Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-10-22
VOL. 47--WHOLE NO 2342
The Lebanon Shakers.

ing services
The Shaker meeting-housc is per-
fectly plain whito wooden building,
one story high, closed with low
arched roof unadorued with steeple or
beliry. The front is divided BY two
doors for the "word's people to enter,
and at either end there is one for the
brethren and sisters. In the interior
ranged along one side were several
rows Of plain wooden benches for yisi
tors. A single row of seats stood
against the opposite wall, and few
were placed at the ends of the room,
leaving a large square space in the
center of the house entirely unoccu.
pied. Two plain box stoves standing
at tho extremes of the room and row
of pegs around the wall completed the
furniture of the edifce.
One Shaker brother was on hand at
an early hour, acting as usher and
regulator of the sexes. AS the hour
for service approached the eastern
door noiselessly opened. a band of
sixteen sisters entered, and on tip-toe,
with sort of swaying motion, crossed
the floor, which was polished up TO
enamel, to the opposite end of the
room. They were uniformly clad in
pearl-gray dresses of rich, thin fabric
having coat.sleeves and round waists
from which hung straight skirts in
overlapping plaits reaching nearly to
the top of their low shoes of black
cloth, having just enough of space to
reveal the Immaculate stocking. Fold
cd over the shoulders in the form of
half square were spotless neckerchiefs
of white muslin. Theeldresses wore
silk crossed on the breast over chemi-
settles of white linen, bultoned closely
to the throat, where they were banded
with high collars reaching to the chin.
The hair was shingled closely TO the
head, over which were worn skull caps
of white lace. The first two entered
in single file, the Others followed by
twos. They seated themselves on the
benches, two at the end of the room,
two at the side, three nearer the cen
ter, four Immediately in front OF these.
When all were seated zach unfolded a
large white handkerchief which she
carried, laid it across her lap, and
rested upon it her folded hands. 9th
CIR bands entered at intervals in sim
liar manner. Some wore shaker sun
bonncts and white or pale blue shawls,
which they took off and hung upon
the pegs. The part of the room de-
voted to women was soon filled. For
somc moments there was general ST.
lencc. The white reflection from their
caps and neck drapcry gave to the
faces of these women the waxen hue
of death, and as they sat side by side
in statuesque repose they seemed like
so many resurrected bodies awaiting
the ascension. Presently there was
shutting sound. Tho brothers tip |
toed in, and in the twinkling Of an
eye all was changed. BY this time
the outside pressure for entrance was
great, and the brother usher blushed
in bis efforts TO keep the oommingling
menand women of the mundane sphere
from together entering the male door
When all were seated the Shakers and
and Shakcresses advanced and formed
separate lines through the center Of
the hollow square, the front column
headed respectively by Elder Fred
erick and Eldress Antoinette. After
the intonng of hymn by all the as
sembled order, one of the brothers
stepped from tho ranks and uttered a
few words of thanksgiving. A second
hymn was followed by request from
another brother that no levity be in
dulged in by the assembly during the
service. Elder Frederick Evans then
advanced, and, facing the assembled
strangers, proceeded TO address them,
first abiding TO the principles of the
Shakers faith, "the basis of which"
he said, "was to transfer the back
brain TO the top brain, or, in other
words, to despiso the pleasures of the
body, and TO seek offspring of the
soul" lie denounced the present sys-
tenn of marriage as one Of corruption,
though not opposed TO il under right
conditions, and advocated celibacy rs
the higher life for men and women
He rebuked women for their eXlrava-
gance in dress, and ridiculd their alb
surd fashions---''their false hair aud
great hercafters. Compared with the
ancient Greek ideas, they would be
regarded as monstrosities, requiring
the name of woman written under
them to know what they were" 10
tho men he said: "You are set of
tyrants, overy one Of You, and you
hold those women under you like the
Shareholders of the South held their
slaves. The social owl is the cause OF
your Internal government. The Sbak-
or women manage their own concerns
as well as tho men do" Closing bis
remarks with sharp rebuke for fin
ing women 800 for voting, he exhort-
cd his followers 20 praise God vita
zeal, aud resumed bis place among the
elders, who, with the deacons and
elderesses and deaconesses, formed
into two separate. in the center
of tho room, and sung lively songs,
while the others, in double limos, march
ed round them, in kind of slow
dance, moving their extended hands
in time with the music. The dance
concluded, fair young sister made
an almost inaudible speech. She was
followed by Eldress Antonette, who
gave a icrvent cxhortation, in clear,
sympathetic voice, full of warning and
entrcaty The audience, who had
listened throughout the service with
great Difference, was then dispersed.
A satchel containing RAILROAD stock,