Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-10-06
cl,rsnurta DatIp @asstts.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER s.

n, a long detaii OF an sAPeao
,r., religious society called Shakers, at
,,aee called Shaker.town. Reports
;. curren, in the vicinity Of their society
-, ,be members, tho protesting total
s.,;oeuce from sexual intercourse, were
,vithstanding privately guilty, and that
H. were IN the habit of throwing their IN
s,,s into their vaults !: another report was
~, the society held persons in servitude
..,,rary to their wishes. A military expe-
:. r,;on was set on foot about 500 armed,
no1sr proper commanders, and as many
uo,r unarmed. A proposition was made
u,be Shakers that they should either re-
rooulsh their political faith, or abandon the
,ouu,ry. A magistrate ordered them in
Il. name of the state to disperse, The
sb,lers behaved with christian forbearance
.-rxpostulased with their prosecutors de-
MED the charges alledeed, and solicited ex-
.,miuatiou. Strict seaic h was made, but no
dead evidence of living love was discovered.
All the members of the society were inter-
rogatsd, and no one was found in a state of
unwilling servitude no one wished to quit
The society. The spectators and the mill
my returned without accomplishing their
purpose.
We had supposed that long ere this the
spirit of federation was fully understood IN
this country and religious persecution at
an end and thar all might worship the
Deity in such manner as was deemed pro.
prSnot disturbing society at large nor vio-
htug the laws. The constitution Of theU.
States secures this right to every one and
what denomination Of christians are more
pure in their worship, more moral in their
department.. more industrious, more simple
iE hsr habits, more frugal or more peacea-
Die than the shakers?
Not acentury has elapsed since the com
mencement OF that order of Christians de.
dominated Methodists; yet how extensive
and respectable has that society now be-
come; and how great is its influence in the
promotion of pure morals, in the extension
and exercise. of all the vital virtues. Whe-
Msr the society of Shakers are or are not
more refined and exalted in their forms of
worship, It is not mans prerogative to
Judge Whether they will ever so widely
uaase their principles, and gain proselytes
hsuch abundance remains to be proved.
mere are several societies OF this demo-
a'Nallon in the United States. In Massa-
0'usst's there are at least two old respec-
"0E oPulent establishments of this descrip-
uoo' at Harvard and Shirley. Their mode
" worship differs from most others but
Us not too readily believe dcviations
40@ usual tenets deviations from scrip
''''' For total abstinence with respect
"Aual connection they plead the advice
''1 Paul. Nor are they singular in this
'peet; the chastity of both sexes was for
- "'la the highest proof of exalted piety.
was this that canonized Edward the con-
~a0'' It's said so strict they are that male
'emale linen are not suffered to dry
"'e same bush. The writer of this article
49,; 'OOverslng with female member of the
NW asked her what would be the conse-
OF an universal embracing of their
She replied: The carnal mind
unity to heaven; it is not subject to its
,,. "or indeed can be; hence no prospect