A STRANGE SECT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1644, 10 January 1913, Page 3

A STRANGE SECT.

! THEY BELIEVE THAT THE WORLD' 1 I- , IS PLAT. ; : , . r; There are many: strange sects 1 in- the world, and one of the oddest must surely bo tho Amish community in Alabama and Oregon. A representative of the United States Government has just 1 re-, turned from a sojourn among them, and 'his.report on this peculiar people makes I • interesting'/reading. ... .' i The Amish already number several thou- • sand souls, and are increasing.' Original- , ly from Germany and tother parts of the ! Continent,, they _. settled /in Pennsylvania, j j and Central. Ohio, and-some years , ago i ruled Holmes. County, in Ohio, but. bci cause their children ..were compelled to • attend the' local 'schools' they moved to Georgia, and filially a large number settled in Alabama arid Oregon. *:' resent any education boing; , given to their children, and try to. minimiso any worldly- information their sons and daughters may acquire. All the men wear wide, broad-brimmed hats, and black clothes,. but no buttons are allowed ..on their garments. They uso hooks and eyes. ■ . ! .They believe ffiat the earth is flat,.never ri-ad books or newspapers, , and any news of the outside world comes' to thorn by hearsay.' They are , very religious, but think it'a sin ,to build a church, and their' Sunday, meetings take'place in front of the homes of members of the community. .'' • The: preachers are 'selected annually by lot, and when an Amishman is acquainted with the fact that he is to tafco his' turn at."ministry," he stays indoors and weeps for a long time, 6ome of them, even going into hysterics at the thought of having to perform the duty. The congregation is arrangeed in a semi-circle round the door of the preacher. After the 6ermon tho minister provides a feast, arid the juvenile portion of the audience dance until ' late in the evening. At communion service each man washes bis neighbour's feet. When a wed<ling takes place there are no presents. The bride and bridegroom sit in front of the "minister," who delivers a long talk on their duties and responsibilities, and the marriage is complete. Amish men and women only iparry for love, and divorco is unknown' in tho sect. : Farming is the principal occupation. When a member of this strange community dies the'.body-is placed in a coffin mado out of packing boxes, and is, buried immediately. " Tho neighbours ! flock to the .burial placel and sing over the gravo, after which they return to 'the houso and take part in a feast.