The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-16
BAR GOLD RIMNED GLASSES
DUNKERS QUOTE TIE BIBLE
AGAINST THEM.

DUNKERs QUOTE THE BIBLE
AGAINST THEM.
City Delegates VINO Were Not SATISFIED
with Steel Franc spectacles Ex
eluded From Conference by Rura
Members or the Sect in Pennsylvania,
Germantown, Pa. May 1S.-Through
an Official act Of the Church Of the Broth.
rem In Pennsylvania members Of the sect
who wear gold trimmed spectacles and eye.
glasses are virtually. called heretics.
Tho Brethren, or Dunkers, as they are
commonly called, have always been OPP
posed TO all forms OF ostentatious dis
play. In the rural districts the members
Of the church adhere faithfully to the
old time regulations, eschewing all ornate
features Of dress or architecture.
Those who have come to the cities
and established churches there have
discontinued many Of these customs.
The men wear neckties and watch chains,
which the older rural members regarded
as denominations. The city churches
have organs and stained glass windows.
which are not tolerated In the rural
churches.
The city members believe they are
carrying out the spirit Of their chnrch's
teachings by avoiding exaggerated dis
play, but they do not feel themselves
called upon TO make themselves con-
~spicuous by dressing differently from
their fellow beings. So gold trimmed
spectacles and eyeglasses hare come
into common use among them. Last
year the two delegates which the Ger
mantown Church Of the Brethren sent
to the district conference for eastern
Pennsylvania wore gold trimmed spec
tacles. Because Of this fact the con-
ference refused to admit them.
The action Of the conference inoensed
the Germantown congregation. This is
the oldest congregation OF the sect in
America, having been founded by Breth-
rem who came to Pennsylvania early in
the eighteenth century. The oonsrega-
ton instructed the pastor, the Rev. M. G.
Swiaart. to prepare a paper for the con-
alteration Of this years conference pro-
testing against tho ruling against spec
tacles. Mr.. Swigart accordingly drafted
q protest, and 1t received the unanimous
sanction Of his church.
Several days ago the District Confer
ence met in Rheems, Lancaster county.
This time neither Of the Germantown dele
gates wore eiassee, n 80 more wac no
opposition to their admission. When the
opportunity came Mr; swieart preeenteo
his protest 2 explained the ATTITUDE Oh
BE particularly urged the conference
70 be consistent, pointing out the fact
that while 1t excluded men wearing gold
trimmed glasses 1t admitted many dele
eates who wore gold filled teeth, n the
teeth in some instances contained Tour or
v times as much gold as a pair OF spec.
out. but he thought the privileges which
their owners had should also be accorded
to the n Of gold speotaoles.
The opponents OF gold rmmed spec.
acIes little To- say ave TO assert that
steel frames ought to be good enough
for any one and to quote these two Scrip
tural passages:
!. peter. ~. 4. -whoss adornins lat II not
bs tn. ontvsrd adornin. Of plating ths
hs,, .nd n,va.rin. ~ .,,d ~ ~ nn,,;ns
80 ann. '
~ T,,rshs a.. 81,
49, iln,o,n'' =. ~ I mInnor a,so.
tnat uomsn .uoIn tnemseaves IN modest
not With broidsred hair. or gold. or pearls.
or costly array.
The conference in made up lar9elv of
oon1resstIons ia the Pennsvivanis Der.
man faTmins districts, and the d~eleeates
by an oycrWholmins vote decided Ia ~
turn the protect to- the GermantoVn oon-
EreEation without action, which was in
eject a refusal to recognize the right Of
wearing rojd trimmed glasses to seats
ia the conference
The Rev. Mr.. Svieart believes this
action Of tho district conferences does not
the sentiment Of the church Al
for when similar oueetions have
come before the national Conference
there has been little disposition to enforce
q narrow literal construction OF the
Scriptures. He therefore 10
appeal to the national conferences.
IN matters touching the Conduct OF the
members the Dunkcrs are moi Sovarnsd
by set rules. but merely bv the renersi
sentiment OF the church expreesed from
time TO time In its oonferenoes. The only
creed Of The church n the
Bible, and upon the literal infarnretation
NJ variailA naaea 0an NJ anriptr,ro ara ha.oJ |
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