GERMAN BAPTIST BRETHREN, known also as “Dunkards,” “Dunkers” or “Tunkers,” bodies of Christians of German origin, consisting of four divisions. (1) Conservative, (2) Old Order, (3) Progressive, (4) Seventh Day. The movement, a distinguishing feature of which is baptism by trine immersion (candidates are dipped at the utterance of each title in the Trinity — Father, Son, Holy Ghost — in the formula), arose in Swartzenau, on the Oder, in Germany, near the
beginning of the 18th century (1708). Alexander Mack, a miller, being the founder. It was mystical and pietistic in character, and its members, rejecting formulated creeds, turned to the Bible as their only rule of faith and practice, and for nearly two centuries strict adherence to the letter of the Scriptures has been observed. Religion is carried into all the affairs of life and business and social relations, as well as into all church matters; and fellowship, worship, work, conduct as individuals in all things were regulated by decisions of the annual conference, based upon passages of the Word of God. Nonconformity to the world was applied as a principle to the whole body of the Brethren in the United States, until the last quarter of the 19th century, when the influence of other Christian bodies and of general education broke down exclusiveness, and let in some of the spirit of the world, giving rise to the first three divisions, Conservative, Progressive and Old Order, described below. Under the dominance of this principle, the costumes of both men and women, the manner of wearing the hair and beard were prescribed, and fashion's decrees set at naught. Bonnets for women, hats for men, carpets for the floors, pianos or organs in the house, and many other things were resisted successfully for many years, in one way or another. When articles of wear and use became common the rule was gradually relaxed. At first colleges were forbidden and for a time high schools were under the ban, the text supporting it being Romans xii, 16, “Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.” Nevertheless, high schools and colleges came a little later, and are carried on both in the Conservative and Progressive branches. Like the Mennonites and Friends, the Brethren are opposed to war and to the taking of juridical oaths and restrain their members from litigation.
The Dunkards suffered persecution in
Wittgenstein and removed to Crefeld and to other
places in Germany, Switzerland and Holland. But their practices differing from those generally prevailing, the atmosphere became unfriendly almost everywhere, and emigration to the United States, beginning in 1719, soon brought large companies of the Brethren to this country. Most of them settled in Pennsylvania, whence they found their way gradually to the South and West. One of their number set up a printing house in Germantown, Christopher Saur, from whose press was issued the first Bible in German printed in America.
Among the peculiarities of the Brethren is
the observance of the communion as an evening
meal, accompanied by the ceremony of
foot-washing, the giving of the holy kiss, and the
use from the first of unfermented wine. Participation in slavery, in the making, selling or drinking of intoxicants, was forbidden before the close of the 18th century; also the use of tobacco, membership in secret societies, the taking of juridical oaths, and activity in politics.
The Brethren are simple, plain-living, devout Christians of the evangelical type, carrying on their church work in much the same way as other denominations, their form of church government being congregational among the Progressives and Old Order Brethren, with some modification among the Conservatives,
who give some ecclesiastical power to the
annual conference.
The customs, manners and methods of life
of the communities of which the Brethren
formed a part, gradually took effect among
them, giving rise to differences of opinion on
questions relating to nonconformity, and finally
precipitating divisions into Progressive, Conservative and Old Order branches. The Old Order Brethren, the strictest of the three in matters of discipline, withdrew in 1881 as a protest against relaxation; the next division occurred in 1882 when the Progressive Brethren withdrew because the main body was not sufficiently liberal in discipline, according to their thinking, and especially because it had departed from the congregational principle of church government.