The Washington herald., 1909-05-27

regarded as contrary 10 the Splrll OF
the church, even though the alleys on
which the bowling Is done is free, and
the bowlers do not even bowl for the
sugar"
The annual conference is remarkable
organization. It's dictum is final in al
things. II is as powerful in the affairs Of
the bunker Church as a Council Of
Nice. which promulgated the famous
Nicene Greed. was powerful in its day.
The government Of the church is well
planned for representative control The
congregation is the lowest body It may
embrace three or four churches, but It is
still the congregation The district is
second IN rank. Il Is made Up Of a dozen
OF more congregations Il acts upon
those matters passed on 10 II BY the con-
gregations, and in turn passes matters
Of general interest on 70 the annual con-
ference When that body speaks, the last
word has been said
One OF the hardest questions confront
ing the church is the matter Of dress
For years il has been trying 70 stem
the tide Of growing inclination on the
part Of its younger members 10 depart
from its teachings in the matter OF
personal adOTnmenL Especially s this
tendency marked in the cities and towns.
The rules OF the church are positive
against the women wearing hats. The
wearing Of a hat, II persisted in, viii
bring the wearer before the council meet
ing, ard II full repentance IS not there
manifested. accommodation viii follow.
Likewise. If is absolutely commanded
that the sisters shall wear the little
bobbinet cap, known as the prayer
covering"
The male applicant for church member
ship who wears a mustache is promptly
told that he cannot become member
Until he shaves il on OF grows a full
beard The wearing OF gold. either in
the form Of a watch. chain. or a ring,
is prohibited arnonz the members, the
ground for this being the sCripCural pas
sage which admOnishes Christians not
20 be given 10 the wearing Of gold, the
bTaiding Of the hair. or 20 following after
the vain fashions Of the world Refusal
20 hear the church on these matters Is
sufficient ground for accommodation.
This matter has often been brought
before the annual conference, and that
body has taken some action in connec-
tlen herewith, but il has not yet found
the way effectively 10 curb the ten
CGLCE q LLc younger ELEMENT IN LllE
church 70 cross the line Of demarcatiOn
IN matters OF dress Il Is claimed that
many OF their members forget that the
world aduires the man OF women who
displays the courage Of conviction. and
has most respect for those who stay
closest 70 the principles Of their church
The little straw bonnets OF the city sis
ter and the necktie OF the city brother
are frowned upon by the rural member
and he is vastly in the majority. the
church having gained but little fOothoId
IN the cities
N doctrinal matters the bunker Church
IS more closely connected with the Greek
church than any other. They pra slice
feet washing, believing that those who
neglect this have no promise OF saliva
ton; they practice tTine immersion, be-
heving that there must be a separate i'm
mersion for each OF the persons OF the
Trinity; they have as their love feast
what others believe 20 be the Passover.
holding that the Savious instituted the
supper as well as the bread and the wine
They are rigid sdherents Of the doctrine
Of nonresistance. and absolutely refused
q bear arms on either side during the
civil war, although they were. with the
Quskers. the original opponents OF
slavery.