The Drunkards, or German Baptist (in The Florida Peninsular, September 1855) - Van R. C. Wisner site
From The Florida Peninsular, September 1, 1855, page 1, column 6:
The Drunkards, or German Baptists
L. Harper, the talented editor of the Mount Vernon Banner, in taking a trip through Knox county, lately paid a visit to the German Baptists, or, as they are generally called, Drunkards. He pays them the following merited compliments: -
"We visited, during our absense, the Leedy settlement which, as most of our citizens are aware is a German Baptist, or, as they are generally called 'Drunkard' community. We make the acquaintence of several members of this denomination, and were greatly pleased with their plain, honest, unsophisticated manners. They are industrious, peaceable, kindhearted people, who mind their own business, and meddle not with other folks. From one of their number, Mr. Daniel Hendrick, an aged and intelligent man, we learned some interesting facts relative to the history, habits and religious belief of this people. They claim to be strict followers of our Saviour and Apostles. They perform the ceremonies of baptism by immersing the body three times under water instead of one, as practiced by the Baptists, repeating the words, "In the name of the Father - and of the Son - and of the Holy Ghost," with a long pause at each con???tion, during which time the body is immersed. They partake of the Lord's supper in the evening, which is said to have been the custom of the primitive Christians; and they also wash each other's feet, as practiced by the Apostles. They discountenance suits at law, and all kinds of litigation and contention, prefering to suffer wrong rather than engage in strife. No one belonging to this denomination is permitted to suffer want or become charge upon the public. Generally they wear long beards although this is not a matter of church discipline, but simply a long established custom. In a word, the rule of conduct of the quiet and unostentatious body of Christians may be found in the 18th chapter of Mathew.
There are settlements of Drunkards in the townships of Wayne, Sugar Creek, and Auburn. Their large houses and well filled barns show conclusively that they understand the science of farming. They never engage in lawsuits among themselves - they assist their members when unfortunate, and endeavor to live up to that golden rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
To show the Brotherly feeling which exists among the German Baptists, or Drunkards, it is only necessary for us to relate an incident. One of their members, who was an old man, and in moderate circumstances, went security for Shrock, the Holmes county defaulter. Upon investigation, it was found that the amount he would have to pay would strip him of his farm - all his stock, and that his family would be turned out upon the world beggars. The members thereupon held a consultation - each man agreed to pay in proportion to his wealth, and the old man and his children will not be disturbed in their homestead. This is what we call true Christianity."