Year: 1877

Friends. They are generally able 10 re-
cognize each other BY their dress, and have
for many years had that order among them.
and il may be worthy Of note here to re-
mark that all the congregations that hold
to that order are srill plain in their man.
ner Of dressing. The fundamental princi-
pie among them is that Of entire plainneas
and abstaining from all useless ornaments.
No jewelry, or anything merely for orna-
ment, is allowed.


TEMPERANCE.


On the subject Of temperance they are
the strongest Of teetotallers and claim to
be the Oldest temperance society in the
United States. They forbid the use Of all
alcoholic or malt liquors as a beverage, in
public or private, and have a decision Of
the National Conference that Il shall be
cause for accommodation They per
NIT the use Of It for strictly medicinal and
mechanical purposes only. They 70 farth-
er than this and forbid members to be ia
any way interested in the traffic Of liquors
Of any kind, or to sell any grain or other
article used in spirituous liquors TO any
manufacturer or 70 any person that will
use il for manufacturing purposes. They
would not, under any circumstances, hold
a saloon keeper as member Of the church.


THE POOR.


They make ample provision for the
support Of their own poor, aud 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 prevented, as should be
the case in every religious denomination.


LITERATURE.


They publish several periodicals and a
few standard works, but admit themselves
to be deficient in proper Church litera-
ture; but now that the want Is felt aud
acknowledged, active measures win proba-
bly, be taken to supply it, and give to tho
Church the means Of information concern
ing their past and present history aud
Church polity, 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 considerable learning,
and are doing noble work in reforming
the people and converting the world.
Their doctrine is spreading rapidly, and
should they as religious body continue
TO advocate and practice plainness in all
thin0a and onroua kho eura~a,..t... -. 4
vanities Of the world and live close to the
teaching Of the Holy Scripture, they are
destined to become a 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 faith and prac-
tice:


And maintain that the sovereign, un-
merited, unsolicited grace Of God, is the
only source Of pardon, and
That the vicarious suffering and meri.
torious work Of Christ are the only price
Of pardon:


That Faith, Repentance and Baptism,
are conditions Of pardon, and hence fol
the remission Of sins


That the Holy Scriptures teach but one
valid baptism, and that is the immersion
Of truly peniteut believer three times
J face-forward as taught in Matthew 28 10,
and also maintain that this method was
the general practice Of Christendom during
the first centuries Of the Christian church:
That Feet-washing as taught in John
) IL, is divine command 10 be observed
in the church;


That the Lords Supper is full even
ing meal; was, in connection with Feet
washing, instituted by the Lord himself,
and in like manner should still be obscry-
ed by his people


That the Bread of Communion, and the
Cup Of the New Testament, perpetuated
in commemoration Of Christ's death and
suffering, should, in connection with feet
washing and the Lords Supper, be OBJ
served in the evening, or after the close Of
the day


That the salutation Of the Holy kiss,
or Kiss Of Charity, is divine command,
and as such, is binding upon all the hum
Bile followers Of Christ:


That War and Retaliation are CONTRARY
T to the spirit and self-denying principle Of
the religion Of Jesus Christ, and that no
Christian has the right to take up arms to
shed the blood Of bis fellowmen:
That in public worship, or religious ex-
ercises, Christians should appear as direct
ed in /. Cor. IL A, s:


That Non-conformity to the world ia
our dress, customs, daily walk and con.
versation is essential to true holiness and
Christian piety:


That the Amounting Of the sick with
oil in the name of the Lord, is q religious
privilege and duty, cnjoined upon Gods
people.


In short, it is one Of the distinctive
| features vf their doctrine TO advocate and
s strictly observe all things that Christ and
, the apostles have enjoined in their teach.
| inU and y,ranfioa