Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-08-07

woven out OF narrow strips OF white,
brown, black, and green wooden cloth,
and looked very beautiful indeed
The stove shone like a mirror, and the
tones, shovel and wisp were hung neat
IL by its side. Curtains Of snowy mus
lin shaded the windows, and neatness,
order and cleanliness everywhere pre-
vailed. Our horses were put up, and
then the Elder introduced one or two
of the sisters, and left US, saying we
could use his shouse and enjoy ourselves.
| He took great pains also 10 remark that
che was glad we had sense enough to
bring our dinners, for they did not en-
tertain strangers, and that he could
give US nothing to drink. except clear.
cold water, of which we would find
plenty in the pumps" After resting
an hour, we found the long ride had
made us hungry, and the girls set about
preparing the dinner, the cloth being
laid on the grass, in the shade of a
great tree. Some of the Shaker sis
tiers brought us delicious honey, soft
bread and butter, and these, added TO
the biscuit, cold tongue, beef, chicken
and ham we had brought along, made
delightful repast, which we washed
down with an abuni liant supply of lem
onade. ~
After dinner, Elder Bryant informed
US he would show us the place, and
forming sort of procession we set out,
led by the giant form of the Shaker. He
first took US where they were preserv-
ing cherries, and in large room we
| found ten or fifteen women with bask-
kets of ripe cherries. which they were
seeding and preparing for the kettles.
Passing through this room, we come to
one where four or FIVE women were
stirring big kettles over furnace; still
further on the cooked cherries were
being cooled and put into glass bottles,
while in the further end Of the room
labels and tin foil were put on them,
and they were counted into square
tubs and carried away to the store rooms.
From this place we went to the store
room where we saw five Thousand bot
ties of cherries, strawberries, ounces
and gooseberries, sitting in rows on
shelves. In another room were hun
dreds of pounds of honey, peaches.
and all kinds of delicacies. The dairy
was model, the pans of milk not even
being covered, and not fly or speek
of dirt to be seen any where. Water
was everywhere in abundance, being
conveyed in pipes all over the grouds,
and through the buildings. We next
visited one of the families which con-
sisted of eighty members. and resided |
in an immense stone building three |
stories high. g'a
The woman and men did not live |
together, and dined at separate tables. |
The cooking was done on large range |
and all the tables were supplied from
one kitchen. Every thing was in ad-
mirable order, and the tinware dazzled
the eyes with its brightness. Elder
Bryant informed US that there were
FIVE such families as we saw in the vii.
lage, and that the whole settlement
numbered about 400 persons. He said
property was heldin common, and that
there were no rich or poor persons in
the village. They had FIVE thousand
six hundred acres of land and great
numbers of horses, cattle, and sheep.
He made the purchases and sold the
produce of the place, which was con-
sidered, as all were required to work
when not sick. They all lived alike,
dressed alike, and est the same kind
of victuals: their Jars for fruit alone
cost them oyer 81, 900 year, and they
sent their preserves all over the United
States. When any one wanted any
thing he notified the Council, and If it
was proper the Council ordered it, but
If it was not he could not have it; if =,
one travelled or went to any expense,
he kept an acurste account of it, and
the Council audited and allowed his {
account. ef-
The Council was composed of five
persons who determined all questions !
of government for the place, and he, d
(Bryant), was simply the head and {
agent of the Council. He said he was
no more than any one else in the vii
lage, and lived no better; that what 6
was his his was theirs and what wGs {
theirs was his. Every one was free to
go where they wished, and there were
no rules of compulsion in their society. {
They did not marry or give in marriage;
neither did they lust after the flesh, I
but were pure in body and in spirit, {
after Christ even as he walked G
while on the earth. Adam was the I
generation of men, Christ the pegene- t
ration. Adam, through lust of Eve,
fell, and men all sinned until Christ 6
came and, by a life of purity, regenera- {
ted them. Lust of women was sin in e
the flesh and death, to the spirit; he
that looked upon woman to lust after 7
her committed adultery in his heart, {
though he did not come near her, and b
thereby violated the covenant of God, d
We set it down as a fact
hat the large majority of the males q
IF Cincinnati would be damned to q q
We were informed that D
here were men who made enuchs of il
themselves for the sake of the king n
1om of heaven, snd that the Shakers
we're such that Christ and his Apos. "
les did make themselves enuchs, for o
aking all carnal pleasures of the world N
ind leading pure and holy lives. They 81
,ook Christ as the example and forsook II
sther, mother, wife, children, houses U
md lands, for the sake of the king Il
lom of heaven. Christ taught purity, "
md all men who might have wives, Il
md be enuchs for the sake of the
Iingdom of heaven would be the first fc
ruit of God; those who had wives and 81
'e as though they had none, and those I"
rho had property and be as though Il
hey had none, would surely inherit
he kingdom of heaven. The children ey
f this world marry and give in mar re
iage, but the children of God neither pl
marry nor are given in marriage: those Il
rho teach against the law of purity, or lii
indulge in carnal things, are less than &c
he least in the kingdom of heaven, b.
nd those who generate their race are hi
7icked and depraYed. Reproduction ju
Tas the lowest of all rational and in hl
elligent existence, and total abstin- nj
nee from all generative and carnal th
'orks was purity and godliness. By
urity, man, while in this body and on WI
he earth, might enter into the resur- dr.
ction, for the pure in heart shall see dr.
cd. Sexual indulgence led man to m
we; first, himself; second, his wife fal
lird, his children; fourth, his neigh to
fifth, his State; sixth, his tn
ountry; seventh, his race; and few pl
leir God little. But purity and cell ju
acy led a man TO love God first and tn
len have kindly and impartial care fir