New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-19
SHAKER LIBERALITY.

SHAKER LIBERALllI.
To n. Editor Of Tie ~ L. Tf6Hss ~
s,R. An article under this head appeared in TIE
TRIBrSE of the 9Th inst written by A Listener to
the lecture on Shakersm delivered in the Tabernacle
on the 3lst ult charges mot directly but by impuca
toni the Shakers with prohibiting the reading in either
their schools or families of nearly every book that
illustrates scientific principle.
This is not the fact, and the City Of New-fork -
welcome to do as the New-York Legislature did IN
1s4e viz appoint Committee to investigate this very
subject. Since the publication OF the report OF SAID
Cor mittee have not often this charge preferred
would respectfully inform d" A Listener that
should he travel in Europe be would find the public
mind there imbued with precisely the same idea IN
regard 10 the United States Of America that be appears
TO entertain Of Shaker community that 49, tust 'uey
have more respect for and have made more prohcency
in the practical than in the ideal OF the arts ana sci
ences In truth, was Il not rather the reaphg anu
sewing machines than the Greek slaves that saved our
rcnutstion in the CRYSTAL Palaces OF England anu
France Fifty years hence it may be otherwise
The cultivation and unfolding OF the moral ana spr,
itual natures and the formation of perfect moral
and religious character have ever BEEN ana sun con-
tiuue to be- the first objects in Shaker society
The .ecOnd IL the alton of the means TO secure 10
every member of the organization an ample supply OF
all physical wants in childhood and age, IN heath ana
sickness And so far as any and every science can,
for the time being subserve these ends we, as hereto
fore shall ever gladly introduce them into our Schools
and families. .,
Rnt 10 the confusion Of science falsely sO-caled y
IN Inc uortfcation of male human wisdom pride and
arrogance: ard to the humiliation OF our popular,
procrtative animal orthodoxy let II be borne IN mlnu
that the fret successful social organ cation ever est60-
sbcd on earth that secured the equal good of all its
members. spiritual, intellectual and physical, was
founded by woman, who could neither write nor
read, aided solely by spirit knowledge.
Contrasting this with learned scientific community,
lppNv af ID
bers are so physically degraded that they have poor
food in still poorer quantities. so mentally de0ased
that they hate knowledge; and as to sprualty' 50
it s not 10 be named.
Divine revelation not science il the rock upon
which Christ has built His Church in this day OF Ills
second appearing. From that center all true science
originally dverged and to it all scientific truths will
ever continue TO converge. Therefore shakerlsm Is
not antagonistc to science, being emlnenty pro-
prssve in very nature for itself Is the direct re-
suit of the principles Of progress IN the human race
We are quite willing that science should help us To
raise our corn and potatoes and cook them too after
they are raised; to build houses and yentIlate
Il EN- to make our machinery and, in fine, do every
thing that is useful but when she insists upon diyld
ing us into rich and poor, high and low, the Tanscen-
dtItally erudite and the "unwashed though unterr
fed democracy, our moral and religious instincts de.
muir, and "cOufound the wisdom OF the wise, and
brig to naught the understanding of the prudent
They tell u to feed the hungry il we would re claim
the vicious and to clOthe the naked if We woud pro-
tect the innocent.
The Society of New-Lebanon is composed of eight
nGep,1 dent families each being in Itself perfect
community with numbers varying from thirty 10 one
hundred and fifty. And, az speculations are not
allowed a. a means of acquiring wealth, they are by
10 means rich as is generally supposed: The net
annual income Of the whole Society Numbering over
CO has never vet amounted 10 IS 600 over and above
their expenses Indeed of the families do little
more than make both ends meet.
The school Of the Society has gradually improved
az the spiritual and material conditions of the Society
l.. I.ah aaA hv thn
County School Superintendent a. the best organized
and best conducted school in Columbia County.
The following is list of the branches OF education
taught therein: Reading, Spelling, photographed
cal Geometry, Mensuration and Algebrai Geography,
Mapping aud History, Agricultural Chemistry and
Botany; Natural and Mechanical Philosophy, Moral
Philosophy, Physiology, &c.
The following are part of the numerous scientific
works that in common use: LardRer's Lectures
on Science and Art-complete; COmstocks, Parkers,
Grays, and Youman's Natural Philosophy and Chem
stry, Appletons Mechanical Dictionary, and other
scientific works histories Of England, the United
States &C.. miscellaneous assortment of scientific,
historical ard moral works, too numerous and tedious
to mention; together with Bibles, Testaments and
other religious works and school books in abundance.
Also about forty periodicals are regularly taken by
the Society-amopg which are The Y. Y. DAILY and
WIIXLY TRIBuSEs, The Sun, The Journal Of Com
MERGE The Herald The Scientific American five or
Elk copies), the Spiritual and Agricultural papers;
beside othen published IN Boston, Albany, Hudson,
Pittsfed, &c.
From the above facts the New-York public can
Judge as to how far II true that scientific prncl-
pie" is rarely illustrated in Shaker Society.
l. last Summer went TO the Tabernacle TO hear IL.
W. Beecher lecture on " Patriotism" Ii was very
warm weather, and the house was crowded. but not
the least provision was made for ventilation. II
then occurred to me- that scientific as that assembly
undoubtedly wa, they would stii have been more
benefited by Lecture on combustion, showing that
the oxygen Of the air is necessary 10 be united with
the carbon of the food in order to sustain human life,
than by what they heard; inasmuch as the existence
and welbeing Of the individual il fret in order-then
that Of the body polite.
The janitor declared that on the occasion OF the
Shaker Lecture was the first time be had known any
attention paid 10 the ventilation of the tabernacle
To the second charge, however, plead guilty ana
have only to cay that, in this day Of tashy, trashy,
and centous literature, any respectable family In
New-York, who does not keep strict surveillance
es TO what they read, may expect soon 10 lose the
character Of respectabilty.
The subioned is an extract from the Report OF the
Select Committee in Assembly, Aprl 2 lsf9-Iay!or,
chairman:
"On eIam n Schools at Watervet model worthy the
imitation Of the best society presented M ana excel
library Of the approved books vas found ana to
for the busssss HGn 10 ee Impaired D es
for tho ask The scholars both male and female
seemed hehly with their situation and were 10 the
FREDERICK w EVANS.
Ef1 L,boss. CoIsnblo Co, ~ T.. Feb. ii, lS5S.
WHALIse ~ TIE PACFIc.-It appears that the
whaling fee. in the Pacific has been more successful