The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-12-13
DEC. 13. 1866,
THE SHAKERS.

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Many of our readers have doubtless
visited some of the Shaker settlements
in New England, and know something
OF TIE neatness and thrift, and strap. G
habits of this sect, which seems to hold
its own. in spite of the Divine law7 of
wedlock. A correspondent of the
Journal of Commerce gives an interest
ing description of the settlement. at
Lebanon Springs, N Y. :iszad issass b.
The original germ of their society, is
traced by them to the Quakers, :. The
lastpeopie who were persecuted to death
for the testimony they held. Va Having,
through distrnst Of Providence, sought
protection from the secular arm in Eng
land, they lost that. degree OF light and
power which guided and aided them
when they first, set out. A few, how
ever. remained faithful and transient
awakening followed the arrival of the
French prophets, in. l706.p The work
was revived again in l14t in Boston and
Manchester; and this is considered as
the first date of the Shakers in America.
The society, however, continued very
ent testimony of salvation and eternal
life was fully opened. according to the
Spirit and gift of God, through Annie
Lee, that extraordinary woman, concern
ing whom so many strange things had
was received as their spiritual MOTHER
Inl774, Annie Lee, who Was now call
ed "Annie of the Word with two or
three associates, came 10 America, and
for two years staid with family in
Queen street-now Pearl street. In 1716
she and an increased number of follow
ers established themselves at Neskayu
na, about eight miles from Albany. In
the course of that season she was sns
pected of being Tory by the Wings, tax
en- to Poughkeepsie, but was shortly after
released In l1S0-not 1860, as is gen
orally supposed-the establishment at
Lebanon was formed, aud it has ever
since continued the principal and most
important one Tsas s-- s-.1
The Shakers of this village own be
tween two and three thousand acres Of
land in this State, besides q considerable
tract in Massachusetts. So far as my
own observation goes, no farms in the
country equal theirs, wbich.with the ex-
ception of wood lots, is all under the
highest state of cultivation while for
industry, they resemble huge swarm
of bees. One has under cultivation the
present Summer, forty acres Of medici-
nal plants-chieiy dandeiion, yellow
dock, worm-wood, valerian, and sconite
and an idea Of the aggregate business
done in this line may be formed when it
is known that over two hundred thou
sand pounds Of these articles and gar
den seeds are put up yearly. The mum
Der of this settlement is nearly six hun
dred, divided into what is called their
families. They manufacture great va
riety Of articles for sale-such as brooms
sieyes, and fancy baskets--all Of which
are remarkable for their neatness. and
durability; and, in short, their farms,
their gardens, their manufactures. and
houses--all exhibit the pleasing effects
of industry and rural economy. They
cheerfully pay their proportion of the
public taxes, and share all the burdens
of Government, except the bearing of
arms, which they deem to be unlawful
and while never asking charity for any
purpose. are always ready with their
hands and hearts to give. We were
cot,rteonsly conducted through every
department of the establishmen ent, and
every where was plainly visible the
excellence of their domestic arrange
ments We visited their extensive dali
ry, their washing house, mills, and man.
all of which eyinced consu
mate skill and nicely.
AS to their religious tenets we of course
cannot say single favorable word. But
the absurdity of withdrawing themselves
from the most interesting and important
of the social relations-from the tender
charities of husband and wife-from the
delightful assiduites of parental love.
from that relation on which society stands
and on which, as on q fruitful stock, is
grated every personal and domestic yir-
tue, and every hope both for this world
and the next, is too apparent to require
discussion Or animadversion. Other
wise, as far as our observation went,
they are as willing to let others think
for themselves as they are to cherish their
own peculiarities-and surely il they are
tolerant We should not be intolerant.
They areeind eed Il most sin gular people,
but they nave makv excellent qualities.
They are plain in their department and
manners, close though honest in their
dealings, but kind benevolent, and hos
pltable- In a word, they are inofensiye,
quite, and valuable citizens.