The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-11-14
THE DUNKARD BELIEF
A Defense Of the Principles Of That
Church as Given BY Its
Representatives.

position OF their fa1th and particularly
that part pertaining to feet washing
which is practiced as a religious duty.
AS the News has such large circu-
lation among this faith and in order
that the public may know Of the re.
sons for their practices the follow
ing, which is signed by William Blk
Ter of East Springfield and by r. r.
Shoyer of II. ID. No. 4, Canton, is
published:
Editor News:-Allow us to give the
analysis as we have 1t from those who
do not practice feet washing as an
ordinance:
j. When Christ met his disciples
in the upper room according to John
13) they expected to have their feet
washed, by servant because on ac-
count Of people wearing sandals in
those days and dust accumulating OH
their feet, they did 1t for sanitary
purpose. Our desire is to give the
ancient custom Of feet washing as
recorded in the old testament scrip
lures. The following are the scrip
lures referring to the ancient custom:
Gen. 1874. LET little water
pray you be fetched and wash your
feet, and rest yourselves under the
tree. Also Gen. 1872, "And he said,
behold now my Lords turn in l pray
you, into your servants house and
tarry all night, and wash your feet
and ye shall get up early and go on
- Alon 4. Con
43:24: Judges 1921, Your attention Is
called to the manner this ancient
custom was practiced. The host set
ting water before the guest and the
guest washing his own feet
The next is by commandment of the
Lord to Moses, and taught as a re-
ligious service, of so much importance
to Aaron and his sons, that death
was the penalty in case IL was not
done. "And the Lord spake unto Moses
saying, thou shalt also make a law
or of brass, and thou shalt put water
therein. For Aaron and his sons,
shall wash their hands and feet there
at, when they go into the tabernacle
of the congregation, they shall wash
with water that they die not" Exodus
30: 1920. In Exodus 0:31-32 we read
that the service was performed by
Moses and Aaron and his sons, an
VIC see something like it in the les
son by our Savior. The command
ment was given for Aaron, his sons,
and their successors, yet Moses took
part, and led the way, as q faithful
leader, and servant of God.
So with Jesus. His lesson was for
His followers, yet He, as faithful
high priest 10 Him that appointed him
took the form OF servant and led the
way for all saints in washing the
feet of each other. John 13.
We will now give the Savior's own
words to show the difference between
the ancient custom and the present
practice of His saints. He rises from
supper laid aside his garments and
took q towel and girded Himself after
that he poureth water in a basin and
began to wash his disciples feet, and
to wipe them with the towel where
with He was girded. Then cometh
ut W TtItiy anu Clti bcltu
unto him. Lord dost thou wash my
feet?. Jesus answered and said unto
him, What l do thou knowest not
now? but thou shalt know hereafter.
Peter saith unto Him, thou shalt never
wash my feet. Jesus answered him,
If l wash thee not thou hast no part
with me.
Simon Peter saith unto Him, Lord,
rot my feet only, but also my hands
and my head. Jesus saith to him, he
that is washed needeth not save to
wash his feet, but is clean every whit
and ye are clean, but not all. For
He knew who should betray Him,
therefore said He, ye are not all clean
So after he had washed their feet and
had taken His garments, and was set
down again He said unto them, Know
ye what | have done to you? Ye
well for so | am. II then, your Lord
and Master, have washed your feet,
ye also ought to wash one another's
feet, for have given you an example
that ye should do as / have done to
you. Verify, verify say unto you
the servant is not greater than His
Lord, neither he that is sent greater
than He that sent Him. If ye know
these things happy are ye If ye do
them. John 13:4-17.
Please not well the manner of pro-
ceedure of this modern feetwashing.
First rseth from supper; second,
girdeth himself with a towel; third,
poured water into a basin; fourth, be
gan to wash the disciples feet; fifth,
wiped them with the towel. Alter
resuming his place at the table to eat
the first supper, He unfolds this new
service by the astounding question
Know ye what ! have done to you?"
What question to ask twelve preach
ers. Christ himself declares they did
not know, but should know hereafter
No doubt they know the ancient cue.