THE SAXON BROTHERHOODS—NEIGHBORHOODS AND VILLAGE HANN.
Among the curiosities I picked up in the course of my wanderings
about Saxon villages is a large zinc dish sixteen inches in diameter,
curiously engraved and inscribed. On the outside rim there is a running
pattern of hares and stags; on the inside a coat-of-arms, and this
inscription:
“NEU JAHRS GESCHENK VON DER
EHRLICHEN BRUDERSCHAFT.[10]
ALT GESEL GEORG BAYR,
JUNGER TOMAS FRAYTAG
1791.”
The dish makes a convenient tray for holding calling-cards, and its
origin is an interesting addition to the history of these Saxon people,
as it comprises two noteworthy features of their organization—namely,
the Bruderschaften (brotherhoods) and the Nachbarschaften
(neighborhoods).
The Bruderschaft is an association to which belong all young men of
the parish, from the date of their confirmation up to that of their
marriage. This community is governed by strict laws, in which the
duties of its members respectively, as citizens, sons, brothers,
suitors, and even dancers, are distinctly traced out. In their
outward form these brotherhoods have some sort of resemblance to the
religious confraternities still existing in many Catholic countries,
and most probably they originated in the same manner; but while
these latter have now degenerated into mere outward forms, the Saxon
brotherhoods have retained the original spirit of such institutions,
principally consisting in the reciprocal watch its members kept over
one another’s morality. Mr. Boner, in his book, very aptly compares
the Saxon Bruderschaften to the Heidelberg Burschenschafts; and
spite of the great difference which may at first sight appear, these
institutions are the only ones to which the Saxon brotherhoods may at
all be likened. In the towns these confraternities have now completely
disappeared; but in villages they are still in full force, and have but
little or nothing of their original character.[11]
The head of the Brotherhood is called the Alt-knecht. He is chosen
every year, but can be deposed at any time if he prove unworthy of his
post. It is his mission to watch over the other members, keep order,
and dictate punishments; but when he is caught erring himself he incurs
a double forfeit. When a new Alt-knecht is about to be chosen, the
seven oldest brothers are proposed as candidates. With money received
from the treasurer these repair to the public-house, there to await
the decision of the confraternity. The other members meanwhile proceed
to vote, and when they have made a decision, send a deputation of two
brothers to invite the candidates to come and learn the result.
Twice the deputation is carelessly dismissed, the candidates affecting
to feel no interest in the matter; only when the ambassadors appear for
the third time two glasses of wine are filled for them, and they are
desired to salute the new Alt-knecht.
The two emissaries then take place on either side of the newly chosen
leader and drink his health, with the words, “Helf Gott, Alt-knecht.”
They then all proceed back to the assembly-room, where the senior
candidate says,
“God be with you, brother: you have sent for us; what do you want?”
The eldest among the voters answers for the others,
“We have chosen N. N. for our Alt-knecht; the other six can sit down.”
The lucky candidate is now expected to play the shamefaced, modest
_rôle_, and say,
“Look farther, brother; seek for a better one.”
“We have already looked,” is the answer.
“And is it in truth your will that I and no other should be your head?”
“It is our will.”
“And shall it then be so?”
“It shall be so.”
“And may it be so?”
“It may be so.”
“Then God help me to act righteously towards myself and you.”
“God help you, Alt-knecht.”
The senior brother then solemnly presents him to the assembly, saying,
“See, brothers, this is the Alt-knecht you have chosen for the coming
year. He is bound to undertake all journeys on behalf of the affairs
of the confraternity, he will preside at our meetings, superintend the
maids at their spinning evenings, and will punish each one according
to his deserts; but when he is himself at fault, he shall be doubly
visited (punished) by us.”
Six other brothers occupy different posts of authority under the
Alt-knecht. The first in rank of these is the Gelassen Alt-knecht,
who takes the place of the Alt-knecht when absent; he is likewise
treasurer, and has the office of presenting newly chosen members to the
pastor. Once or twice a month there is a meeting of the Brotherhood at
which the affairs of the confraternity are discussed and misdemeanors
judged. In presiding at these meetings the Alt-knecht has in his hand,
as insignia of his office, a wooden platter, with which he strikes on
the table whenever he wishes to call the brothers to order.
Whoever, on these occasions, freely accuses himself of his faults
incurs only half the penalty; but I am told that this contingency
rarely occurs. The finable offences are numerous, and are taxed at
six, ten, twenty kreuzers and upwards, according to the heinousness of
the offence. Here are some of the principal delinquencies subject to
penalties:
1. Carelessness or slovenliness of attire—every missing button having
a fine attached to it.
2. Bad manners at table, putting the elbows on the board, or striking
it with the fist when excited.
3. Irregularity in church attendance, falling asleep during the sermon,
yawning, stretching, etc., a particularly heavy fine being put upon
snoring.
4. Having, on fast-days, whistled loudly in the street, or worn colored
ribbons in the hat.
Whoever be discontented with the punishment assigned to him, and
forgets himself so far as to grumble audibly, incurs a double fine.
Four times yearly, before the Sacrament is administered in church, the
Brotherhood hold what they call their Versöhnungs-Abend (reconciliation
evening), at which they mutually ask pardon for the injuries done.
Eight days after Quasimodo Sunday the Alt-knecht sends round an
invitation to all newly confirmed youths to enter the confraternity.
Their incorporation is accompanied by various ceremonies, one of which
is that each newly chosen member is laden with a burden of heavy
stones, old rusty pots and pans, broomsticks, and such-like rubbish,
secured round his neck by means of ropes, this somewhat obscure
ceremony being supposed to signify the subjection of the new member to
the rules of the Brotherhood.
On his marriage a man ceases to be a member of the Brotherhood, on
leaving which both he and his bride must pay certain taxes in meat,
bread, and wine. Henceforth he belongs to the _Nachbarschaft_, or
neighborhood. Every village is divided into four neighborhoods, each
governed by a head, called the Nachbarvater. This second confraternity
is conducted in much the same manner as the Brotherhood, with the
difference that its regulations apply to the reciprocal assistance
which neighbors are bound to render each other in various household
and domestic contingencies. Thus a man is only obliged to assist those
who belong to his own quarter in building a house, cleaning out wells,
extinguishing fires, and such-like. He must also contribute provisions
on christening, marriage, and funeral occasions occurring within his
neighborhood, and lend plates and jugs for the same.
The Nachbarvater has the responsibility of watching over the order and
discipline in his quarter, enforcing the regulations issued by the
pastor or the village _maire_, or _Hann_, and assuring himself of the
cleanliness of those streets which lie under his jurisdiction. When an
ox or calf has perished through any accident, it is his duty to have
the fact proclaimed in the neighborhood, each family in which is then
obliged to purchase a certain portion of the meat at the price fixed
by the Nachbarvater, in order to lighten the loss to the afflicted
family. His authority extends even to the interior of each household,
and he is bound to report to the pastor the names of those who absent
themselves from church. He must fine the men who have neglected to
approach the Sacrament, as well as the women who have lingered outside
the church wasting their time in senseless gossip. Children who have
been overheard speaking disrespectfully of their parents, couples whose
connubial quarrels are audible in the street, dogs wantonly beaten by
their masters, vain young matrons who have exceeded the prescribed
number of glittering pins in their head-dress, or girls surpassing
their proper allowance of ribbons—all come under his jurisdiction;
and the Nachbarvater is himself subject to punishment if he neglect
to report a culprit, or show himself too lenient in the dictation of
punishment.
Of the third confraternity, to which belong the girls—viz., the
_Schwesterschaft_, or Sisterhood—there is comparatively little to say;
but the description of one of these Saxon village communities would not
be complete without mention of the _Hann_, who, after the parson, is
the most important man in the village.
The designation _Hann_ has been derived by etymologists from the
Saxon word _chunna_ (hundred), out of which successively Hunna, Hund,
Hunne, Honne, and Hann have been made. A Hundding or Huntari was a
district comprising a hundred divisions (but whether heads of families
or villages is impossible now to ascertain), and the Hund, Honne, or
Hann was the title given to the man who governed this district. The
appellation Hann is to be found in documents of the fifteenth century
in the Rhine provinces, but seems to have disappeared there from use
since that time.
The Saxon village Hann is chosen every three years; and though but a
peasant himself like the neighbors around, he becomes, from the moment
when he is invested in “a little brief authority,” an influential
personage, whose word none dare to question. He is forthwith spoken
of as the “Herr Hann,” his wife becomes the “Frau Hanim,” and _euer
Weisheit_ (your wisdom) is henceforth the correct formula of address.
[Illustration: SAXON PEASANT GOING TO WORK.]
In one village it is customary for the newly elected Hann to be placed
on a harrow (the points turned upward), and thus drawn in triumph round
the village. The election takes place by votes, much in the same way
as the nomination of a pastor, and with like circumspection. It is by
no means easy to find a man well qualified for the office, for the
Hann requires to have a very remarkable assortment of the choicest
virtues in order to fit him for the place. He must be upright, honest,
energetic, and practical, impervious to bribery, and absolutely
impartial; moreover, he must not be poor, for _noblesse oblige_, and
his new dignity brings many outlays in its train. The modest supply
of crockery which has hitherto been ample for the requirements of his
family no longer suffices, for a Hann must be prepared to receive
guests; such luxuries as coffee, loaf-sugar, and an occasional packet
of cigars, must now find their way into his house, to say nothing
of paper, pens, and ink: who knows whether even a new table or an
additional couple of chairs may not become necessary?
Of course the Hann can only be chosen from among those residing in the
principal street, and it is considered to be rather an indignity if he
has taken his wife from some side-street family—a disadvantage only to
be condoned for by very exceptional merit on his own part.
It would be endless were I to attempt enumerating all the duties of a
village Hann; so let it suffice to say that the whole responsibility
of the arrangements for the health, security, cleanliness, and general
welfare of the village rests upon his shoulders. School attendance,
military conscription, and tax-collecting are but a few of the many
duties which devolve on him. His it is to decide on what day the
corn is to be cut or the hay brought home; through which street the
buffaloes are to be driven to pasture, and at which fountain it is
permitted for the women to wash their linen. He must assure himself
that no cart return to the village after the curfew-bell has sounded;
that the night-watchmen—one in each neighborhood—are punctual in
going their rounds; and that the Nachbarväter make discreet and worthy
use of their authority.
FOOTNOTES:
[10] New-year’s gift from the honorable brotherhood.
[11] The late King of Bavaria, Ludwig II., made an attempt at reviving
these brotherhoods, such as they existed in Germany in the Middle
Ages. He himself was the head of the confraternity, and designed the
costumes to be worn by its members, who, with their long pilgrim robes,
cockle-shells, and wide flapping hats, were among the most conspicuous
figures at the royal funeral last summer.