The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-06-18

and picturesque mountains In short. | do not re-
colt CT OF ever standing on a more beautiful spot -
IN Tie top OF this beautiful mountain stands the far
famed Shaker monument-te mple-tsne or what
you please to call 1t. II is marble slab about five
feet high, very plainly wrought, but erected in
Subs antal manner, being sunk into rock and
fastened with melted lead. Upon the. south side ls
TINS inscription
1.-THE word Of the Lord.
Here !. my living fountain. saith the Holy One Of Is
rael and here 10 where shall my Kingdom forever
more to reign And from place shall 20 forth my word
and holy laws to all nations OF the earth.
And say, wh0soever shall to put their hands
upon this stone or step their feet thin the spot where
nave caused these posts to be up their
unciesn and their hearts impure, shall day or
curse which shall in my own time cause to come upon
, am Even the Great ! am-the Eternal, Almighty.
My word is truth-Amen"
On the north side of the monument is this in.
scrlptlOn,
Written and placed here
On the Holy Mount
by the Command of
Our Lord SAVIOR
July, 1912
Engraven at New Lebanon.
Erected here
July 25th.
Done at New Lebanon by command Of our Lord and
Savior. Erected here July 26th, l542."
Adjoining the monumen nj are f ve short posts. erect
ed about two feet hls and about elk feet apart to
which are fastened four heavy panks alpted white
making nve sided yard or basin, Of which the
monument constitutes one Of the sides. Around
the monument Is d very neat substantial fence
painted white, about four feet high, which en-
closes JUST one halt acre. This feacs has
Tour gales facing the points OF the compass
Leadingfrom the western gateis road about twelv.
PAGES broad, perfectly smooth and even, and
oordered on each side by spruce trees, about
sixteen PAGES apart. About forty rods from the
monument as you travel down this road, you reach
another gate, which Is opened with many cere
monies, as the Shakers enter it on their way to the
monument. From this gate the road continues
down the mountain into the Shaker village. When
arrived on the mountain found the brethren and
sisters on their knees In front OF this last mentioned
gate Alter engaging In seeming silent prayer, and
singing once or twice, one OF the elders very
lemnly opened the gate, and led the congregation
forward, each bowlng low as they passed through
When they reached the gate at the fence which
closes the monument, they again Frustrated them
selves and after going through similar ceremony
as at the Other this gate was also uncosed and all
Immediately pressed round the monument with
Singing, shouting, and with dances. As soon as all
had got their places, they commence singing b
chant, OF which could gamer only these words:-
ooh! Lord give me wisdom! Oh, give me strength b.
direct my needy children Oh earth."
AS soon as this chant ended, one of the Shaker
spoke with lord ,oice, and said. Elder Bro,her
VIII you give us OF the holy waters to drink" Al
aged man then stepped forward in front of the mo
nument, and dipping his hand into the Empty basin
he apparently applied vessel to his s, and tool
long, hearty draught of water, sitter which h,
handed It TO others, who seemed to drink their FL
even the little boys and girls apparent nine or tel
years old, rolled in their fingers, and appeared Il
drink with as much satisfaction as they would hav
lone, had it been real water, and dare say 1. er
was a sufficient stretch OF the Imagination In then
cases TO make them really believe they were takns
down draughts of pure and holy water; or there ma,
possibly have been something in 1t. which we wh'
stood outside of the "hoIy ground" could not dis
cover. As soon as they had all drank their fill
another Shaker cried, " Elder brother will you
wash us with the holy watersT' The same old man
then appeared to take up water in his hands, and
throw it over those who stood next to him. passins
round the basn and serving those who stood mex
TO him as he passed them. They have the art #
imitation very perfect, or they did in reality feel the
Waters rushing over them, tor every gave shuo
der, and made every motion that q person would If
cold stream of water should be thrown over hem O,
a hot day. And not only did il affect the persoi
text the elder brother, but all who stood immediate
~ behind were affected in the same manner, and,
they stood, / should think twelve deep. the hind
most person seemed to be overwhelmed with
rushing OF waters at the same moment with him
who stood next TO the i'm ginary fountain. Their
seemed to be something very exhlllratng in tn
drinking and washing with these waiers for the
Immediately struck up lively tune, CONNIE cina
with the words
"March ye on march ye on!
oh my beloved Children &C."
And forming four deep, they marched around thu
monument with quick step, and TO appearance.
light hearts. An old man then stepped out OF tn
ranks and addressed the spec aors wing that they
came there to worship the only true God, and mo-
10 bow down TO Images, or to do anything unseemy
in the sight OF their Creator.o He very politely III
vited those "who felt in their hearts so disposed. to
partake 18th them In their worship, could they do
so conscientiously" ''He was glad, he said, to see
his friends and neishbors there and hoped they did
not come to make light OF what they saw auc
heard" After giving us good counsel and advice
he stepped back into the ranks, and they commen
ced another quick step to the tune ofO
Gone GOMEZ my little few,
March to The land OF peac~
Press on 20 the living fountain, &o.s
Ayoung man was then led forward, who com
menced exhorting ~ loud voice, saying first, thai
ais name was James Wh,toker Now, inasnucf
4 the said James Wnittaker was one Of the a.
followers OF Ann Lee, and came from Englnrd II
the same snip with her; and more over died man,
years ago, and inasmuch also, as the young ma
who spoke is called Lewis lockwood, IL can Onb
be sccouuted tor except by supposng that the spir
Of Father James" had entered the body of IN,
young man, and impe,ed him 10 speak as he was
moved by the spirit. The amount of his inspratior
was, that he had appeared amongst the brethren ano
sisters To warn them from the evils vi the world
to promise many good things TO come, upon thos,
who kept sieadfast TO the faith But the great oh
l-ct ot his appearance was TO deliver 10 them Colder
chain with which to bind the Elders in bond
union, winch all the powers Of darkness could no
dissolve. lie declared that ne had the chain W i'll
MN, and ~ deliver it, he said "to this Elder bro
her, who is worthy to receive u" | did not st,
The chain, but dare say they received 10 as obser
we'd them very busy binding the Elders togt iher witt
It; and the texture OF the chain might have beer
very small, and too mlnuiely put together for the
eyes OF a worldly man" TO see it besldes,y you mus,
recolect was outside of the fence.
The other ceremonies were very much as they
were accustomed to perform while they held pub
TIC meetings at the church, except an exhibitor
which would perhspa look silly TO most world,
people !" yet there was some, thing solemn In it; ant
ds have no doubt that they are sincere in wha
they DO, and esteem it duty do 80, think ever
one should have charity, and not condemn to-
hastily, actions, which seem 10 US unbecomng, be-
cause they are something which we have been un
accustomed TO see. This exercise was the result o.
a. exclamation OF one Of the number, who SAID
" Father William says, let everv one euoeavof Il
' 'a,, as n'ucn IKE Tools as they can ano Jdos
rom the manner IN winch they complied with m |
y quest OF Father William. believe every one Ole |
helT bed The men and wcrren put their hnsers |
IN their mouths and talked giOotl zen 70 each other
wishing their faces and bodies INTO lIt most un.