sters were in pure white dresses, with neck and
shoulders covered with snowy kerchiefs, their heads crowned with their
white net caps, and a large white pocket handkerchief hung over the
left arm. Their feet were shod with curious pointed-toed cloth shoes of
ultramarine blue--a fashion long since gone by.

Susanna had now become accustomed to the curious solemn march or dance
in which of course none but the Believers ever joined, and found in
her present exalted mood the songs and the exhortations strangely
interesting and not unprofitable.

Tabitha, the most aged of the group of Albion Sisters, confessed that
she missed the old times when visions were common, when the Spirit
manifested itself in extraordinary ways, and the gift of tongues
descended. Sometimes, in the Western Settlement where she was gathered
in, the whole North Family would march into the highway in the fresh
morning hours, and while singing some sacred hymn, would pass on to the
Center Family, and together in solemn yet glad procession they would
mount the hillside to "Jehovah's Chosen Square," there to sing and dance
before the Lord.

"I wish we could do something like that now!" sighed Hetty Arnold,
a pretty young creature who had moments of longing for the pomps and
vanities. "If we have to give up all worldly pleasures, I think we might
have more religious ones!"

"We were a younger church in those old times of which Sister Tabitha
speaks," said Eldress Abby. "You must remember, Hetty, that we were
children in faith, and needed signs and manifestations, pictures and
object-lessons. We've been trained to think and reason now, and we've
put away some of our picture-books. There have been revelations to tell
us we needed movements and exercises to quicken our spiritual powers,
and to give energy and unity to our worship, and there have been
revelations telling us to give them up; revelations bidding us to sing
more, revelations telling us to use wordless songs. Then anthems were
given us, and so it has gone on, for we have been led of the Spirit."

"I'd like more picture-books," pouted Hetty under her breath.

Today the service began with a solemn song, followed by speaking and
prayer from a visiting elder. Then, after a long and profound silence,
the company rose and joined in a rhythmic dance which signified the
onward travel of the soul to full redemption; the opening and closing of
the hands meaning the scattering and gathering of blessing.