The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-07-28

terrible chaps, those fellows from MIS-
sissippi; 'orrible beings! Wonder he didn't
cut your ed of, haltogetherp ~ b.
From he Kaiekey6oeksr for June.
SABBATH WITH THE SHAKERS.
am sadder if not wiser than when, some
FIVE years since, ! first attea,leda Shaker meet
ing To-day is my second visit, but to an
other society. Then it may be, smiled with
the rest at the ecccntricities Of Shaker devo-
ton. Now a blush for human nature is
prompted, when grave elder addresses the
Gentiles TO remind them Of the obvious truths
that this is a house and an occasion Of public
worship; that those who do MT like the mode
may stay away: but that there can be no ex-
cuse for merriment in those who voluntarily
intrude upon such worship. This is peril
nent--unanswerable. And yet to the unthink-
ing, there is spice of the ludicrous in the
look Of things, when, after half an hours in
termingled exhortation and singing-the whole
congregation Of the chosen not only joining in
the latter, but keeping time to It with their
hands--the suggestion let us begin to labor is
made, and the brethren proceed to diyest them
selves Of their drab frock-coats, as though the
should have stated before, that the brethren
and sisters come in at separate doors, and take
seats at the opposite ends Of the hall, facing
each other. When they rise to engage in
worship, the seats are all removed and piled
against the walls. The two parties are now
formed, each in a sort Of half moon, the right
lines within two or three feet Of each other
The men have at first laid away their wide
Is,., \ lnt1 ~ -, a~fnF,
during service; the women have put away
their nice plain bonnets, and appear in close
fitting caps, of snowy purity and Wilderness.
And now, at signal, the music strikes up,
to wild irregular chant, and the 'labor' be-
gins. The first movement is very simple,
consisting Of lively dancing march by the
whole company, up to the farther wall OF the
temple, and then back to the close vicinity Of
the spectators. The evolutions are performed
with extreme regularity and dexterity.
would have said surprising but it is not sur
prising that people do that to perfection which
they have been doing every week, and perhaps
every day Of their lives. We ali Know that
habits give great dexterity to the artist and
the mechanic, as well as the juggler and the
sharper. But /, who have none Of this
skill in Shakerism, may bslter spare myself
the attempt to describe all the doings Of which
was patient and deeply interested spec
tator.
The only thing strongly provocative of the
ludicrous, was the disparity Of age among the
performers. To see ponderous and solemn
three-score-and-te exeenling vigorous and
quick gallopade or double shuttle, for the
glory Of God, side by side with sedate fifty,
athletic thirty, nimble sixteen, and the tender
disciple Of but eight or ten years-all in per-
feet time and exact accordance with the move
ments of matrons--no, maidens is the legiti-
mate presumption-of discreet fifty, mature
six-and- thirty, and damses Of winning sixteen
what spectacle at which to smile or sigh,
as the heart should dictate. have smiled
once or twice, but am sure smiled much
oftener. They tell me (for / did not look that
way) that the daughters Of men who were
there as spectators, INDUCED to excess their
constitutional propensity to gggle. at what
they esteemed the abssrdites Of Shakerism.
Let me assure you, damses, that this evinced
neither good taste nor right feeling. 1t puts
you, beside, in very undesirable company. 1
have seen blockheads so dull, SO gross, SO
wholly animal, as to aggravate their uncouth
features into grin at the spectacle of a water
baptism.
Wilder and louder swells the music quick
or and more intricate becomes the labor
Now all are prancing around the room, in
double file, to melody as lively as Yankee
Doodle; now they perform series of dexte-
rous but indescribable manGvres now they
balance now whirl one another round in a
fashion that could describe, IL knew any
thing Of our Pagan amusement Of dancing
But here is hiatus in my education. only
know that some ofthe 1abor,'* here performed
would do no discredit to the few bathrooms
have glanced into far exceeding the perform
ance in those, in point Of regularity and pre-
cision, and not falling short in grace. The
ball dress is of course rather in contrast but
the unmistakeable earnestness and devotion Of
these selimortifying worshppcrs render theirs
by far the more interesting, and will hope edi-
flying performance. We hear Of people cru
cifying their sinful affections, every where it
is here alone that we are permitted TO observe
the process. Here alone do we overlook the
battle-ground of war against all carnal inn
pulses the holy war Of King Shaddai upon
Diabolus the sanctify ing devotions Of a COM
munity of men and women who have cast
from them forever the master-passion Of hui
mainly, and esteem themselves already enroll
ed in the company Of the just made perfect.
Tell me not, Skeptic, that this may be pre-
tence or delusion ; say not TO me that beneath
those homely garments beat hearts susceptible
Of other fires than those Of devotion; pretend
Apropos Of the labor Of dancing. kind
friend, Che prihcc-regent OF story tellers, Whoa
murrain on him always forestalls the market with
the latest and bes) having our personal welfare
much at heart, gave us recent occasion, The an
nexed admonitory anecdote, we stood waiting for
n Neid ntpr in mad at
party 81 sumptuous ball" said he, twas once
given by the English officers and residents al Can