SHAKERS AND RELIGIOUS MUMMERS 243 



the world's great intellects, he replied that " They that 

 cultivate the vain rovings of the mind, like those that 

 handle the harp and organ, indulge a lust ; and, like the 

 lusters of old, are swept into hell." On my remarking 

 that I heard that they themselves indulged in music 

 at their worship, he answered, " Yea ! even as Miriam 

 sounded a timbrel over the enemies of the Lord, but not 

 to gratify the lust of sweet sounds." 



We were fed here with boiled mutton, bread, and 

 potatoes, followed by a plain rice pudding. Good whole- 

 some food, and I quite agreed with our host's remark 

 that those who desired better deserved to have none, 

 though I thought the remark out of place, as I am sure 

 that neither of his guests failed to partake of the fare 

 with thankfulness to him and to our common Master. 



We had intimated that we intended to attend their 

 public worship the next day, which was a Sunday, but 

 we were not invited to pass the night in the settlement, 

 which I could see vexed my friend. We had consequently 

 to ride six miles the following morning to the Shaker 

 meeting-house. It was a building without ornament, and 

 without a pulpit; and the men sat separate on one side 

 of the building with the women on the other. The 

 music was furnished by that most abominable of all 

 musical instruments, a harmonium, which, we may 

 justly surmise, was invented by the father of evil for 

 the special behoof of such orgies as that I now narrate. 



The presiding elder called on '' some brother to open 

 with prayer," and immediately up jumped my young 

 friend, the blacksmith. Prayer ! I hope I shall never 

 hear another such ; and the only point in favour of him 

 that offered the horribly blasphemous incantation for 

 such it was that I can say, is that I am sure he was 

 raving mad. I shall not attempt to repeat anything 

 that he said ; but his manner was enough to convince 

 any impartial observer that he was insane. He jumped 

 up from the floor, he stood on a bench, then down again ; 



