The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-08-11
A shaker Meeting.

row DenlnQ hn0tnef, according to
hight-the men on one side Of the house
the women on the other, they stood In
their quaint costumes, their faces cast
down, THERE eyes on the floor. The men
wore coats, pantalOOns, und waiBtcOats
Ofthe same material, bntternut. colored
coat Of the ancient BhadbRlly pattern,
with standing collar reaching to the
ears, waistcoat buttoned close to the
throat, with standing collar and con-
tlnuatIons Of the most liberal dimen-
slons. About their neck each wore a
white kerchief, containing at least a
half yard OF muslin.
The women were neatly at.Ired in
gowns ofsome light lead coloEed ma.
tetIal re ching TO the feet, and guIltlesB
OF expansion by Crlnollne. Each wore,
pinned over her shoulder and bosom, q
white kerchief or small shawl. Each
one, from the oldest wrinkled old wo.
man to the youngest child, wore close
lifting white cap, not unlike q night
cap, over which was tied or pinned q
thin white scarf. This completed the
headdress. The hair Of the woman was
cut short and lDclossd In small brown
net. The hair ofthe men was cut close
to the scalp over the forehead and
temples, but allowed TO grow long be.
hind the ears. In some cases 1t fell In
tangled, tuhed locks upon the shoulder.
THR MANNER OF WORSHIP.
We had been seated but few mo-
ments when two OF the slsters and
brethren, acting as leaders, began In q
slow, drawlIng, sing.song tone TO chant
one oEtheir peculiar songs or hymns the
words OF which we could not dlstin.
guish. All the worshippsrs at once
Joined In, moving their hands In an en-.
srgetic manner up and down In unison
with the music,y Several songs were
thus sung-tbe peculiar gesture OF the
open hand being one OF the ceremonies
ofthelr service After this ceremony
one Of the leaders stepped from lthe
front rank and taking q position on
the floor midway between the separa-
ted sexes, spoke a lew words OF exhor-
tatlon admonlshlng The members OF the
society 10 live In harmony and cling
fast to the tenets Of their faith. When
he had finished he quietly took bis
lowed by others In a similar strain.
THE SHAKER sHuFFLE DANCE.
During all this time the worshIppers
stood immobile with eyes fixed upon
the floor and hands clasped together In
the most supple attitude OF humility.
Not once did one OF them move or lift
the eye to look TO the right or left. In
the interval Of their service yon could
have heard pin fall In any part OF the
great hall OF worship. Bat this was
only the first part OF the service. Sud.
denly at q signal from one Of the lead
ere all faced TO the left-wlth the precI-
sion Of drilled soldIers-their backs 10
thel spectators. Taking regular dis
lance from each other these was active
preparation for the shuttle dance, which
Ia also q part ofthelr devotional exer-
else. Ali entered into this dance with
spirit, some OF the brethren pulled oh
their coats and hung them on the pegs
around the walls Of The hall; and I was
told that on exceedingly hot days It 10
the custom OF oil the brethren to dlvest
themselves Of their coats, and some.
times their waiStcoats also, on the be-
ginning Of the dance. gt ryT.,
.r CHANTING FOR THE DANCERS,
A half dozen Of the sisters and
brethren, constituting q choir, next
took positions In front OF the worship.
pers, and facing each other, began again
one OF their peculiar chants, which
could hardly be called a melody, Kes>
tlculatlng Violently with their hands as
before. This was the music for the
dancing. All moved forward In q sort
OF shuftls step, some joining In the sling.
ing, and all gesticulating with their
hands In unison with the singers.
Moving forward step or.two, all faced
about together and shuftlsd back 10 the
posItion Whlchthey had occupied. This
was continued without variation at
least half m hour, and itwas surprls.
Ing ,aBp well Is RmusinR 10 see with
what zest and energy some ofthe older
brethren and sisters entered into the
exercise. na, nu.r. !, .rl .r.ror ~.
THE MARCH AROUND THE SANCTUARY
Suddenly thlH ceremony also ceased
at q signal from some one OF the lead
era, andall faced again 10 the right, in
the game poaltlon as when we entered
the t1ouse. After remaining In the same
medItative, immob bile position before
described, for Rome moments, they be-
gan preparing for another feature OF
the worship. All formed In column OF
tours, according 10 height the men In
one column and the women In another,
Again the choir draWled out their dole.
ful chants, and the columns marched
In step 10 the music around the build.
Ing, the women In O reverse direction
10 that Of the men. Many Joined In
chanting the music, and all kept time
TO the dir in the peculiar emphatic
gesture Of the hands and arms as be-
fore. For half an hour at least. did they
thus march around the hall, the choir
forming q circle and occupying u sta
llonary position In the centre OF the
floor, and at q signal all again assumed
the position they had at FIRST occup pied,
with the pFecl1iou OF soldi0rs.
Y.I THE ESp OF THE DANCE. 10 -
Again they stood for y few moments
silent Rs 90, many statues. The plain,
white pine benches, which were piled
one upon the other about the sides Of
the hall, were Then taken down and
placed In position by the sisters and
brethren respectively, Regularly and
silently % cloekwork this was done,
without any commotlon whatever. The
men took their seats first, and then,
nolselessly as 80 many ghosts, the Wo.
men glided to their proper places and
dropped on the benches, Both men
and women took from their pockets
their large cotton handkerchief Or nap,
klns, which they spread on their knees
and on which they rested their hands
THE PRRAoHINo, ','