"Far as the gospel spirit reigns, Our souls are in communion; From Alfred to South Union's plains, We feel our love and union. Here we may walk in peace and love, With God and saints uniting; While angels, smiling from above, To glory are inviting." Occasionally the book from which I am quoting gives one of those lively brief verses to which the Shaker congregation marches, with clapping hands and skipping feet; as these, for instance: "I mean to be obedient, And cross my ugly nature, And share the blessings that are sent To ev'ry honest creature; With ev'ry gift I will unite, And join in sweet devotion-- To worship God is my delight, With hands and feet in motion." "Come, let us all be marching on, Into the New Jerusalem; The call is now to ev'ry one To be alive and moving. This precious call we will obey-- We love to march the heav'nly way, And in it we can dance and play, And feel our spirits living." In the newer collection, entitled "Millennial Hymns, adapted to the present Order of the Church," and printed at Canterbury, New Hampshire, in 1847, a change is noticeable. The hymns are more devotional and less energetic. There are many praises of Mother Ann--such lines as these: "O Mother, blest Mother! to thee I will bow; Thou art a kind Mother, thou dost teach us how Salvation is gained, and how to increase In purity, union, in order and peace. "I love thee, O Mother; thy praise I will sound-- I'll bless thee forever for what I have found, I'll praise and adore thee, to thee bow and bend, For Mother, dear Mother, thou art my known friend." Or these: "I will walk in true obedience, I will be a child of love; And in low humiliation I will praise my God above. I will love my blessed Mother, and obey her holy word, In submission to my elders, this will join me to the Lord. "I will stand when persecution doth around like billows roll; I will bow in true subjection, and my carnal will control. I will stand a firm believer in the way and work of God, Doubts and fears shall never, never in me find a safe abode. "When temptations do surround me, floods of evil ebb and flow, Then in true humiliation I will bow exceeding low. I will fear the God of heaven, I will keep his holy laws, Treasure up his blessings given in this pure and holy cause. "Tho' beset by wicked spirits, men and devils all combin'd, Yet my Mother's love will save me if in faithfulness I stand: No infernal crooked creature can destroy or harm my soul, If I keep the love of Mother and obey her holy call." Or this hymn, which is called "Parents' Blessing: "My Father does love me, my Mother also Does send me her love, and I now feel it flow; These heavenly Parents are kind unto me, And by their directions my soul is set free.