Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-09-07
THE DANCE OF DAVID.
Curious Religious Ceremony Peculiar Il
the Abyssinians.

the Abyssinians.
The following extracts, says the
London Graphic. are from the diary
of Captain Il. l.. Cobbold. during his
journey TO join the .Abyssinians opcr
atIng with the British forces against
the Mad Mullah: Il was lucky u
have been in Harrar at the festival of
the Dance of David Before the Ark
of the Covenant of the Lord The
sight Is probably but little changed
since the first performance 1900 years
ago. and still bears, in all probability,
an intimate relation to the old jew,
ish dance, The Christianity of Ahys
sinia of to-day, in accordance and n
religious observance. is n replica OF
ancient Chrstendom. such rs il was in
the time of Constantine, and in this
sense alone offers historical interest
such MS is afforded by no other coun
try ut the present moment.
But to get on with the dance. Its
origin dates from the year BIB \. H..
or Whereabouts, when the Emperor
Constantine called together the first
council of Bishops in Constnntinoplc
At that time the AbysSinians had been
recently converted to Christianity.
and, rs time went on. sent. ms did
other Christian Kingdoms and States,
Il Bishop or representative of the
church, at the invitation OF the En-.
peror, to the yearly Council of Bishops
ut Constantinople, where the orln
anccS of the church fer the ensuing
year were drawn up and agreed upon.
At the sixth council the Dance of
David Before the Ark of the Cove.
nant of the Lord was revived, hav.
ing been copied from the Jews, and
was ordered TO be hereafter included
in the ordinances for each ensuing
year by the representatives of the
Christian Church. 1t seems, however,
that Mt the seventh Council of
Bishops. the continuation of Me dance
Of David was ,iisallowcd, and the
order iOr its performance rcscindcd.
But it happened that the Bishop repre-
scnting Abyssina was unable to be-
present either at this or the next
council: the country, in all probability,
being in n state of war, and unable
to consider spiritual matters. The
Abyssinian Church, therefore. CON
tinued in ignorance of the order re-
scinding the dance. which has. in CON
sequence, been continued and per-
formed on the sacred Saturday before
Easter.
"As we ncarod the courtyard of Ras
MakennOn'S house We were greeted
with sounds of singing. Upon enter
ing we were surprised to find the place
crowded with people, and then real
lied that we had been asked to wit
ness Il religious ceremony. Some of
those present were beautifully attired
nj Indian robes. and wore gold crowns
covered with precious stones. Others
dressed in white, with deep red
band running down the centre dis
tinguishing them from Mohamme-
1ans,) the headdress consisting of n
large white turban. All these people
were seated on the ground in the YER
anda, and in the centre We discOv-
cred the Garasmatch General of the
Right seated on a chair of state.
After greeting him l had time to look
about at the weird crowd facing us in
a semi-circe. At my left, under Il
embroidered umbrella.
stood an aged man. and in his i'm
mediate following were small children.
holding some scriptural sign. The old
man was the high priest Beyond
him, and completing the 'semi-crcle.
stood other men. all dressed in white.
some holding wands and others rat
ties, while still others were weighted
Gown with heavy drums. Thus they
sang the Psalms of David-tO the &C.
compartment of music and dancing.
The priests, as they continued the
gradually warmed up %
the work. and ended in n wild. fam
tasticnl figure. This over, Il repre-
priests, who delivered long harangue
TO the GaraSmntch. chanting psalms
and cXtollng the merits of the EN-
perOr. Rns Maliennon, and the Garas-
match himself, finishing by hoping
that the Garasmatch would not for
get that they had tasted for two
months, and that he would give them
plenty OF food and money.
The General of the Right thereupon
asked us to call upon him in half an
hour. and then proceeded to the re-
ception hall, where the priests re-
ccivCd money and an invitation to
breakfast on the following morning.
After this the priests broke up into
small parties, and visited the various
European high officials in the town,
from whom they demanded money.
Each man, on giving them present.
received n talisman from the priests,
meaning Good luck and peace be to
thnm y