Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-04-15
From the New York Herald.
THE KISSERS.
A NEW SECT IN RELIGION.


All alteration, duty and observance;
All humbeness, all patience and impaiicnce,
All purity, all trial, all good kissing. "-Shaks'
went to church last Sunday; not the
richly cushioned Trinity; not the gorgeous
Duane not the neat ST. Thomas; not the
fastidious Grace not the incense burning
St. Patricks | went to private family
church. which assemblies in private house
at No. - Sullivan street, on the same
independent principle OH which Mr.. La
tourette has created his congregation in the
Bowery. AT half past ten ] entered gate
way, mounted stair, opened door, and
found myself in a small, neat rectangular
room, divided into two parts. with about a
dozen of ladies, neatly dressed, sitting a.
round large table covered with green cloth,
at the upper end of the room. | always
consider myself in civilized society when
find myself in the presence Of coIored bon
nets, with feathers on one side, or moss
rose on the other
Around the table were arranged about
dozen bibles and hymn books. AT the up.
per end, stood IA silver cup with two handles,
and slice of common bread on salver,
also a small box with an aperture. Outside
the enclosure, a number OF pews were cree
ted each having also a bible and hymn
book Beyond this was stove to keep the
apartment warm, The heather, the uncon-
verted and the pretty young girls, about two
to ten years of age, sat outside. sat among
the latter cherubs, as eager, rs curious, as
simple as the children themselves
AT the proper hour, the Chief Of the con-
gregation enlered-a tall looking parsonage.
He turned to the left, and after bestowing
kiss on one Of the pretliest girls present,
took his seat at the upper end OF the table.
He Immediately stood up, read chapter of
the New Testament, and afterwards said
"Men and brethren let us pray" A very
good prayer was the consequence After
this was closed he began sermon, which
was short and sweet This done, he read a
passage from the New Testament, author
izing the breaking OF bread u then taking
up the slice of bread from before him, he
broke off small piece, put it-into his mouth,
and handed the remainder to his left hand
neighbor The slice then went round the
table in this way, each breaking off small
bit, as if it had been wedding cake, till it
reached the Administrator at the head OF the
table. Another prayer and another hymn.
The Chief then took up the cup, which
was filled with wine, repeated text of Scrip
ture, put the cup to his lips, tasted it, and
then handed it 10 his right hand man, who
did the same, going. round the table pre-
cisely as the bread had done. The bread
and wine, it will be observed goes against
the sun
Another prayer, another hymn, another
small discourse, and then came the crown
ing glory of the whole ceremonies, the
-'Kss of Charity" The leader got up and
said, "Brethren and sisters, let us, according
to the Lords appointment, greet one another
with the holy Kiss of Charity" This said
every person, male and female, arranged
around the liable, kissed each other, right
and left, men and women, women and men
1t was not either mere dry buss of the
cheek, but regular steam-power smack,
that struck home to the ear most charmingly |
"a real meeting of lip to lip. almost !
said involuntarily-" CAD, wish | were
communicate for one day, by particular de-
sire; should take my stand right between
those two pretty girls in white feathers and
braided hair" but being only a heather,
sat and mourned among the children, be-
yond the onter railing, as the ancestors of
Major Noah did by the rivers of Babylon
After the kissing operation was closed,
the whole church fell TO work. and sung
pretty psalm ofpraise for the memory vouch-
safed in that delightful ceremony. 1t is re-
markabe that some of the principal cere.
monies in every religion are eating, drink.
ing, kissing, embracing, &c. The natural
functions of nature are invested with d. !
vinity which do hedge them in for reli-
giousness.
know not the name of this new sect
but they profess to reject all Catholic-all
Protestant doctrines and practices with equal
pertinacity. They avow themselves to be
actuated as the early Christians were before
Christianity became associated with politics
neutrality-suspicious., or worldly
ambition. They deny any authority ION
Heaven to build churches or expend money
In endowing clergymen Religion is IA mat
ter OF domestic use. Every mans house
ought to be his church, as it is his castle
every man ought to be his own clergyman
every man-every head of a family has
right TO take the Bible and form his own
creed, and to conduct his own ceremonies
Religion, according to this sect is not mo-
nopoly to be con6hed to particular set of
men called clergy. Such are the opinions
OF the amiable kIssERs,
Two SIDES TO PLoT-H will be re-
collected that few weeks since, under the
head of "A horrible plot to entrap female,
we gave an account of the abduction 1--WE
can use none more appropriate phrase) of
young lady OF this city, by fellow named
Nc Cllntock, who carried her to New York