The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-12

bapon embraces eight Of these families. The
different comm mites, or families, in each 30.
ciety. number from thirty to one hundred and
atty members Of both ssxes, who generally
| as they claim, the brethren and sisters live
| together ip spiritual order and social rela-
.~1HE PLACES OF WORSHIP.
Each dwelling contains q large meeting:room
sufficlently spacious to accommodate all the
members OF the family, and in this room they
| assemble several times week TOR worship, aud
| from twice to thrice q week they have reunion
meetings IN their private rooms, where from
| four o eight or ten of the brethren and sisters
spend an hour or so sitting together IN devo-
| tionsl conversation and einging.
THE WORKSHOPS.
There are also in the settlement large build
ings containing numerous workshops connect
ed With each family, one for thu men the other
for the women. In these various branches OF
manufacture are carried on. consisting OF neces-
sary articles for home consumption and for sale.
They have all the mechanical trades necessary
to meet the immediate wants Of q family, but
are largely dependant upon the neighooring
villages and cities for the improved implements
which render modern agriculture suc .essful.
AaRIcuLruRE AND HORTICULTURE.
Hitherto horticulture has been the leading
business ia most OF the Shaker societies, but
recently they are turning their attention con-
siderably to agriculture. The society at New
Lebanon owns about 6U00 acres OF land, larga
share Of which is for fuel, timber and sheep.
beng verv mountainous. The rest is deVoted
to agriculture and horticulture.
IN TIE HOUSE OF WORSHIP.
As We drove up 10 the Shaker meeting
house." largo rectangular, plain wooden
building, with 8 convex roof, theT snglng
their devotional exercises, although it was not
vet ten O'Clock in the morning. We slghted
| In front Of the church, and entered, our wives
| through the door on one side OF the sanctu Try,
and ws through another on the opposite side.
Many visitors werein the house, and an usher
gave us seats allotted TO those who are not OF
The persuasion" These seats are plain
| wooden benches, and differ from those used by
| the Shakers themselves in that they are sup
piled with back.
When We entered the Injecting house" We
could hardly suppress smile: Ranged IN line
across the room-one row behind another, 40
| cordiug to height the men on one side OF the
house, the women on the other, they stood In
| their quaint costumes. their faces cast down,
| their ewes ON the floor. The men wore coats,
psntaloops, and waistcoats Of the same materi-
al, butternut. colo. ed-ooat OF the ancient shad-
belly pattern, with standing collar reaching
to the ear, waistcoat buotoned close to the
OF the most liberal Dimensions. About their
necks each wore white kerchief, containing
at least half yard of muslin.
The women we.e peatly attired in gowns OF
10 ne light lead-colored material reaching to
tue feet. and guiltless OF e1pansion by crIno.
line. Each wore, pinned over her shoulder and
bosom. q white kerchief or small shawl. Each
one, from the oldest wrinkled old woman to
the youngest child. wore close fitting white
cap, not unlike night-cap, over which WIS
tied or pinned thin white scarf. This COM
pleted tn heac dress. The halr OF the women
was cut short and inclosed in small brown
net The hair Of the men was cut close to the
scaip over the forehead aud temples. but allow
| ed to grow long behind the ears. In some
cases it fell in tangled, tufted locks upon the
shoulder.
THE MANNER OF WORSHIP.
We had been seated but a few moments when
two of the sisters and brethren, acting as lead
ers, began in q slow. drawing, sing-song tone
to chant one OF their peculiar songs or hymns,
the words OF which ne could not distinguish.
All tie worshippers at ohce joined 10, moving
down in unison with the music Several songs
were thus sung-the peculiar gesture Of the
open hand being one OF the ceremonies OF their
service. After this ceremony, one OF the lead
ers stepped from the front raUk and taking
position on the floor midway between the
6epardCSQ sexes, 6pOho d lew WOAuo VI OAoot eo-
ton, admon,sbing the me nbers OF the society
to live in harmony and cling last to tue tenets
Of their faith. When he had fioished he quiet
" ,ook h,s olace again IN the ranks, and was
followed by others in similar STRAIN.
THE SHAKER SHUTTLE DANCE.
During this time the worshippers stood i'm
mobile with eyes fixed on the floor and hands
claspsd together in the most supple attitude OF
humility. Not once did one OF them move or
lift the eye to the right or left. In the inter
walls OF their service you could have heard
DIN fall in any part Of the great hall OF wor-
ship. But this was only the first part OF the
service. Suddenly, at signal from one OF the
leaders. all faced to the left-with the precis-
ion OF drilled soldiers-their backs to the spec
tators. Taking regular distance from each
other, there was active preparation for the
Snuff, dance, which is also part OF their de.
votioual exercise. All entered into this dance
with spirit, some Of the brethren pulled OF
their coats and hung them on the pegs around
the walls OF the hall; snd was told that on
exceedingly bot days it is the custom OF all the
brethren to dIvest themselves of their coats
and sometimes their waistcodts also, on the
beginning of the dance.
CLAIMING FOB The DANCERS.
A half dozsn of the sisters and brethren,
constituting choir, next took their positions
in front Of the worsbippers, and, facing each
other, began again one Of their peculiac chants,