The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-06-11
TWO CENTURIES OF DuNKERIsM.

Inc SciCpidtioH tiiiS a. DNS
Moines, of the anniversary of the estab-
lishment ofemhat is known under the
various names oia Dunkers. Dunkards
and Tunkers6 German baptist Brethren,
and simply Brethren. This last is the
term among themselves. They are
closely akin in beliefs and practice to
the Mennonhes ossaIAm!sh. The denom-
ination grew out 1of the great religious
awakening in Germany toward the
close of the 18th, century, and which
had its counterpart in England. leading
to the establishment of the Methodists,
Quakers and other sects.
AT that time the Lutheran Church
in Germany, being a part of the State,
had suffered the deterioration inevitable
in, State Churches. where its ministry
becomes part of the political system.
The ministers had no spirituality, they
adopted the clerical profession pre-
eisely as others of their families adopted
the military and naval careers-in
order to get a living. They got the
last pfennig out of their parishes. and
gave as little as possible in return. GER
tainly none of the spiritual bread OF
life.
Alexander Mack was an earnest
young student, and with seven similar
spirits used to meet together in
SchwartZenau to study the Scriptures
and take counsel as to a higher life.
They rejected all the legends and tradi-
tions of the Established Church, as well
as of Roman Catholicism, and took
the absolute text of the Bible for their
sole rule of faith. This led them. among
other things, to believe that baptism
could only be properly performed by
immersion in running water. This got
them their common name; "Tunker."i
which means in German. clipper"
The eight students organized a church
at Schwartzenau in 1908, with Alexan-
der Mack as the first church The
Established Church Immediately began
persecution. and in 1929 the con-
verts migrated under Macks leadership
to America. settling near Germantown,
Pa and organized a church in 1923.
This modest beginning was something
like the parable of the mustard seed,
for the church, without any effort to
proselyte. spread over Pennsylvania,
inois. Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kan
sas and North Dakota.
II is a proverb that Follow a Dunk
er and a ground hog, and you will find
good land Everywhere they areI
found thrifty: faHping the richest soil.
faith and rule or life are invariably
of plain German peasant blood. of
slender education ambitious of nothing
more, but who believe firmly in hard
work, close deonoffls, and absolute 'hoh.
esty. ~ 10 'h' 49, Al
AT the Annual Conference at Lin
coin Neb., in 1901. 25 States and five
foreign countries We're represented with
more than .gqloo,9ap Communicates in
720 differenteeonsregation They have
seven fairlyTgoods colleges. and publish
paper, ThaF GospeI Messenger, which
has circulation of 10000. The
Dunkers trouble sahe niseives not bit
about the abstract specuIatfons which
have been SO fruitful of consequences
to other denominations, but they hold
with iron frmness to a few simple prin-
ciples. The Bible is inspired and in
only rule of life. Absolute plainnessI
of dress is obligatory; no one can go
TO law nor take an oath They oppose
secret societies, the use of, tQbaec9,
and are strongly against the manu-
factureI Sale and use of intoxicants.
rived at the age of understanding, when
they are capable of belief, and their
formula is that given in Matt. 2S-19.
The great occasion of the year is a
feast, called the Lords Supper before
which the brethren wash one another's
feet and the sisters do the same for
their sex.
The Dunkers have been much more
successful than many denominations in
preserving their organization in the
have been troubled by serious innoya-
tons, and among the more striking of
these has been the use of lightning
rods, telephones. automobiles. and the
insurance of lives and properties. These
new departures were bitterly fought by
the older and more rigid members, but
the younger element succeeded in get
ting a majority and securing the APP
prevail of these.
Now more of the churches in the
larger towns are introducing organ
music, and the payment of salaries to
ministers. There will be sharp fight
over these innovations. There has been
also, an advance in the matter of law
suits. Now they believe that If at
tackled, they can make an attempt to
prove the rightfulness of their side
They VIII not begin a suit, but they will
appear in court with witnesses. If the
case is decided adversely. there will be
no appeal, as this would be engendering
litigation. Some years ago. member
in the PerkiOmans Valley was expelled
for misconduet2's and brought suit
against the elder, before Justice Of the
Peace. who oswaFaed him 800. An
| appeal wouidi n0sdoubt have vacated
| the proceedings, but the elder would