A Simple Shaker Murder by Deborah Woodworth Page B

service would honor Hugh Griffiths, as Wilhelm had asked her to, and they had all shown up. She skimmed the men’s side of the room and saw all the male New-Owenites in attendance. As her gaze moved from Gilbert Griffiths, she met the eyes of Brother Andrew. They gave one another a brief nod, then looked away, so as not to give the wrong impression to the monitors assigned to watch for “special looks” between sisters and brethren.
    Rose and Charlotte slipped into two chairs in the back row. Both were tall enough to see the room over the heads of others. The Believers bowed their heads in silent prayer, easing themselves into a worshipful state, while the New-Owenites fidgeted. After several moments, Wilhelm rose from his first-row chair and walked to the center of the room.
    â€œBelievers and friends,” he said, “I am pleased that we have this time to worship together. I believe we have a common purpose and that the Holy Father has brought us here in one place for a reason. Everything that has happened, even when it appears as evil, has happened for the good of our joint mission. We are all called to work together, as spiritual friends and allies.” Wilhelm’s rough features softened into a benign smile.
    Rose felt a jolt of confusion, of disorientation, as if she had suddenly been whisked to another world where everything was the opposite of her own. Where was the fiery righteousness she had come to expect from Wilhelm’s speeches? Where was the impatience, the intolerance of anything carnal? Perhaps hisconciliatory manner was meant to be respectful, but it sounded like a welcome to newly committed Believers.
    She glanced over at Andrew, whose open mouth told her that he was as puzzled as she was. Next to him, however, Gilbert Griffiths had a smirk on his face. Before any response was possible, Wilhelm beckoned the singers to the middle of the room and cued them to begin a welcoming hymn, which they sang with less verve than usual.
    Instead of calling for dancing worship, which he usually did, Wilhelm nodded to the singers to be seated when they had finished, and he moved again to the center of the room, apparently gathering steam for another announcement or perhaps a homily. A movement on the men’s side caught Rose’s attention, and she turned to see Gilbert stand and work his way toward Wilhelm. The scowl on Wilhelm’s face said clearly that he had not planned this. However, Gilbert stood with a confident smile beside Wilhelm, who was taller and broader and fiercer by far.
    Moments dragged by in silence while Wilhelm struggled to overcome his surprise and regain momentum. Rose might have enjoyed seeing Wilhelm caught off guard had she not been so worried about what was going to happen.
    Gilbert drew in his breath as if to speak, but Wilhelm took a step forward and spread open his arms.
    â€œBrethren and sisters,” Wilhelm said, “I urge thee to open thy hearts and welcome our visitors from the world. Though they may dress differently from us, and talk and work differently from us, we are both called by God for the same purpose. I say this to them, as much as to thee. Though we are apart from the world, and they are, as yet, still of it, we reach for the same stars. We all seek to build a heaven on earth, a place where we can dwell like the angels. And we can create that heaven by working together, all of us, with our eyes on the task, and our hearts free of earthly distractions.”
    Gilbert raised his eyebrows, and Rose knew why. Wilhelm had just urged the New-Owenites to give up their carnal lives and become Shakers, celibate and faith-centered. His plan wastransparent: the Shakers could survive and flourish if they absorbed the New-Owenites, especially the strong, young men who were the leadership.
    Rose found herself clutching the sides of her chair seat, steadying herself for the fight ahead.
    Gilbert stepped forward, just a shade in front of Wilhelm.