Part 2

“Lost in the tide of doing good, Thy Master’s humble name. So thy discipleship record, Beyond all earthly fame.”

Music used in Church Service was without instrumental accompaniment, as the mixed voices of the members, formed an adequate chorus. However, as diminished numbers left the singers without the assistance of male voices, an organ was introduced for vocal support.

Many persons are curious as to the reason for using dancing or marching, in our earlier religious services. It is amazing how much sound reason is behind the thinking of the early Shaker leaders, and how much psychology was employed.

It was the belief of the Shakers that every faculty should be used in the worship of God, and so, various forms of physical exercise were introduced, particularly the March. A group of eight or ten singers, occupied the center of the room, around which the members marched in perfect formation. It was with a graceful, rhythmic motion of the hands as the members marched to the slow or quick tempo of the music.

Dancing, or the March, was not such a strange occurrence during a religious service of the early days of the Church. We have mention, in the Old Testament, of David and Miriam dancing before the Lord. Also there are 19 instances where dancing is mentioned in the Mosaic Law.

There was also a definite psychological purpose behind the Shaker marches, seldom explained, and rarely understood by the general Public. The perfect rhythmic body motions, of a worshipper, who combined this activity with a deep mental and religious fervor, developed within himself, a great spiritual inspiration, almost impossible to understand or describe, by one who has never witnessed or participated in this form of worship. But if one could have been present, as I was, and could have seen the perfect spiritual union, that was produced, when a soul combined the physical motions, the singing voice and the dedicated heart, in giving praise and thanks to God—I’m sure you would have agreed that the physical motions added a still greater dimension to the expression of Prayer. However, as years passed, and older members were unable to join in these marches, the exercises were discontinued, as it was considered necessary to maintain a perfect union among the members, a service in which all may participate as One.

Today, our Church Service is quiet and more formal, resembling, perhaps the Prayer meetings held in many of the churches of other denominations.

The first organ was introduced into the Society, by Elder Henry Blinn. It was one of the first built by the Prescott Organ Co., of Concord, N. H., and can be seen today, still in working condition, in our little Museum, right here at the Canterbury Village. When purchased, it was placed in the School House, where the members gathered for instruction in the reading of notes.

The introduction of instrumental music was quite an innovation among the Shakers. Eldress Dorothy Durgin felt that music added refinement to a young person, so she made a trip to a Music Company in Boston, to negotiate the purchase of a second organ for instrumental practices.

Eldress Dorothy possessed a gracious, winning personality, and so impressed the proprietor of the Company, that he presented the Society at Canterbury with a fine cabinet organ. The first piano was introduced in 1872. Later, pianos owned and brought in by those who joined the Society, provided added facilities for instrumental practice.

In order to encourage this musical movement, Eldress Dorothy held monthly recitals, at which each pupil was represented, everyone, from the beginner, who could do but simple finger exercises, to the more advanced student, who could, perhaps, master the difficult music of the classics. Every child who desired, was given the opportunity for musical instruction whether so gifted or not.

Soon other instruments found their way into the Society, and an orchestra was formed composed of 2 violins, cornet, bass-viol and piano. Some years later another orchestra was organized comprising 2 violins, a cornet, cello, 2 saxophones, drum and cymbals and pipe-organ and piano. This orchestra was under the direction of Professor Nevers of Concord, N. H., who also directed the well-known Nevers Band of Concord. The Society at Sabbathday Lake, also formed a small, but fine, orchestra. Indeed every Society made the study of music a part of their educational life.

On special days such as Easter and Christmas, the members arranged concerts, at which time they presented selections from Standard Cantatas, such as Gaul’s Holy City, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, etc., plus many choruses of our original composition.

On Christmas morning the young people greeted the family, as they assembled for breakfast, with a beautiful Christmas Carol. One especially impressive and original arrangement, was called “The Celestial Choir”. As the family assembled for breakfast a small group of singers, started singing on the attic stairs, and, as they descended, others joined them on each loft, resulting in a full chorus of voices, as they approached the lower hall, after which they joined the family in a well-prepared Christmas breakfast.

God’s gift of Music has always played a most important part in the life of the Maine Societies. The library of the family at Sabbathday Lake reflects the breadth and richness of Shaker musical tradition. Not only does the collection contain the earliest known Shaker musical manuscript dated 1802, but it serves as a guide to the musical history not only in Maine, but of all the other Societies. In some manuscripts, hauntingly beautiful melodies, in a minor key, written over 175 years ago, before the gathering of the Societies in Gospel order, mingle with the impassioned and moving hymns, given under inspiration, by the Holy Spirit.

In discussing Maine Shaker music we cannot pass over the name of Otis Sawyer who for nearly fifty years served the Cause of Christ; first as Elder of the family at Poland Hill, later as Elder of the Church Family at Sabbathday Lake and finally as Spiritual Head of the Maine Ministry.

Elder Otis is responsible not only for the words and music of countless lovely hymns, but also the untiring compiler of things musical in Maine. Due to his efforts we have preserved over 500 inspired hymns from Alfred, Gorham, Sabbathday Lake and Poland Hill.

One of the most talented musicians ever to have lived the Shaker life in Maine, was Elder Oliver Holmes. Altho’ he died in 1841 fond memories of his great gift of song, and of his musical inventiveness still remain.

It is of interest to note that “The Gift to be Simple”, the Shaker song, perhaps best known to the world, chiefly through Aaron Copland’s having used it in his “Appalachian Spring”, is from Maine, having been composed by the Ministry of Alfred.

We must mention, too, the names of two sisters, important for their contributions to the world of Shaker Music. To Aurelia Gay Mace, the versatile Chronicler of Maine Shaker history, we owe, not only the preservation of several remarkable manuscript collections, but also a wealth of highly personal and original comment both on the songs, popular among Believers, and the manner in which they were sung. To Sister Aurelia we are also indebted, for much of our knowledge of the March in Worship, and the interaction of song and March.

Eldress Mary Ann Gillespie was the composer of many beautiful hymns during the period immediately following the Civil War. One of the best loved of her hymns is entitled, “Watching and Praying”. The words follow:

Watching and praying, I find you, O my beloved, my own. Trusting a Father’s rich promise I will not leave you alone, I will not leave you alone.

Though thro’ the desert I lead Or apart in the mountain ye pray, For strength in the hour of need, I never will answer you, “Nay”, I never will answer you, “Nay”.

The musical education of the Shakers has certainly come a long way, since the days of Brother Abram Whitney’s letteral notation and the simple melodies of our early founders. Today, many of our hymns and anthems are much more elaborate as you will note in a later Shaker Anthem, entitled “Rejoice”. Although, perhaps, rather empty without the addition of a full chorus, you will get some idea of the quality of the composition, as I play it on the organ. The present day Shaker Hymnal contains many beautiful hymns and anthems. Some were arranged and harmonized by members, using various Scripture texts, while others were the musical expression of those simple, sincere soul-breathings from the dedicated hearts who were imbued with the spirit of the first Christian founders. One of these hymns ably voices the universal faith of the Shakers, whose hearts deeply feel for those, their brothers, who suffer and are in need of love and assistance. The following hymn, entitled “Universal Prayer”, is one of many, which are sung in our Church Service, in loving thought of others.

The Spirit is calling, earnestly calling O Zion, unfold in deep prayer. O pray for the fathers, the sisters and brothers, O pray for the household; O pray for the mothers, remember all others, O pray for the whole, whole world.

O Spirit, most holy, earnestly calling, So tenderly pleading for all, In prayerful devotion we bow at Thy bidding To ask Thy rich mercies may fall, ’Till household and nation shall see Thy salvation, Thy power reach the whole, whole world.

Transcriber’s Notes

—Silently corrected a few typos.

—Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication.

—In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.