, 1877-09-16

| Ht4La hCtC COiSu{HCu uf EApcuScS. Ouly <1UA
remained. gave myself to prayer. and soon
large amounts came in, and We Ind more than
abundance.
THE SHAKERS.
THEIR PECULIAR FORMS or WORSHIP.
Correspondence Detroit Jbss.
Pz1TsFIELD, Mass, Sept. Though was
brought up in New England, not fifty miles from
some OF their settlements, my only idea OF
these peculiar people tShakcrs] was that they
made all unpleasant app!e-sauce, tasting OF
cider and brown sugar; that they wore hideous
aud unsasnly garments, and that Cupid and
Hymen claimed no share OF their deyotions,
This being our last Sunday in Berkshire, our
host proposed we should drive to Lebanon and
witness their strange worship. Behold us then
1nsinscd in light wagon with pair OF horses
that trottcl up the steep hills with cheerful
serenity which would astonish our Western
steeds. The air WAS bright and crisp like our Octo-
ber, and the whole distance one lovely panorama
OF wooded hills, green valleys, clear mountain
streams, smiling villages, bits Of forest road,
and all the charming variety which, to those
who have seen it. is comprised in the name Of
BERKSHIRE County. Only too quickly were those
eight miles "ionc," and I think the drive
would have enabled me to listen patiently to
QUO Of IS long sermons. Fortunately no
such trial was in store for lis. l must not for
get to mention that the moment we crossed tue
prosperity were abundant. New England is
generally thought u thrifty land, but nowhere
else lid we see stone walls SO solid, barns so
large, paint 50 fresh, orvl1arus SO fruitful, and
Il hard times +" so far away. Probably the time
VIC foolisaly fritter away upon courtship and
marriage is by Them devoted to general repairs.
There is certainly something pleasant TO the
casual mind wien driving down into one OF
these snnE valleys. No sign Of poverty or
crime is visible, not even shiftlessness, nothing
but perfect order and spotless neatness.
The church was large building with round
cd roof, unmarked by spire, but distinguished
br the long lines OF carriages, bu9cfcs, and
stage-coachcs standing in front, which had
brought worlds people like ourselves from
miles around. There were two doors, and we
ladies meekly entered the women's side and
took our seats upon benches among the 200 Or
30O spectators. The service had already COM
n,cnceti, and this is what We saw: 4 large hall
with polished hardwood floor, white-washed
walls relieved bYwood-work aud window-casings
OF light blue. In the centre Of the room stoud
circle of about thirty men and women, who
sang hymns III a sonorous anu inspiring man-
ner. Illat reminded me OF ca1np-mcetinE.
Around them marched two long professions,
they waved their hands constantly from the cen
tire; outward, IN Il SORT OF rythinic accordance
With the music, and their steps had a
bounding movement, which was the only
approach I saw" to the socalled
dancing: q 1 The tS two lines, Lines Of IT, moving vh
ina winding figure which was not ungraceful.
1t reminded me OF Youthful game called
& Threading the Needle" The slight inclna-
ton to laugh which felt upon entering passed
away almost instantly, and was succeeded by IL
sort OF weird fascination rs | watched them.
At tho end OF each hymn they became motion
less rs statues, until the leader Of the choir Sc
lected and pitched the next tune, when the
singing, the waving Of hands, and the mystic
figures were resumed.
But have forgotten, what it is strange a
woman should forget, their clothes. For the
men, can only say that they bore general
resemblance to the carly style OF wood-cut
whirh Ornamentet1 the 81 Rollo Books ~ and the
New England Primer, but as am more familiar
with feminine garments I will venture to be
more explicit. Allow INC to premise that none
of these women rescmbcd MIR. Mantilini7s
Countess, with the "dcm fine outline" but
rather the unfortunate Duchess who had no out
line at ALL" Imagine agrcy skirt OF some WOODEN
scant aud short, guiltless Of gorcs
or crinolinc, attached to very short waist; over
the shoulders small, three-cornerel white
shawl, the hair strained tightly back from the
face and covered with still, white cap. Venus
herself wonld he dowly in such dress, and,
alas, the Sisters we're not Venuses! How thank
full felt rs looked ut them for tho resources
Of fashion, for the French corscts, and false
hair, the ribbons, 1aces, and silks, aud all the
cunning devices that CONCEAL our defects or
heightcn our beauties. 1t struck me, too, as j
singular fact that Ill the Shakers were thin,-
most III them attcnuated, and sought in vain
for philosophical explanation; food was abun-
dant; anxiety could llaye no existence in those
placid lives; the ordinary hopes and fears Of hu-
rs The cloistcr. Why, then, were they not iat
and comfortable. ! also noticed in their faces
that absence OF all expression, that tcoode,t-
.nss so to speak, Away observable
in those whose fate is liked, whether
ia the prison-cell, behind the convent
st grilc," or in this voluntary separation from
tl,c grand drama Of human life Oh! how fur
preferable the losses and gains, the joys and
sorrows Of our ordinary existence than this dead
eycl Of material prosperity. After six OF seven
hymns had been sung, the ranks divided, leav-
i1ig the sisters on one side aud the brethren
Lhc other, prulanely suggesting an od-fashioncti
;. coutr: dancc,' but l felt rcpuked Tor the
eyl'y Of nly thought, when suddenly all sank
Tact that 10 act of Worship anywhere is 50 3!
solemn rs this, no spoken words SO eloquent, !
10 gorgeous ceremonial SO effective, and the !
lush that falls upon Catholic cathedral at the |
elevation Of the Host is not more impressive !
,han WAS the unbrokcn silence OF that plain |
Shaker "mecting-house,n with the rows OF |
notiuricss figures knecling upon the bare loor.
This act Of devotion accomplished they rose AMI |
brought forward benches, thcn seating thcnl
elves, spread their clean handkcrcl,els care
prepared To listen to the sermon.
4 tall man with jet black hair and beard, aud
certain rude cloqucuec of manner, conl-
an address Which ought to have had for
Is text st. Lu;t, Gimp xiii, Y, ii. OF COURSE
IL reaiers Of the Post. arc too familiar with
heir Bible to need more explicit quotation. l
u not dare to tax your patience with tho whole
{ Brother Thomas discourse, hut in substance
e stated that they believed in three things,
cace. purity, and prosperity; that they abnor-
ut three other things, war, want, and wcdlock!
{c said tive aEc the practical philosophers who |
re solving by Our lives the social problems Of
he are Tie quarrel between labor aud capital,
he great questions Of crime and panperisn,
ave no ter1ors for us. We have no jas, no
oor-houscs. no divorces, no unwelco1ne chill
rcn: neither millionai1cs nor bcggars exist
mong u.s." For half an hour he continued in
strain OF seli-laudation, mingled with seyere
ri:icis1n of all outside his own community. I |
oudcred inwarils what need any OF them
ut Of divine assistance, AS they. seemed
, wholly satisfied with their own
10 do the man justice he made
strong plea for 4 wholly unnatural mode Of
f.. supported By texts Of Scripture twisted
ON their real meaning as adrotly as if he had
cen trained Jesuit ID the Roman propaganda.
hen we were dismissed, and as the worlds
eople Issued caily forth. and with much chat
ne and laughing climbed into the high wagons
I'D staee-coaches, and drove mcrrily homcward,
70 solemn lines Of Shakers filed silently down |