on e6u-
cation even for ministerial work The
minister lebors gratis and hs not a.
little influence IN the equalization Of
marriages among the flock as to COM
potency, money matters, etc.
1t sometimes happens that all the
members of family are not OF the
same religious belief. Should person
die who is not member Of the Evan
gelicals a1d set a member of such q
household the corpse must remain ipI
the ball OF the church during the serv-
ices and not be brought in front OF the
pulpit, IN honor that is accorded 10
members only. They seldom have
hearse in attendance ct the funeral,
and their cof;ins are of the Ile!nest ma
te-ial.
10 them crecds are only .be devices
Of men. The Hook End Kys" peopla
fasten their clothing with hooke ard
eyes. even the male ;nGmGers believing
that buttons are too sbowr and exhib-
cealed. They have little to do with
outside people, but greet each other
with the holy kiss after an absence or
on leaving for journey. Having 10
house of worship, the Hook and Eye"
hold meetings at the homes of the DIFF
ferent members. They DO not meet
with the Evangelicais, yet hold many
things In common with them az to be-
lief and practice. They have no fire.
arms, they do not go to law and seldom
take interest for money loaned to poor
er members of their sect. They have
10 paintings. photographs or pictures
Of any description to adorn their walls.
The men are not allowed to wear mus
taches, to vote or to bold office. They
care for their own poor and are care
full of the treatment of each other.
A very odd and unaccountable rule
among 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 a rule in this local
ity would be entirely uncalled for.
However. the offense there is punished
by calling the offenders to front seats.
known to all as seats for discipline.
They are an honest, God fearing peo-
pie, at peace with the word and with
themselves. They neither fill our coun-
ty houses nor our jails. They are entl-
tied to all the privileges and Profession
our constitution extends, and CIR coun
try is benefited by their industry.-Uti-
ca Observer.