coat or jacket of any kind was worn, so that all the men were literally in their shirt-sleeves. The dress of the women was entirely white; the gown was long and narrow, and the waist short, the sleeves tight, the bosom plain, and all attempt at gracefulness of form or decorative ornament scrupulously avoided. A small clear muslin hankerchief or cape was worn over the shoulders, and a cap of clear muslin, fitting closely to the face with long descending lappets, covered the head; while the hair was put up in the plainest manner, and almost entirely concealed from view. On the left arm each female had a white napkin, neatly folded, and hanging over the arm; and the whole appearance of the congregation, notwithstanding its singularity, was impressive, from the purity and simplicity of their costume. The physiognomy of the men was more indicative of the enthusiastic temperament than that of the women, and they were also characterized by better animal condition as to health and strength, with less appearance of intellect. Among the women there were a few, especially among the younger portion, that were handsome; but the greater part were very plain, and the whole were even more pallid than American women generally, with an appearance of languor, that betokened a morbid state of feeling and very imperfect health. The first half hour of the worship was passed in a profound silence; the men, as they entered, stepping as lightly as possible across the floor, to hang up their broad-brimmed straw hats on the wall, and the women, as they entered, disposing of their plair straw bonnets, all of the same pattern, in a similar manner, then taking their seats, the eldest of each sex occupying the front rows, opposite to each other, and the younger filling up the benches behind them, and some sitting on the ground. and At the end of this half hour one of the male elders rose, which was the signal for forming in ranks, when the benches were removed by the parties who sat on them, and ranged close to the wall, so as to leave the central part of the room clear. The lines were then formed, the men standing in rows at one end of the room, and the women at the other, the front ranks of each nearly meeting in the centre. One of the elders then addressed the worshippers as dear brethren and sisters, and spoke for about five minutes. The substance of his remarks was, that they ought all to rejoice at having the privilege to meet and worship God in their own way without interruption, and at the still greater privilege of being among the number of those who were especially called by God to come out from the world, and to put aside ungodliness and all worldly lusts. They were engaged in the work of God, and not in that of the world, and their happiness consisted in knowing and doing his will. The first speaker was followed by a second, who expressed near ly the same sentiments in other words; and, after a pause of a few minutes, the whole body sang together a short hymn, of which I could only catch the first verse, which was thus: "Oh! the precious work of God- I will rejoice, and lift my voice, To serve the Lord for evermore." The singing was loud and harsh, without the least attempt at harmony, and the air was rude and wild. Not more than half the number of the congregation joined in this exercise, though there was no particular body as a choir to whom it was restricted; but every one seemed to pay the most devout attention. Another elder then stepped into the front and addressed the strangers present. He said that it was very much the custom for strangers to come and visit them on the Sabbath, though they rarely came on any other day; and as there were undoubtedly some peculiarities in their worship, it was more than probable that curiosity was the leading motive that brought us there. To this they offered no impediment; for, as they were not ashamed either of their opinions or practices, but rather rejoiced in them, they did not close their doors against any persons, but willingly admitted and accommodated, as far as their space and means would allow, all who chose to remain, provided they were silent and respectful; and when they found they could not be both, it was desirable they should withdraw. He said the world regarded them as madmen and fools, but so did the world esteem the early Christians. They knew, however, that they were sober and sincere; and the only difference between themselves and the world was, that the people of the world continued still to see things as through a glass, darkly, while God had called them out of the world to see things with all the fulness of the brightest day; and that, when our eyes were opened (for a day would come in which each would receive a call, and by his acceptance or rejection of that call his future destiny would be settled), we should look back upon the things of the world just as they now did, as being nothing but a heap of vanities and emptiness. Another pause ensued, and then the whole assembly fell on their knees, and elevating their hands and arms, and making signs of beckoning or invitation, they sang in concert this verse: "Come, holy angels, quickly come, And bring your purifying fire; Some of the spectators looked at the female portion of the worshippers while they were singing this, and then at each other significantly; but upon the countenances of the singers themselves, whether male or female, not a trace could be seen of any other sentiment or feeling than that of the deepest gravity and devotion. At every close of this verse, which they repeated several times, they bowed their heads to the ground, those of the two front ranks of males and females almost touching each other; and at the termination of the whole they remained on their knees for a few minutes, looking steadfastly on the ground, and buried in the most profound silence. When they rose another elder came forward and a second time addressed the strangers; whether he was induced to do so from the significant looks interchanged among the spectators while the last verse was singing, I could not positively say; but it seemed to me probable, because he opened his speech by observing that many persons who came to see them went away and calumniated them. Among other things, he said it had been alleged that they did not live the life of purity which they pretended, but that their practices were contrary to their professions. This he declared to be untrue, and called Heaven to witness the accuracy of his assertion. He said they laboured honestly with their own hands to maintain themselves independently; and that, between labour for subsistence and the worship of God, their time was wholly occupied, while they avoided and resisted all temptation, and kept themselves pure from all carnal defilement. When he had ceased, one of the elders among the females, who appeared to be about sixty years of age, broke silence, and, addressing the assembly, said she had been forty years a member of the community, but had never felt herself inspired to speak till the present moment. Now, however, she felt it her duty to unloose her tongue, and declare that these aspersions upon their purity were altogether unwarranted; that their brethren gave them only protection, for which they felt duly grateful; but that they neither sought for, nor asked, nor desired anything from them in return; that the female part of the body, on whose behalf she could speak, regarded themselves as chosen vessels, set apart for the use and service of God alone; and they neither had, nor wished to have, any communication with men. This defence of the purity of the order was received by the females with the loudest and most enthusiastic acclamations and clapping of hands. The assembly then formed itself into another order for the dancing, which is called by them "labour," and from the zeal and animation with which all their movements are performed, it may well deserve that name. The males were first arranged in pairs, following each other like troops in a line of march; and when their number was completed, the females followed after, two and two, in the same manner. In this way they formed a complete circle round the open space of the room. In the centre of the whole was a small band of about half a dozen males and half a dozen females, who were there stationed to sing the tunes and mark the time; and these began to sing with a loud voice and in quick time, like the allegro of a sonata, or the vivace of a canzonet, the following verse: "Perpetual blessings do demand, The motion of the double line of worshippers, as they filed off before us, was something between a march and a dance. Their bodies were inclined forward like those of persons in the act of running; they kept the most perfect time with their feet, and beat the air with their hands to the same measure. Some of the more robust and enthusiastic literally "leaped" so high as to shake the room by the weight with which they fell to their feet on the floor; and others, though taking the matter more moderately, bore evident signs of the effects of the exercise and heat united on their persons. The first dance lasted about five minutes, and during the pause which succeeded another short speech was made by one of the male elders, repeating the duty of congratulating themselves on the privileges they enjoyed. The first dance was performed to the air of "Scots wha' ha'e wi' Wallace bled," but sung with great rapidity, such as is sometimes done when it is converted into a quick march by a military band. The second dance was of still quicker measure, and to the much less respectable old English tune of "Nancy Dawson,' which I had not heard for thirty years at least, though it was a popular song in my boyhood, among sailors especially; and the last place on earth in which I should have expected to hear it revived would have been among the Shakers in America. Yet so it was: and to this lively and merry tune the whole body, now formed into three abreast instead of two, literally scampered round the room in a quick gallopade, every individual of both the choir and the dancers singing with all their might these words: "Press on, press on, ye chosen band, The angels go before ye; We're marching through Emanuel's land, Where saints shall sing in glory." This exercise was continued for at least double the time of the former, and by it the worshippers were wrought up to such a pitch of fervour, that they were evidently on the point of some violent outbreak or paroxysm. Accordingly, the whole assembly soon got into the "most admired disorder," each dancing to his own tune and his own measure, and the females became perfectly ungovernable. About half a dozen of these whirled themselves round in what opera-dancers call a pirouette, performing at least fifty revolutions each, their arms extended horizontally, their clothes being blown out like an air-balloon all round their persons, their heads sometimes falling on one side, and sometimes hanging forward on the bosom, till they would at length faint away in hyster ical convulsions, and be caught in the arms of the surrounding dancers. This, too, like the singing and dancing which preceded it, was accompanied by clapping of hands to mark the time, while the same verse was constantly repeated, and at every repetition with increased rapidity. Altogether the scene was one of the most extraordinary I had ever witnessed, and, except among the howling dervishes of Bagdad and the whirling dervishes of Damascus, remember nothing in the remotest degree resembling it. It was well that the assembly was speedily after this dispersed, because I think another half hour would have carried the fervour so high that it might have ended in scenes which would have astonished and disgusted the spectators, and not have been very honourable to the performers. During the whole period of this worship, which lasted about two hours, I was endeavouring to settle in my mind the debatable question of whether the people whom I saw before me were practising a delusion on themselves, or endeavouring to impose upon and deceive others. I had had the same difficulty before in witnessing the follies of the Christian devotees at Jerusalem and throughout the Holy Land, where the various sects of Eastern Christians endeavour to outvie each other in the extravagances of their penances and ceremonies. I had felt similar doubts when seeing the fantastic conduct of Mohammedan fakirs and dervishes in Egypt and Arabia, and Hindu devotees in Bengal and Bombay. The conclusion to which I came in all these cases was the same; namely, that there was much more of sincerity in their belief and conduct than the world generally supposed; and that, instead of attempting to dupe others, they were merely deluding themselves. The exceptions to this rule are so rare as to form an inconsiderable fraction of the whole number; and, strange as such infatuation may appear, there has never yet been an age or country free from it, in some shape or other, as the history of the world abundantly testifies. When the assembly had broken up, I sought and obtained an interview with one of the male elders, who readily answered all the inquiries I made of him; and on my expressing a desire to procure any authentic publications which might be in existence relative to the history and peculiar views of their community, he referred me to the "Office" of the village, where I went for that purpose. We were received here by one of the female Shakers, a well-grown and pretty young woman of about twenty, with some colour yet remaining in her cheek, dark and expressive eyes, and a very cheerful and smiling countenance. Her conversation was intelligent, free from any appearance of restraint, and her manner most easy and natural. She readily answered our inquiries, and furnished me with four different works, published under the sanction of the community, and, therefore, to be relied on for their ac |