Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-08-24
The Rites Of Shakers q score
OfYears Ago.
Pittsfield (sfass. J Eagle

The Rites Of Shakers a score
OfYears Ago.
[Pittsneld Mass Eaglel
The mountain meetings Of twenty
years ago were wild gatherings.
The revelation ordering these was
received In lS41, and the place d.
vinely pointed out for the Hancock
Shakers was on the top of hill
which you have passed many a
time unaware of its sacred character.
II was named Mount Sinai, and is In
sight Of the mountain called Mount
Lebanon, which was chosen for the
New Lebanon. Society. Twice in
the year, or oftener, these meetings
were held, the place being prepared
by the erection OF the stone As above
mentioned. There stood near the
stone building with separate apart
ments for the brethren and sisters.
They went up clothed in their Sun
day clothes, and In addition a
heavenly dress" This latter
could not be seen by mortal eyes, but
those who had the gift" to see
spiritual things" described it as a
"coat or tunic with gold buttons and
trimmings" After arriving at the
meeting place, seven times the wor-
shippers bowed, and then marched
to the sacred enclosure, where the
ceremonies began. These meetings
were the occasion of special out
ponrings Of spiritual gifts. A lead
- uss...-- -s'J, s..S ~--.I~
rem are required TO go to the fountain
and battle. They will find sponges
and towels by the fountain side."
There were no fountains, nor spon-
ges, nor towels, except in spiritual
form, but the members would all
approach and 60 through the mo-
tions IS if actually bathing. They
even scrubbed one another. Then
one of the "seers' would have an
other gift" "There is at the foun-
tain," he says, "some pocket hand
kerchiefs for the brethren and
sisters" at which each one makes
the motion of taking up a pocket
handkerchief. The next revelation
is, "the word Is to leap,u and 80
evey one, old and young, male and
female, frisk and leap, as high as
they can. BY and by refreshments
are suggested, and the crazy compa-
ny would actually 60 through all the
motions of preparing feast and
eating 1t. Imaginary trees would
DO shaken, invisible apples and
oranges gathered and carried in
imperceptible baskets to non exis-
ting tables. This is only a partial
list of the performances at one OF
these meetings. Now they are held
no more, and those who remember
The occasion / have referred to will
smile, no doubt, over the fanatical
follies of those days. Then, to shake
hands with or In any way come In
contact with the sister, was q sin to
be confessed; to sit cross-legged In
or without the right thumb
folded over the left, or not to lie
straight In bed were crimes to be re-
pented of. But Shakerism's centen-
nial finds 1t like everything else, a
better thing In many ways then 1t
was q hundred years ago, and we
Jaw the plainest proof Of 1t In
he luxury and library of friend
"ofiice." On one side
|. fine cabinet organ; on the table a |
treat accordeon, an instrument of
music that anywhere else would be
OF rural serenades 70 rustic |
In the corner . library Of |
wo hundred or three hundred vol
poetry, biography,
Iction, travel. Eliza Cook, the
english poetess, who was a school
nate Of Mr.. Wetherell's mother, has
emit him splendidly gotten-up
opy other poems, with an affection
te autograph on the fiy-leaf The
nrniture an easy sofa, comfortab le
hairs, and rich black walnut wri-
ing desk; on the walls picture or
wO. The most woYldly-minded
achelor on earth could desire moth
d more cory or attractive.