The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-30
ShaE:ers' SpMday Meeting.

meetirS OF company OF Shakers, from the srce ty
at atIfSansn was he'd yesterday afternoon, in Miihsr
HALL Bowery. The company consisted Of three broc{a
and FIVE sisers of the order, who dressed the
peculiar costume of this peculiar scot. 1ho women vito
were all passed 2ie miedle age, had white clothes.
Their shovel shared bopaets wlAos their shaw,s
were whss their caps, which bore clCsc resemblance
to those Of widows white their coliws of course
were white, and we've complete imitation ef the square
turn DOWN Shirt collars by fashionable young men;
Their half gloves were white; their short hooded cloaks
white their faces of the spotess
color Whether this intended to pify the state of
celb7cy, or as is sometimes cied, chastity in which
they 1--we, whether it attributable to the weather.
the audience not informed twas probably for the
last reason she 'brothers might be said have
ignored the existence of white but for their coors
clerical neck tiesfor they also live life Of celibacy
II may be interesting the ladies that ohoy do
not patronze hoops, and that the skirts of their dresses
OF the lmpcs description, and looked as Il starch
forbidden article in the Shaker dispensation. The
wore long tailed light brown coats, the lower half
being according TO the most approved Shanghai pattern
and the upper half according to the Quaker out That
portion of the wardrobe which distinguishes the savage
from the civilized man--that garment with the muipl
city of names-does not differ from the pants Of other men,
and from this fact it is to be presumed tha: there
are religious differences marked b. that article OF
dress. But of all the peculartics OF costume by which
the Shakers distinguished, the hat Is the most pecu
liar. TO say that 1t is broad brmmed conveys idea
of the immense proportions Of its brm; il throws sha
dow over the whole person. aud looks like large
shade fattened out Aoth brothors aud sisters have
somewhat Purnca cast of features and the nasal
Wang IN the tone OF their voice for whch the saints
OF Plymouth Rock distinguished Take them alt,
very honest very sober and very industrioas comma
nity and although differing from every Other telNss
sect are very tolerant towards an denonlnltonl 0f
Christians.
The exercises commenced at O'Clock. Mr. FTans,
one Of the brethren, informed the audience which
bcIed from sixty seventy persons who evidently
attracted by curiosity. that the Shaker fraternity aimed
at simplicity in everything they did, that their form Of
worship was simple aud their music was OF the same
cha racer. After this explanation sister' stood up
and read the words Of the Shaker hymn, How sweet Is
the hour OF prayer" which was afterwards by the
simplest character, if simple means monoonous, want OF
lie spirit and melody. When this finished they
broke out III another simple hymn, OF the title of which
ne audience were LEFT in profound Ignorance and tue
words of which were perfectly uniusilgibc from the
make many converts by their singing, whatever they
may do by their creed. When the musical part
expedition Of the religious belief Of the society which
m1y be bteiy summed up a. tolows;-Al goo Is ret
eon, and religion Is the science oi the relation between
cod and man. an utn ate capable of perfection AMI of
attaining that knowledge 0f tie truth necessary 70 their
>ayauuu~aiv vatiun meaning 70 DC saved from doing
wrong. damnatun means condemnation ani con,rMGt.
ton Is pronounced or violation d conscience,
the first and second appearing o shr!-tth hst appear
ing IA the form OF man ana Tie second ~ he ufn o wo
man; Christ was spiritual being distinct from any hui
man creature he had come 10 introduce entirely new
order Of things; the spiritual being OF Christ was mle
and female, The Shakers believe ali perfect beings
Christ having made his hrs appearance IN tho form q
they also believed that he had appeared in the form
Of woman they reject the Trinity and believe only in
the duality Of the Deity, and the duality IS
culine and feminneal Shakers must lead life OF cell
bacy. In regard to other creeds, Mr. Evans said the
distinctions OF sect were nothing TO themthey loved all
and desired their salvation; they were much Of the
same opinion of Pope this subject who forth what
he considered true religion in the following couplet-
e.tlt. .1.t. .t.1n a.l,.