Year: 1877

= N4tN- 1hCN tAAS HO1t-kcci>(1ultS anu Will
not bear arms under any circumstances.
They believe in implicit obedience to
the Government They do not generally
take very active partin politics. They
do not approve Of going to law against
persons not members Of their church.
ana win not allow one member to go 10
law against another, on any pretext
whatever. All matters, Of whatever
kind, must be settled in the church
councils. They have no peculiarities of
speech, use no titles, and avoid by words.
The terms Brother" and Sister, are
very general among them. They never
recognize slavery, nor at any time allow
any person interested to become mem
Der of their Church. Their record on
this subject is very commendable. They
have no peculiar views concerning mar
riage, and do not restrict their members
to their own Church. They are strongly
/ opposed to secret societies of every grade
and order, and make membership in
them cause for excommunication.


Their manner of salutation is that of
a kiss in compliance with the instrue-
tions of Paul and Peter, who teach to
salute all the brethren with kiss of
charity. In this partic ular the sexes do
not mingle, believing the house of the
Lord to be house of order.


DRESS.


The prevailing style of dress among
them is somewhat similar to that of the
Friends, they are generally able to rec
ognize each other by their dress, and
have for many years had the order
among them, and it may be worthy of
note here TO remark that all the congre-
cations that hold to that order are stili
plain in their manner of dressing. The
fundamental principle among them is
that of entire plainness and abstGining
from all useless ornaments. Nojewelry,
or anything merely for ornament is
allowed.


TEMPERANCE.


Ga the subject of temperance they
are the strongest teetotalers and claim
to be the oldest temperance society in
the United States. They forbid the
use of ali alcoholic. or malt liquors as a
beverage, IN public or private and have
decision of the National Conference
that it shall be cause for excommu
nication. They permit the use of it
for strictly medicinal and mechanical
purposes only. They 60 farther than
this and forbid members to be in any
way interested in the traffic IN liquors
of any kind, or to sell any grain or
other article used in spirituous liquors
to any manufacturer or to any person
that will use it for manufacturing pur
poses. They would not, under any
circumstances hold soloon keeper as
member of the church.


THE POOR


They make ample provisions for the
support of their own poor, and never
allow them to receive aid from town or
county where the congregation is able
to support them. All their INDECENT
are well cared for, and suffering from
poverty among them is effectually pre-
vented, as should be the case in every
religious denomination.


LITERATURE.


They publish several periodicals and
few standard works, but admit them
selves to be deficient in d proper
church literature; but now that the
want is felt and acknowledged, active
measures will probably be taken to
supply it, and give to the church the
means of information concerning their
past and present history and church
policy. and give also to the public an
opportunity for more extensive and
correct information concerning the de-
nomination than is yet accessible.
They now have published among them
two weeklies and several monthlies.
Though deficient in literature, they
have among them some men of consid-
cradle learning, and are doing a noble
work in reforming the people and con
verting the world. Their doctrine Is
spreading rapidly, and should they as
religious body, continue to advocate
and practice plainnessi in all tbiDgsaDd
oppose the superfiuities and vGnities Of
the world and live close to the teach
ings of the Holy Scriptures, they are
destined to become leading order
among the American people.


The following


BRIEF SUMMARY


OF their doctrine embodies the leading
features of their faith and practice:


They recognize the New Testament
as the only infallible rule of faitn and
practice:


And maintain that the sovereign, un-
merited, unsolicited grace of God. is
rhe only source of pardon, and


That the viearious sufferings and
meritorfous works Of Christ are the
only price of pardon:


That Faith, Repentance and Bap-
rism, are conditions of pardon, and
hence for the remission OF sins


That the Holy Scriptures teach but
one calid baptism, and that is the i'm
mersion of truly penitent believer
three times fsce-forward as taught in
Matthew %: 10, and also maintain
that this method was the general prae
tice of all Christendom during the
first centuries of the Christian church:


Thas Feet-washing, as taught in
John 13, il divine command to be
observed in the church:


That the Lords Supper is a full
evening meal; was, inconneetion with
Feetwashing, instituted by the Lord
himself, and in like manner should
still be observed by bis people:


That the Bread of Communion, aud
the Cup of the New Testament, per
petuated in commemoration of 0hrist's
death and suffering, should, in con
nection with feet washing and the
Lords supper, be observed in the eve
ning, or after the close of the day:


That the salutation of the Holy
Kiss, or kiss of Charity, is a divine