The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-06-24


with ornaments but are supplied with useful
furniture. They are neat farmers, and their
mechanical work is completely executed Their
orchards and gardens are extensive. They have
plenty to eat and wear, and appear to be con-
feBted with their condition. They are bospIt-
able, and social, and frequently bestow large
charities to worthy objects.
They have meeting house, two stories, IS BY
56. The outside is painted white, the roof a.
well as the walls: which gives il singular apr
pearance. In the upper story the ministry i've
They are two men, and two women, who are
said to have arrived 10 an extraordinary degree
of holiness. They superintend the whole cum
munity, visit different stations, and hear the
ession Of those who are initiated into their COM
munity. The lower story is for public worship
on the Sabbath, and in it are Accommodations
! for great number Of spectators
| In each family are two male, and two female
elders, who have the whole spiritual direction Of
the members, and two male deacons, who fur
nish the kitchen, and attend TO all the temporal
concerns of the family.
first called at a great house. opposite the meeting.
house, and had considerable conversation with three
elders who Of intelligence and capable ofex-
pressing their ideas clearly. They directed me ~
Matthew Huston. for they Mr. no one who Is appoint
ed 10 converse with the people of the world and
terrain them. He had formerly been Presbyterian
Minister and left that body in the time Of the revival
in Kentucky.-He appea red very willing crafty my
curiosity. and answer the queries made relative to
their belief and practice.
At O'clock their stated hour FOR evening devotion
folding door opened, which united two spacious
rooms. The men and women formed each column
facing another with space between. Al the head
of which Elder Huston stool. Their devotion COM
menced by all singing hymn. in or music.
The tune lively, and their words plainly pro-
nognced Amongst the were several little
girls. After singing, the Elder gave short exhorta-
ton, and babe them prepare for labour. Then tha
men pulled off their coats. and the wemen some of
their loose Clothes and all faced towards the head of
their column Four OF the brethren and as many sis
tiers sung and the danced. Al certain tarns IN
the music, they spat their hands, turned entirely
ronnd and still continued dancing They sung 4
lively tune, and danced with more lively step
They sung another hymn, and Immediately retired to
rest.
NV feelings at what have Just seen cannot sx-
press. Their hymns are poor compositions and par.
take strongly of their peculiar sentiments Their sing
ing and dancing are very similar to what have fire.
quenty practised by the Indians. Never did
greater mixture Of sensations crowd upon my mind.
felt contempt for their folly, pity for their ignorance
indignation their leaders who. to think the most
charitably Of them, ought to know better and went
at the awful disappointment they experience,
when they enter the eternal world -when their sandy
foundation shall be swept away their hopes fail and
they be forever undoDe
retired TO rest but the recollection of what had
drove sleep from my eyes. concluded they
only happy whom the of everlasting love
support
In the morning they rose at 4 O'clock ADD cue hHlf
hour after attended their morning devotols. They
took their places described last evening and sung
a hymn of praise 70, anc expressive of confidence
God their mother after which they all fe upon their
knees, and appeared to be 10 silent devotion for some
minutes. They then arose and went to their respes.
tive apartments.
They are regular in every thing they do. They re.
tire o'clock rise at A. Breakfast at G. dine at II,
and sup at 6--Tbey keep schee, where children
Of both taught-It is said thar their teach
ers assduousy ncucate their peculiar principles up
on their pupils When their children are of a law
full age for themselves they insist their maxi
ing choice either fully to unite with the community
or to leave it, They inform tlF in seten years
past 200, yeang and old have joined their commun-
ty. They have summary Of doctrine but, by
looking their books and from conversation with
them. drew up the following creed, which they ac-
knowledge as their belief
There il one God; but Trinity Of persons in The
Godhead. That the Son is inferior the Father and
in the work Of creation used subordinate D
gent. That tie principal excellence or IN, man Jesus
Christ consisted in bis being filled with the Divine
Spirit They deny the propitiaory Of the atone
ment of Christ and hold that he suffered only for our
example, TO show how we are to cruelty The flesh
that is, to eradicate natural propcnstes and az
fections. They believe that Of those who died
before Christ Heaven. but thar number vent
with him to the blessed place after bis resurrection.
They believe that the plan Of salvation was not &C.
veloped. perfect holiness required Of those WHO
then protested the religion But that Christ has come
second time without sin unto salvation" in the
person of female; and now the plan OF salvation is
perfectly revealed and understood by all Shakers;
perfect holiness is required and attainable and
the example OF Christ is 10 be literally followed Hence
they will not permit the members of their church 10
marry nor those who are married when thev mite
with them, 20 live together as husband and Wife
They believe they tine children or the resurrection
and must neither marry be given in marriage but
be as the angels in Heaven
They deny the doctrine of Gods DEGREES and of
justification through faith the merits of Christ but
believe when they confess their sins to their minis
try and are absolved, then they live perfectly free
from every faint Of snThey believe that the day Of
judgment commenced when Christ appeared the sec
ond time in the person of Anna Lee and thait II still
progressive That her spirit dfused on the ministry
enables them 70 Judge. acqu condemn. and that
they confer portion of that spirit All that
they account worthy Of eternal life which lives in
and continually governs them.
They say the resurrection is past, and there viii
never be resurrection Of the body They believe
that judgment. began in this world will be continued
until all the souls Of the wicked who departed th3
life ignorant OF the Gospel il is held by the Shakers
have offer Of II, and If they become Shakers they
shall he saved Ifnot they shall he made efernally
miserable They believe the Bible is OF no use now
farther <sn prove the introduction Of their dspen-
sation. II is the old heavens which have passed a.
way. They deny the charge Of Uorshiping Anna
Lee They trace the origin of their denomination 10
the French Jumpers.
They disavOw wOrshipping Anna Lee;> yet in