The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1824-08-05
@isreIIanv.
From 'he Bosfon Telegr0na.
THE SHAKERS

lAcmaS
Brown, seeded member Of this Society,
were not considered by them as a fair tsprs>
seniation Of their views. Accordingly, IN pros
pairing the copy for new edition, the Pro.
iesso' Silimsn requested them TO trsnsuis
Tor insertion, short account OF their faith AMI
poli'y, ~ approved by ,hepselves. This ac-
count, however, came toe late for serlion IN
that work, and was handed over 10 rha Ediusr
oi the Christian Spectator, in the last numher
II which II mskes its appearance. As itis
TOO long Tor newspaper article, we shsli ts-
desvor TO convey tho sum end substance OF ie
IN ss short . compass ss possible IN
The Society Of Shake . originated in L Il.
lsnd, and ws' built up CHI, fly by tho mnis' l.A-
nons Of ANN LEE, who was born in NJ ss-
chester, 1896 She was subiee, to ,se,hahs
impressions from hei youth. Having losr q
pluu, mother at an es,iy eye, and 6nding .sss-
te wards no person TO assist her ip tho pei
suit OF holiness, she wss married to Abrshr,i n
Stanley, by whom she bad four child, on, WIN .
ell died in infancy. 80
The convictions OF her youth often reiu n l.
ing with great force, she became aequsirsa n
with society Of people associs,ed uoder tho.
administration Of James enc Jane Wsrd.k,y,-
who had been greatly favored with d, s.nep
manifestations conee ming the second apr sar.
Ing OF Christ, which they saw 81 hand. Tho
Society praciised no forms, ssd sdoptoG no
creed' or rules Of worship but. gave tlSm-
se've, up to be led wholly by he opersxi2us
OF tho Spirit Of God. Thcr meetings iw,ro
suended with remarkable operations, and With
'ho spirit oi prophecy and divine revelation.
Soms,imcs they were seized with gseae
trembling end shaking 81 ON which eircom-
stances they received from their enemies the
sppella,ion Of SHAKERS. 4t'~n
This Society orieinsted about lY47.--hnn
Lee joined It In 1883. But no, finding ihse
complete deliversnce from the p'opetAsi,,cs
OF s'sinful nature which she desired, she pray.
cd with great ea,ncstness snd constsney y, thse
she might know more perfectly tho way OF
Toll redemption, aud how to End 6osi sslyslion
from all Sin. Al length her prayer was sn-,
swsred and she testified with great power
that sto had received by tho Spirit Of Christi
fuil revelation Of the fallen us,ure of man.
end Of the only means OF redemption snd thse
'hore mesns were comprised 10 his ptecepts .
end living example whilo on ostth. She now
possessed ktest influence In the society, and
was received as their spiritual lesdes and
mother IN Chyios.
In l774, Ann end number Of hor follow.
ers cmigrs,ed 10 America, and seuisd ., Wa.
tervlie,, near Albany. In 1880, they were
visited by persons from d,fferso, quarters, who
| embraced their ,enets, and ptopsga,ed them
among their iriends, 20
Ann Leo died In 1894, confide6tto the isse
in tho correctness OF her principles end faith,
| Alter her death, the charge Of the Society
| devolyed on James Whitaker, who came with
| her from England He died in 1897, and
| was socceeded by Joseph Meschsm, . ns,ivo
| Of Enfield, Connsc scticu, Under his ministry
! tho people were gshefc cd and formed into reg.
| ulsr societies, and constituted the f,st estsb-
| lished church q, New London, Ncw.Yorks,
Hero for the fret time they had oil things
common
Order and Government a,ss
The name which these peopls b 40 adopted
for themselves is, 4" The United Society" or
Millennsl Church." to which ,hsy fre-
quenii2 add, called Shskers." Although ie
!. according TO the genins of the Society to
possess properly IN common, yet no ono 10 o.
blged 10 give up his properly, IN order to a.
dopt the faith Of the Sociesy. All iha, is re-
quired OF them is, 10 live in honesty and pu.
ny.-Few children arc sdmitsd into the Soo
| eieiy, expect such es sre brought in by beiievo
| Jog parents or guardians. In some ins,snces,
however, they arc taken as objects of charity
from unbelicvcrs.-The government Of tho
| church is considered by tho Society to be un-
der tho influence Of the Spirit oi Christ bue
is visible head is vested in . ministry Of mslo
and iens'e--u'u,IIy TWO Of each. The,c sroy
no saia'ies, no wages given to soy elass 0P
men.
! Progress and Present STATE Of Society.
| Ffom i7ao 10 1897, the Sociery gradually
increased. They then began to form regu.
lr Soeieiy styIew Lebanon IL was not, how
ever, estabAlAed in i,s principles Of order snd
goyernu,o',,, till 1892. Aspresen,, The Soei-
eyH Nv. Lebanon consists Of between S and
| 600 Uembsrs Pfeviousto i8o5, there wefo
Soe'ei OF Shskers fotmed at Wate,vlie,,
o,-ar Albany, ., Hancock, Tyringbsm, Har-
ward and Shirly, in Msssschu,eus; Of En.
field, in Conoscticu,; at Enfield aud Center.
ou'y, New Hampshire at Alfred, a, New.
Gloucester, in Name. Since leo5, Socieiie,
1 h.y. hsco Co,rc.h q, fr.,,n N,ii.o. aod lva