New-York tribune., 1907-06-08
CHURCH AND RELIGIOUS NEWS AND NOTES.
DUNKARDS, OLDEST BAPTISTS, MEETING IN LOS
ANGELES-A NEW RUTHENIAN BISHOP.

The annual meeting OF the First Brethren
Church. or German Baptist Brethren, is now in
session in Los Angeles. where it convened
sbout three weeks ago. The members Of the
cb,,rc1, were originally called Dunkards, from
the German for immersion 'Dippers," and
.,s the Oldest Baptists in America.
large delegations of members from all parts
- the country are in attendance. among them
,,.r+in G Brumbaugh. professor of pedagogy
;. the University of Pennsylvania. and Mrs.
.,.r, c Geiger wife Of the late Dr. Henry
ce,eer A prominent Dunkard preacher. The
,-s-ioIs topics of the day are being discussed at
+le meetings. especial stress being laid on
christian Science. present day materialism, eX-
trayagance Of dress. and the demand for simple
forms of worship and church extension.
Professor Brumhaugh gives very complete
account Of the doctrine of the Church in his
History Of the Dunkards.' The sect was
founded by Alexander Mack in 17OS. when eight
persons were immersed in t1le River Eder
schWarzenau, Germany. They then and there
agreed TO lay aside all creeds. catechisms and
the like and TO adopt Christ and his literal
teachings as their rule of faith. They increased
rapidly, but suffered such prosecutions that
they gladly accepted an invitation from William
Penn 10 come to America and take possession
OF a free tract of land.
They arrived in Pennsylvania in 1913 and set
tied at Germantown. establishing their historical
Mother Church there in 1724. This church
IS still standing they built it, IN German
town avenue. occupying an elevated site which
Overooks the nearby valley and hills Its foun-
dation was due principally 70 Christopher Sow
er the first German Baptist bishop and the
first colonial publisher who printed in Ger
mantown in 17s8 the first German Bible printed
IN this country With the exception of Eliots
Indian Bible. this Bible was the first Bible of
any language printed in America.
The old church celebrated its 1SOth anniver-
ssTy in 1904 Its exterior is exactly the same.
having withstood the shot and shell of Revolu-
tionary times, and standing silent witness Of
many thrilling events and scenes in that his
toric neighborhood. Services are still held
there every Sunday. and many pilgirinages are
made 70 il from distant parts of the country
and from abroad In the churchyard beyond
are the graves Of several heroes of the battle
Of Germantown Harriet Livermore who. born
in New Hampshire in 17SS and becoming con-
vert to the Dunlzard faith. preached her first
sermon in the old church. is also buried there.
The next church erected by the sect was In
Crown street, Philadelphia. in 1913. Later a
larger structure was built in North Broad street
OF which the Rev. T T Myers has been pastor
ior nearly twenty years. There are congrega-
tons Of the church also all through Pennsyi-
Ianis, New Jersey, Virginia and throughout the
South and West. IN Brooklyn there are two
missions. which were started in 1892 one at
95th street and Third avenue, and another in
Sout esS5rooklyn. a church costing S6.S00 is
ana Fourth avenues. Brooklyn.
Inc MISSION work Of the church extends into