Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1887 — The Shaker Dance. [ARTICLE]

The Shaker Dance.

The expression on .the faces of the men and women was not solemn, but preoccupied, religious and absorbed. It was evident that this danoing and palm gesturing is subordinate to a general system of suiting the action to the word, which is destined to emphasize the poetry of sentiment by adding to it the poetry of motion. Hence, when the visiting elderess from Mt. Lebanon told the congregation that her associate elderess was detained and could not come, but sent her love to them, Elder Avery remarked: “Let us all gather in our sister’s love." Thereupon the entire congregation threw out their palms and returned them with a waving motion toward their hearts, each one whispering, “We gather in our sister’s love” —repeating the gesture several times, but all in unison. The combined dancing, bowing, gesturing and palm-waving does succeed in absorbing more of the attention of those who participate in it, and is more of a drill in social unity, than mere singing. It adds to the un tizing power of singing some of the good-fel-lowship which is encouraged and created by military drill. —■ Amur lean Magazine