The times., 1901-06-09
THE DUNKARD FRATERNITY
Faith and Works of a Curious Re
ligiOus Community.
TiIIinE the Soil Their Principal Oc-
cupntiOn - Opposed to War and
Have No Interest in Politics.
Origin and Progress of the Sect.

cupntiOn Opposed to War and
Have No Interest ia Politics.
Origin and Progress of the Sect.
Out at Lincoln, Neo, 1000 men and wo-
men in broad brimmed white hats and
grey sunbonnets, who never go to law
take no share in politics. and are entirely
opposed to war, are attending great ma
tional conference. They are the delegates
Of the churches of the Dunkards all over
the country, and they represent one Of
the most picturesque and remarkable Of
religious movements.
These Dunkards are inclined TO live to-
gether in communities, though this is less
pronounced than formerly. They are cut
! off from the rest of the world not only
| by their peculiar dress but by many of
/ the religious beliefs and observances.
( Altogether they now number more than
! 10000 members. though there is not much
! if any growth in their numbers of recent
/ years. The young people who grow up in
the denomination seem to be more and
more inclined to leave it in recent years
for some faith which win give them more
liberty of thought and action.
Every congregation of the Dunkards is
entirely Independent of the rest and
elects its own deacons, ministers, and
Bishops None of the clergy is paid a
regular salary but if he is F0or the
church members viii contribute to his
support. When there are questions which
involve more than one congregation dis
( trict and general conferences are held.
and the Dunkards meet by the thousands
in the open air to settle them.
At every conference as well as at the
love feasts which are held in every con
gregation twice year, the first ceremony
is that of the washing of feet. All the men
/ of the congregation sit on one side OF the
meeting house and all the women on the
| other side. Then, as the candles are lit,
the members on the front benches re
move their shoes and stockings. Men and
women come in carrying tubs of luke
warm water, and man on the mans
side and woman on the womans side
then wash the feet, one by one, shaking
the right hand of each individual as the
washing is completed and giving the kiss
of peace. Closely following the person
who does the washing comes another per-
son, girded about the waist with a long
towel, who wipes the feet and bestows
the kiss of peace and the right hand of
fellowship in his or her turn. As one
benchful has the ceremony performed
another takes its place until all the CON
Sregation has taken part. While the
feet washing Is in progress the minister
makes a brief speech or reads from the
! Blble some passages alluding to the cere-
! mOny.
In the meeting houses the back Of every
| third bench is so arranged that it can be
| turned on a pivot and transformed into a
! table, about which the faithful gather for
! the sacrament of the Lords supper The
/ pew back Is covered with a White cloth,
| upon which are placed large bowls Of
! soup. Three or four people help them
! selves from each of these bowls After
this the communion itself is administered,
| and the services conclude with the sing
I ing Of hymns and preaching.
In case Of sickness among the members
! Of the Church. the orthodox members
| cling to The ancient ceremonies of anoint-
| ing the patient with oil and praying over
I him. Word of each case OF 4llrsss is sent
! 10 the elders of the Church, and at an
appointed time theS appear, pour oil upon
! the head Of the sick man, lay their hands
upon his head, and offer prayers in his
/ behalf.
! Baptism is administered in running
/ water and by threefold immersion.
! The Dunkards originated in Germany,
Z out OF which country they We're driven
! by persecution early in the eighteenth
! century They came to Pennsylvania on
/ the invitation Of William Penn, and in
| that State they thrOye and grew numer-
! Gus. Until recently Penns ylvania has
! been the head centre Of the Duukards,
! but so many Of them have. eTnigrated to
the farm lands Of the far West that the
| centre has now shifted.
| 1t was from one of the Pennsylvania
communities that sprang an even more
! curious and interesting development
| that Of the monastic town of EphTeta,
Pa, once a manufacturing and CONNER
| cial metropolis, now mere village.
! Nearly 20 years ago Conrad Beissel, Of
RGnkard iSd GorI,, parentage fa5i r Tss 6azed into
| man Of great study and pious zeal and
| he became convinced that the seventh,
| instead of the first, day Of the week
| should be observed as the Sabbath day
| He wrOre tracts IN support of this view
| and urged II so strongly that TO avoid
| trouble, he was finally compelled to with
draw from membership in the society.
| He retired into what was then a wilder
| ness and made his home in an old cave on
| the bank of river. where he lived the
! life Of a hermit Gradually some of his
| friends ard at bere y,ho we're cor,,iDcad
| that he haG he right way Of thinking
| gathered about his cavern. and in 1872
! communs'ic life was entered upon by
! those who followed him The men OF the
| society wore long white flannel gowns
| and CoWls, with shirts. trousers, and
! vests OF the same material. The women
! were atttired In the same way with the
| exception that short petticoat was sub
| sttuted for the trousers. There were no
| VOWS OF celibacy taken nor required,
! though the idea was taught by Be!sseL
| Both the brothers and sisters were known
by mOnaStic names.
About these two monastic communities
gathered d good sized community Of peO-
pie who believed in the doctrines taught
by Beissel and wanted 10 follow him. All
| property was held in common. and in
| few years the farm lands held by the
| community and worked by the brothers
and sisters became extremely productive
/ and valuable. Gradually also Touring
! mills, paper and saw mills. and woolen
mills were erected on the banks Of the
river by the community. and at one time
they were the largest mills of their kind
in the United States. The income from
| all these enterprises was large, and II all
| went into the cOmE1on fund and was used
for the common support. The community
! up one of the FIRST printing presses in
| the country to turn out its own books
| and tracts.
! Now the mills are almost all I'm ruins.
! The great estate Of the old community has
! practically passed out Of the hands of the
| few surviving members Of the society, and
! the last Of the brothers IN white gowns
! has long since passed away.
! The old cloisters, where the brothers
| and sisters lived until few years ago,
are now leased to a number OF families
1 and are fast crumbling into decay. With
| in their walls one will first be struck
| with the strange fact trat all the doors
| are extremely small and of the same size,
measuring exactly five feet in height and
| twenty inches in width This it is ex-
| planned b. the old DunkaTds who still live
| about Ephreta, was intended TO be
! constant reminder to the faithful, as they
| stopped and twisted to get through the
| doors, that the way which leadcth TO
! eternal life Is narrow and steep.
| Almost all of the Dunkards are engaged
| ia farming. They will suffer a wrong
| not accustomed to take any part in poll
] tics, though more and more of the young
men of the church are to be found among
those who vote regularly and take in