The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-08-27
A SUNDAY WITH THE SHAKERS.

"
Some of our readers have seen the Shak-
er service Many AVE not. For the benz
eft of both we give a report of n Shaker
meeting. Shaker Village is perched on one
of the most arduous hills of Androscoggin
county, Me. Miles away you can see the
large stone fortress like building where
one of the two Shaker families composing
the community lives. The second family's
home is in a weather-stained old-fashion-
ID building, almost 100 years of age. 1t
was built in 1895, and the elder said, after
service last Sunday Its not fit for a
Christian to live in. We're making prep
arations now to build n new one.I The
Shakers, in their digniied drab coat-tails,
and Shakeresses in their neat, plain gowns,
Elistening white-pointed kerchieis, and
their scrupulously-starched b%onnets, were
marching from the house to the chapel
when the reporter arrived. In the church
the Shakers formed, standing in two
squares, the males in one and the females
in the other. The two divisions stood fac
ing each other, with their hands clasped
In front of them. In the rear ranks of
each body stood the young wards Of the
community. There were three little boys
Of 8 to 10 years old, and half a dozen girls,
apparently A to Ia years, whose long braid
ed hair formed a marked contrast with the
tlOStly CouCttltu lOChb Vi Jht DHhktI WI
men. The little boys crowns were closely
shaven, while the locks at the base of the
head had been allowed to grow down their
necks in imitation of the flowing, patri-
nrchal hair of the aged Shakers.
Standing in this position, one voice COM
menced a strain Of quaint song, which all
took up. 1t was something between a
hymn and n chant. The melody was
strange but pleasing, and was sung by all
the voices, male and female, in unison. An
impressive effect was given the last chord
by all the singers gradually softening the
tone and ending the diminuendo in barely
n murmur, at the same time lowering their
hands from the clasped position to their
sides IN perfect harmony with the move
ment of the music. The elder then step
ped forward to the space between the two
sections of Shakers. The lines of his face
indicate a man of remarkable firmness of
character. The high sloping forehead, the
prominent Roman nose, the unrelaxed fac
lal muscles, his stately demeanor, and the
distinct, solemn utteranceS of n deep
musical voice, all pointed to q mind of
the most positive convictions and ability
of no mean order. The elder read the
fourth chapter of st. John. The wo-
men and children then sang spiritedly a
beautiful hymn. This and all the follow
my nNLulS MtIt given IHt Slllt llCululOuo
diminuendo, ending as before.
In the next song one common spirit
seemed to move the worshipers in a state
ly march backward and forward across the
floor of the chapel. They kept perfect
time with the tune they sang, and march,
ed with the regularity of militia, making
square heels, and accompanying their
march with n swinging motion of the arms
and hands, palms backward. There were
several fine singers mons the men, and
all the women had excellent voices. The
juvenile Shakers seemed to enter into the
services with the same enthusiasm as the
veterans. 1t was amusing to a spectator
to watch the solemn faces and attitudes
of the little fellows. Not n suggestion of
n smile came over their features, and, to
our mind, the staidest Shaker of them all
was n lad of perhaps 10 summers. He
wore n loose, cherry-colored sacque and a
high-buttoned velveteen waist coat. He
had a fair, untanned face, and pale blue
eyes. The blue veins were seen through
the delicate skin covering his temples, and
he Ind q dreamy far away look. The net
locks of light hair fell over his coat collar.
He seemed possessed OF n most intense
spirituality, and was as deeply absorbed
In his devotions as the elder himself.
Some of the Shakeresses once in q while
Allowed n sly smile to interrupt the con-
tinuous solemnity. The Shakers take these
children by adoption, and have more re-
quests to take and bring up orphan and
uncared-ior children than they can COM
ply with. The wards are indentured to
them until they are 81. Then they are at
liberty to leave the community and go in
into the world If they wish. The Shakers
educate them and give them the best Of
home training.
After several marching songs, the Shak-
ers DOL seats. We had noticed among
them one s~andy-haired young man, appar-
emily of not more than 25 years, who wore
a plum-colored coat and who sang with
much junction. The young man stepped
forward neryously, drank a little water
from a glass, opened n Bible which lay on
n window shelf, and, after n nervous lift
ing of the shoulders and compression of
the lips, read n text from the eighth verse
of the third chapter Of Second Peter: but,
beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing,
that one day Is with the Lord as a thous-
and years, and a thousand years as one
day. He then spoke earnestly for about
fifteen minutes, without notes, in n meas
ured, distinct and cultured voice. The
speakers words were listened TO with the
most profound attention by the audience.
He was William Paul, the eloquent young
preacher oil the maker MIR. Paul mas
been with them about four years. He is
older than he looks, having reached the
( of IS years. He was born in Scotland,
and educated in Glasgow. There are few
pulpit orators who have the power of
clothing their ideas in such ehaste and elo-
quent language, or addressing themselves
directly TO the hearts of their hearers TO a
greater degree than this young Shaker
S~cotchman. After he concluded, another
song was sung. The preacher Their. arose
again n said "If any of our visiting
friends desire to say n few words they have
perfect liberty
One of the strangers present arose and
explained the recently ~inaugurated custom
of passing the contribution box. He said
that it had not been originated by the
Shakers themselves, but by the outsiders
who desired to see the chapel enlarged, in
order that they might be accommodated
more conveniently. He Then missed the