The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-06

Thomas. No. 1927 SAMSON street. pamphlet
which gives record of some extraordinary
sniritual manifestations which took place
AMONG the shakers, at their village near
Wateryliet. New York, in 1S43. These oc-
eurred about five years previous to the famous
0Rochester KnoclIings" of the Fox Sisters,
which have generally been accepted as the
origin of modern Spiritualism. The writer
was visiting the settlement, and the manifes-
tations recorded took place under his own
ewes. Some of them were curious, and we
make some quotations from the pamphlet,
which will be read with interest. The man.
ner of conducting the Shaker worship, and
the spiritual influences as manifested are thus
described
The hour for evening service having ar
rived tho 'family" assembled for worship in
the large meeting-room. This room was To-
Gated in the part of the building set apart for
domestic purposes. The brethren range
themselves i'll rows upon on side of the room.
The sisters do likewise upon the opposite side,
facing the brethren. The two Elders and the
two Eldresses take their stand at the head of
each row or column. The congregation then
commenced singing a lively Shaker hymn.
Leading off in dance they move forward
and backward, preserving excellent time.
Then they change, making garevolution around
the room. After considerable singing and
dancing, and the performance of various evo-
lutions, they ceased, whereupon the leading
Elder delivered an extempore exhortation.
As soon as he had terminated his address, one
of the brethren became seized with violent
agitation Of the body, His contortions were
quite distressing to behold, and he was
Whirled around seemingly by some invisible
influence, until he became almost exhausted,
and was bathed in profuse perspiration.
At the same time one of the sisters, a young
woman of singular beauty of face and figure,
commenced whirling around with great
rapidity Her gyrations were so rapid that
her face for the time became undistinguish-
able. She continued this for an incredible
length of time, and such performance the
writer never witnessed upon the theatrical
stage or anywhere outside of those Shot-.
assemblages. Various ''manifes..ari now
became prevalent amSng The brethren and
sisters present Several were discoursing in
what were termed unknown tongues.
Some were whirling, and others gesticulating
violently, when, on a sudden, loud, simulta-
neous yells were given, and several of the
brethren and sisters sprang into the centre OF
the room. The elders advanced towards
those thus possessed, and questioned them.
The manifestation Of the spirit of a negro
slave is thus described
% Spirit 'Massa, Use poor old slave"
Elder-''What is your name, my friend p
Spirit-'Ise got no name, Massa, onny
old Sam, / belonged to Curnel Hunter dowI
in Georgia. / seed hard times, Massa, an(
had long life of hard work. had. l WORKED
in de cotton field, and had to tote many
heavy load But Use got ober dat long ago
and now Use in good clober"
Elder-'How old were you when you died
Sam z"
Spirit-''Died, Massa? amt dead. Onn,
left my old shell; de old shell dat de boss use,
to beat so much. But 1 thinks / was a hun
dered years old when left my old shell.
Elder-"What a hundred years old Why
how long have you been in the world @
Spirits 2"
Spirit-"Don't know. Use been a goo
while. l knows Use an old man when d
solgers was a tighten. When de red coat
come ober de sea to fight our folks down i
Georgy."
Elder-''Why, you mean the Revolution
airy war, when Washington was the grea
chief 2"
Spirit-"oh, yes 1 used to hear EN- tai
about General Washington. / seed him, too
Elder ''What, down in Georgia.
Spirit-"Oh, no, Massa Here, where al
now never seed the General till come II
here. Use seed him here; Lord bress h
lubly shiny face"
ClucT- wen, hodIl' 1Ou hotNC oCth nun
the spirit world? He was a good maj
Sam"
Spirit-''Yes, Massa; too good for dis Mi
ger For you see Massa, he sometimes Gun
down to see us. He Ibis higher up dan
good many odder folks.
Elder-''Well, Sam, hope you will be alb
to work your way up to where he is. Goo
bye now Come and see us again.
Spirit Goodbye, Massa, and all y
white folks.
The Spirit then withdrew, and the broth
who had taken him in" resumed his norm
condition.
While the foregoing conversation W
transpiring various spirits made themsely
known, among whom was that of rollickii
Cvt Mona FRESHMAN,
who danced jig, sang lively song, al
fourished, or appeared TO flourish, shillel
in true Donnybrook style. His mirthful {
pressions and rich brogue elected Taught
from the grave Shakers, and being rather
rough and boisterous character, the Eide
were obliged to dismiss him, with promi
that he would be privileged to make anoth
visit if he should conduct himself properly.
SAINT PATRICK
was on another occasion introduced to t
elders by some bishops and priests of t
Christian Church who had taken possession
the bodies of some of the brethren present.
Saint Patrick said that he had been SO lo
in the spirit world, and the sphere in whi
he moved was so far from the material worl
the earth, that he but rarely made spiritr
visit TO the abode of the children OF me
Yet, he said, it afforded him qualification
ot;,,,ao. ,axyioif fha ooanaQ of his earth