Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-03-26

God he is followed by the eldress and
thereupou the ranks are broken and doz-
en- of the brethren aud sisters, forming u
separate square on the fioor begin lively
hymn tune, iu which all the rest join,
marching around the room TO quick step,
the women following the men, and all Of
ten capping their hands.
The exercises are varied by reforming
The ranks; by speaking from men and wo-
men; by singing and dancing as they
march, "ss David danced before the Lord"
the dance being kind Of shuttle. Occa-
sionally one of the members, more deeply
moved than the rest, or perhaps in some
tribulation OF soul, asks the prayers of the
others or one comes 10 the front, and,
bowling before the elder and eldress, be-
gins 10 whrl, singular exercise which is
sometimes continued for a considerable
time, and is remarkable performance.
| Then some brother or sister Is impressed
TO deliver a message OF warning or comfort
from the spirit land or some spirit asks
the prayers of the assembly. On such oc-
casious the elder asks all to knecl for few
moment IS in silent prayer. In their marching
and dancing they hold their hands before
them, and make motion as If gathering
something to themselves; this is called
gathering a blessing. In like manner,
when any brother or sister asks for their
prayers or sympathy, they, reversing their
hands, push toward him that which he
asks.
All the movements are performed with
much precision and in exact order; their
tunes are usually in quick time, and the
singers keep time admirably. The words
Of the elder guide the meeting; and at his
bidding all disperse in somewhat sum-
mary manner. 1t is, L believe, an object
with them to vary The order Of their meet
ings, and thus give life to them.
Elder Frederick gave me notice that
was permitted to witness the funeral cere-
monies Of a departed sister which were set
for 10 O'Clock, in the assembly room and
thither was accordingly conducted at the
proper time by one of the brethren. The
members came into the room rapidly, and
ranged themselves in ranks, the men and
women on opposite sides of the room and
facing each other. All stood up there be-
ing no seats. \ brief address by Elder
| Frederick opened the services, afler which
there was singing; different brethren and
sisters spoke briefly; call was made to
! the spirit of the departed to communicate,
and in the course OF the meeting a medium
! delivered some words supposed to be from
| this source; some memorial verses were
read by one of the sisters aad then the
| congregation separated, after notice had
/ been given that the body of the dead sister
would he placed in the hall, where all could
| take a last look at her face. J. too, was
asked 10 look the good brother " ho con-
Quoted me TO the plain, unpainted pine
coffin, renlarking, very seusibly, that "the
body is not OF much importance after it is
dead"
I The Shakers hold strongly to the equali-
ty of women with mon, and look forward
10 the day when women shall, in the outer
world as in their own societies, hold office
as well as men. "lIere we find the women
just as able as men in all business affairs
and far more spiritual" suppose wo-
man wanted, in your family, to be black
smith, would you consent? ?" l asked and
he replied, mo, because this would bring
men and women into relations which We
do not think wise" In fact, while they
call men and women equally to the ruler
ship, they very sensibly hold that in gener.
al life the woman's work is in the house
the mans out of doors aud there is no Of.
fer to confuse the two.
Moreover, being celibates they use prop
er precautions in The intercourse of thu
sexes. Thus Shaker men and women dt
not shake hands with each other thei
liveT have almost no privacy, even to thu
elders, of whom two always room together
the sexes even eat apart; they labor apart
they worship, standing and marching, a
part they visit each other only at stated
intervals and according to prescribed or
der; and in all things the sexes maintain
a certain distance and reserve toward eact
other. I'VE have no scandal, no tea par
ties, no gossip" Moreover, they mortifl
the body by early rising and by very plaiI
living. Few, as 1 said before, eat meat
aud l was assured that complete and lon
continued experience had proved TO then
that young people maintain thair healtl
and strength fully without meat.
They wear a very plain and simple dres
without ornament of any kind; and the cos
tnme of the women does not increase thei
attractiveness, and makes it difficult to dis
tinguish between youth and age. The
keep no pet animals, except cats, which ar
maintained to destroy rats aud mice. The
: have, of course, none of the usual relG
tions to children-and the boys and girl
| whom thax- al N in aaah family MI
, under the charge OF special "care taker,
and live in separate houses, each sex by II
; SELF Smoking tobacco is by general cor
sent strictly prohibited. A few chew Il
e bacco. but this is thought weakness 10 b
left of as standing in The way Of a perfe'
4 life.
The visiting, which is done on Sunds
evenings, is perhaps as curious as any pa
of their ceremonial. Like all else in the
u lives, these visits are pre-arranged for thel
= "a certain group of sisters visiting ce
a tain group of brethren. The sisters, fro
four to eight in number, sit In row o
u one side, in straight backed benches, eaC
with her neat hood or cap, and each with
clean white handkerchief spread stiff
across her lap. The brethren, of equ
number, sit opposite them in another roy
also in stiff backed chairs, and also eaC
o with a white handkerchief smoothly la
y over his knees. Thus arranged, they col
" verse upon the news of the week, even
in the outer world, the farm operations, al
70 the weather; they sing, and in gener
u have pleasant reunion, not without ge
% tie laughing and mild amusements. The
!. meet at an appointed time, and at anothi
}" set hour they part, and no doubt they fiji