Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-11-07

1k|bt1 ~ evtfy l<aink< u ~ sfank s9d
! n6hls tsce, Il IN el1lfjtn i had n tho
nB,s4y. yll< Ynnnlefs ~ vtsttivntod ana
agreeable, aud ne ccftetAly possesses the
NJ u ecuvsfssslon IN high degree.
Its sermon wps iuservsung and scrip
lufni; In fsct, We heard nothing peculiar
or sew. only that rrcat prominence was
given 10 She necessity Of purelifc.
'fhc women left their tcnnefs oniside
and marched in with heads uncovered. eS-
cert for the lace caps before rcfcrcdtc.
Al remained standing through the 6rss
part ct the service. and they made very
striking appearance. After the scrmon
they marched about In = sort oi nvurc.
singing and waving. or "thakins' Their
hands with palms upward.
This /" shaking was not o. ~ wnu lex
peetc,l 20 see. There Is In all thcir service
nothing lndierons or uodignihcu. Ineir
ferysr seems like true cxalfati0u " spirit
moi AZ all IKE rant or excitement
se.ms 10 End full expression In their sing
ing and In their faces, which are-especiai.
" those 81 the women--spiritial In the ex-
trtms.
a NOTABLE woHLS.
Asrhs procession fled past us We were
struck by the extraordinary appearance oil
one woman whom we bad not seen before.
She was an elderly woman, but brilliantly
handsome still. and Of most queenly pre-
senee. She was dressed In The regulation
shaker garb, except ihst her gray gown
was Of richer material, and TO the little
close cap was sddei large white lace veil.
which crown ed her regal head and fel,
gracefully npon her shoulders. Her kerr
chief wss Of white ssiin. whose creamy
A. al has 10
aud hair. IL was Eldress Dorothy.
We learned her history aiterward. She
came 10 the settlement when only eight
years old. and for the past thirly years had
been their queen and head-more than all.
their mother
she addressed few remarks 10 them be-
fore tbe meeting closed, in which she called
tbem her cbildren-hcr treasure. "a
mothers children are her treasure the
weird over" she said, land YOU are mine.
Did pet bring you forth into tbe heaven
" light with throes OF more than mortal
sgopyf All yeur lives ! have borne your
sins and sorrows on nv heart; your bur
deDs have been mine. You are indeed NV
children, and your goodness and happiness
are my crown and reward"
She spoke with wonderful dignity and
tenderness, touching our hearts, strangers
though we were, With feeling OF reye-
renee for her beautiful motherhood. After
all. had she not known maternity in its
highest sense; Several Of the young ais
tsrs testified" rs they were moved. The
iirst 10 speak was Young giIl not more
than sixteen wears OF age. Nothing could
he more ienderly bcautiiul than her face.
Her laTge dark eyes were soft with tears,
and her full red lips trcmbled as she spoke.
She was very much IN earnest, and in
voice broken with sobs declared her love
Tor holy life and her determination to
ptrsevere in IL.
She concluded ia the softest, sweetest Of
rirlish accents, II do lore the virgin life,
aud do love ven. dear brothers and sis
tors!" As she sat down an elder sister
resc. and With gracious simplicity respond
ed, "And we love ysu." Such responses
are not unusual, and seem TO answer some
what 10 the amens Of the Ae.hodists.
In closing they sang bymR, repeating
the one verse many times; then kneelins
and singing still, they repeated it yet again
and again.
Finally, closing their eyes a. in prayer.
they sang IL very softly and fer the last
time. shall never forget the look OF ex-
sltation IN the pale faces Of these wemen,
or the strange feeling OF awe that cane
over me as | held nv breath 10 catch she
last faint whisper OF the HYMN. Thee
were The words:
Watching and praying find you,
oh, NV beloved. my own;
Trusting q Fathers rich promise,
will not leave on alone,
will not leave yOu alone,
1houeh through the dceert lead.
or spart in Il g mountain We pray
For strength In the hour Of need;
1 never Will answer We nay
never will answer We nay"