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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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cteris are extensive . They liaSte' ptei&y to- eat and wear , and appear t& Ve contented with their condition , They are hospitable and soci a l , and frequently bestow large chanties to worthy objects . k
tft < rti *! -. „ ,- ¦ UnrrA «> vvknAf inn * Vimioh ! ¦ # ' \ B 7 rf-* They have a meeting-house ; two stories , 65 by 56 . The outside is painted white , the roof as Well as the avails , which gives it a singular appearance . In the upper story the
ministry live . They are two men and two women , who are said to have ar-Tived to an extraordinary degree of holiness . They superintend the whole community , visit different stations , and hear the confessions of those who
^ ire initiated into their community . The lower story is for public worship o « the Sabbath , and in it . are accommodations for a great number of spectators .
" In each family are two male and two female elders , who have the whole spiritual direction of the members , and two male deacons , who furnish the kitchen , and attend to $ 11 the temporal concerns of the family .
'"I first called at a great house , opposite the meeting-house , and had jconsiderable conversation with three elders , who are men of intelligence and capable of expressing their ideas clearly . They directed me to Matthew Huston , ( for they Mr . no one , ) who is ^ appointed to converse with the people
of the world , and to entertain them . He had formerly been a Presbyterian minister , and left that body in the tittie of the revival in Kentucky . He appeared very willing to gratify my curiosity , and answer the queries I made relative to their belief and practice .
" At eight o'clock , their stated hour for evening devotion , a folding-door . was opened , which united two spacious rooms . The men and women formed ^ ach a column facing one anothe r , with a space between , at the head of which elder Huston stood . Their
devotion commenced by all singing a hymn , in one part of music , —The tune was lively , and their words were plainly pronounced . Amongst the women were several little girls . After singing , the elder gave a short exhortation , and bade them prepare for labour . Then the men pulled , ptf their coats , and the women some of their loose clothes , and all faced towards
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the head of tlicdr column . F ^ tf of the brethren and as many sisters £ tmgy and the rest danced . At certain i \ krns in the music , they spat on their Miiftte ,
turned entirely round / and still continued dancing . —They suite a more liv % ly tune , and danced with a more lively step . They sung another hymn , and immediately retired to rest .
" My feeling's , at what I have just seen , I cannot express . Their hyfiptas are poor compositions , arid parfake strongly of their peculiar tfentiifrents . Their singing and dancing are very similar to what I have frequentl y seen practised b y the Indians . Neyer did a greater mixture of sensations crowd
upon my mind . I felt contempt for their folly , pity for their ignorance , indignation at their leaders , who , to thuik- the most charitably of them , ought to know better , and J wept at the awful disappointment they must experience when they enter the eter ^ nat world—when their sandy foundation shall be swept away , their hopes fall , and they be for ever ujidone !
" I retired to rest ; but the recollection of what 1 had seen drove sleep from my eyes . I concluded they oiriy are happy whom the arms of everlasting love support . " In the morning they rose at four o ' clock , and one half hour after
attended their morning devotions . They took their places as described last evening , and sung a hymn of praise to , and expressive of confidence in , God , theh * mother , after which they all fell upon their kpees , and appeared to be in silen t devotion for
some minutes . They then arose and went to their respective apartments . " They are regular and systematic in every thing they do . They retire at nine o ' clock , rise at four , breakfast at six , dine at twelve , and sup at six . They keep a school , where children
of both sexes are taught . It is said that their teachers assiduously inculcate their peculiar principles upon their pupils . When their children are of lawful age to act for themselves , they insist upon their making a choice
eUher fully to unite wiilj the , community or to leave it . Th ^ ey infonn me tli # t , in seven years past , 200 , young s ^ nd old , have joined their community . They have jjo summary of doctrine ; but , by looking over their books , and from conservation with them , I d * e w
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1 & 4 -ffitiito the Settlement of the Ameri&kn Sect of the ShakePs .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1823, page 134, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1782/page/6/
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