The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-06-21

Fans, SUNDAY. MORNING, Jun
| So it was all settled and the party returned
| to the parlor and galleries to pass the evening.
After some music from Mrs. Harvey, who was
an accomplished vocalist, the conversation
| turned upon the sect they were SO curious to
see; and Mrs. Stewart, taking her seat by Mr..
Miller, begged him for some information re-
:" This sect, replied Mr.. Miller, (" Originated,
split from the Quakers. They claimed the
power of seeing visions and working miracles.
Their oracle and priestess was Ann Lee, . wo-
nopIelk#~ She had the blasphemous effrontery
TO call herself the Woman Of the Revelation, in
whom the Divinity dwelt, as it did in our Saw
Jour, Jesus Christ and she claimed the power
of discerning spirits, and of being endowed
with the gifts of miracles and tongues. Her
followers still maintain, according to their
book, that she travails for the whole world,
and that no blessing can descend to any person
except by and through her. She was said to
be prohigate woman, but this, believe, is an
open question. At all events, between fanati-
she, with her followers, were driven by the
civil authorities from Manchester, and they
| sought an asylum i'll America in l774. After
several years OF patient waiting, success began
ments as their numbers increased in different
parts Of the country, where they have formed
themselves into societies on the communistic
principles, and are certainly industrious, econ
| ical, and very harmless. OF many of their Pc
| culiarities, of their social life and religious
customs, you will be better able to judge when
| being always increased from the more ignorant
classes is proof that fanatical, rather than an
enlightened spirit influences them. They have
no books in their establishments, except the
Bible, and such as treats of their own doctrines;
hence, there is very little chance of their ever
attaining higher doctrine OF wider informa-
| ton. And now, as we must make an early start
| in the morning, and have several preliminary
matters to arrange, l must bid you all good
night; saying which, Mr.. Miller left the room,
| and his example was soon followed by the
others, who expressed themselves ready for Il
The sun rose sIorio'sly. and gave promise of
lovely day. The carriages were filled, and
her dress, and u velvet riding cap to keep her
hair i'll place-as bonnet never will do
mounted Grey Eagle: and, in company with
her husband, whose escort she always pre-
ferred, followed the carriages.
The road over which the route lay was pic
| tnresIur in the extreme, alternating i'll hill and
valley. river and wood; whilst trailing vines
of grape and ivy, outrageous trees of oak,
maple. and clie>nut, made the ride one of cease
less beauty and interest.
After i"r,iillg branch of the Miami river,
which elected many expressions of fear from
Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Wheeler, both of whom
said that they ''utiuitrly preferred travelling
through water by steam rather than by horses"
they reached Il retired shady lane, bounded on
either side by bushes of crimson shumac, tall
| spires of golden rod, trailing vines of black
| berry, white with blossoms all interspersed
with large locust trees, the flowers of which
| made tie air redolent with their perfume.
FROM this lane, they emerged upon maca-
damiSed road that looked as if it had been
| beautifed by large orchards on either side,
| laden with green fruit This Mrs Miller in
formed them, WAS the farm owned and worked
by the Shakers. In few minutes, several
CS Al in Jew. "a, N hlr
capacious enough to hold an Egyptian harvest;
then, the meeting hoIlsc, AM, next it, Il large
dwelling, which was divided so as t" hold two
separate families. They We're all of brick,
plainly but substantially built.
Mr.. and Mrs. Miller. having visited the set
Element on previous occasions, We're well ac-
quainted with the principal members of the
society; and the men " had exchanged sam
pies of grain CRAFTS of fruit trees whenever a
wish was expressed to have them; and as Mr..
Miller cultivated his farm according to horti-
cultural rules, the Shakers were very glad to
get some ideas from him on the subject.
They knocked at the front door, which was
opened by Il large woman, dressed i'll brown
stuff, with yellow cotton handkerchief crossed
on her bosom, and white cap, similar to those
! worn by the Quakcrs, upon her head. She at
once recognized Mrs Miller, and invited the
party to walk in, not however, with smiles OF
cordial welcome, but with solemn gravity of
manner that denoted the performance of a duty
rather than pleasure. From a door on the
| opposite side of the hall7appeared, at the same
| moment, man. with hair closely cut, la con-
| vict, and dressed in suit of brown, similar to
the cut worn by the Quakers. He took charge
of the gentlemen of the party, and seemed i'll
great haste to get them separated from the
ladies' They were ishered into Il room where
an old woman sat, darning stockings. There
were two beds, table, and some chairs, and
| everything denoted the extreme of order and
| cleanliness. All floors in the house were bare,
and, instead of being kept clean by scrubbing,
were waxed and polished until they were
| almost as bright ~ mahogany
The ladies, expressing desire to walk i'll
what looked like garden, from the window,
We're told to do so; and just as they opened
the door, the dinner bell sounded. and II long
procession of women, all dressed alike walking
by twos, with their hands folded over their
breasts, filed the hall, and went down u stair
case to the basement dining-room. These We're
Followed i'll the same order by the men, who
emerged from the opposite side The women
numbered somewhere between twenty and