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... "ELEGY,

- To the Editors of the North…

To the "Edilorsof the North…

--Ilfr. P I TT a-td the DUKE…

Miscellaneous. I---

..-ANECDOTES..

Written let the George and…

A QUESTION.^

To the Editors of the North…

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

To the Editors of the North ffale* Gaiette. Stale of Religion in North dmerica^\ SOON after Mr. Jefferson's advancement to the presidency, the tythes of the episcopal clergy were entirely abolished, and the church lands sold for the use of government. All religious sects are therefore on the same foot- ing. In the New England States, Presbyterians aud Baptists are the most numerous. New York has a large proportion of adherents to the Church of England, which many of the Dutch also attend. New Jersey contains a mixture of Quakers, Baptists, and Presbyterians. In Pensylvanist, founded by William Penn, a rigid Quaker, a great part of the inhabitants are of that per- 21 suasion. In Maryland about one half of the people are Roman Catholics. In Virginia the methodists prevail. In the Carolinas, religion is at a very low ebb the inhabitants of these States pass their Suudays iu riot and liecotioui. ness, and the negroes indulge in tumultuous sports, and drunkenness. In Connecticut the sabbath is kept in the most rigid manner; a great majority of the people being baptists, and Presbyterians. In the other States, Ma- ryland excepted, the principal merchants, and men of property are chiefty of the Church of F,iigiand.-Aniongst the numerous religious sects in the United Stales, there is one, which for cxlravalaiii-e of action, during their ori- sons, is certainly pre-emineiit. These people are called Shakers. The first society was formed at Havard, in the State ofMassachu- sets, by Ann Leece, who denominated herself their Mother; and she associated herself with William Leece, her natural brother, as her second; John Parkinson, who had formerly been a Baptist preacher in England, the chief speaker. These people had converts in num- bers, and from distant parts, who laid up stores of provisions for such as tarried at Ha- vard. Their meetings, which continued day and night for a considerable time, consisted of preaching, singing and dancing; the men in one apartment, and the women in another. These meetings were attended by converts from a great distance, who staid from two to twenty days. They had missionaries in the country making proselytes, and confirming others in this fancied millenium stale. These were taught to be very industrious at home, that they might he able to contribute to the general fund, and many devoted their whole substance to the society. They vary their ex- ercises of devotion. Sometimes they dance, or rsther jump up and down in a heavy man- ner, till they are exhausted by the violence of the exercise. The chief speaker will sometimes begin to pray, they then desist to listen to him, and when he has finished, immediately renew their dancing with increased vigour. Then generally follows the shaking, as if shudder- ing under an ague, from which they have received the name of Shakers. They sing praises to David during the daticiiiw but 1 t, el could not learn what holy man or saint they nvoke in their shaking tits. The women are ■qually employed in the fatigues of these ex- e: ciscs under the eye of the mother in another apartment, where they jump and scream in dreadful concert. Sometimes there will be -hort ifttertuisaions, out iu a minute or two, one of the chiefs will spring up, crying, as David danced so will we bctorcGod," the tthcrs follow this signal; and thus, alternate- ly dancing, praying and singing, they pass nIght after night and often until morning, vlother Leece's followers have formed socie- ties in New Lebanon aud Hancock in the State of New York. J. S. A.