The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-08-16

blessing. All was gravely performed, with an
| evident profound sense of ave. On SUNDAY this
worship was repeated. with the addition OF more
| lively spiritual song and dance. The Shakers
hold to the example OF Miriam and King David
| and other members Of Ehe ancient church in
msnfesting their joy and gratitude at the good
ness OF God towards them BY spiritual songs aud
| dances. .--
although the ceremony was new to me, felt
| no leyity, but was gravey impressed by the deep
solemnry OF what saw. | was permitted 10 adj
dress the assembly, and on Sunday night, by invi-
tsuon, met the Church family and gave, TO the
best Of my ability, sketch Of the present state
or religion IN England, In the Established Church
and in the diseenting bodies. They appeared par
iieularly impressed by the account gave Of the
great work resulting frop the labors Of Mr. Spur
geon; and AZ both families they desired me 70 say
to brethren In England that they blessed God for
all the work done by the working of the Holy
Spirit 10 other churches.
CONCLUSIONS.
81 had not time to make myself acquainted with
all the pecuarties OF their belief. have no
doubt they hold many vie Us from which should
dissent; but felt in no mood for discussion, and
had not opportunity enough or patient investiga-
ton of the doctrines which kept them apart from
other sects. Those who desire information on
these points must search them out for themselves;
they will hud them epitomised in works published
by the society. cOntented myself with the re-
suits | saw before me, and thought them suti-
GENTLY remarkable to command the respectful
and thoughtful attention Of the Church and the
world.
II saw community of men and women Of all
ages living pure celibate life, under the same
roof, full Of sweetness, love and gentleness-a
happy family of brothers aud sisters. kne that
many Of them had been married men and women
before they were led by a religious principle and
motive 10 cruelty all worldly lusts,' and enter
into What they regard as the millennal state. /
knew that this lite had been lived by monks and
nuns, who were excluded from each other with a
pTison.hke rigor. under lock aud key. bolts and
hnra / N a he
husband and wife entering upon new life in the
daily presence OF each Other-and that this chaste
community had tested this life Of purity for seventy
years without any cloud arising to dim the lasIre
of its chastity.
"Of course wsaIl exclsim. n Ow can these things
be?' And the pr0tgate and the base raise the yell
OF laughter; but the Shakers mOdesty reply,
Not unto US, but unto God be all the glory
The world laughs again, aud SANDERS; but the an.
swer is the fact Of this fe which this people lays
open TO the gaze of all the world. | saw, more
over, people who will not hold private property;
people who rest securely and Ia perfect harmony
aud prosperity upon a community OF goods. The
dream OF Utopia "a heLe realized. They work
hard, they enjoy the fruits of their industry, they
live simply aud fruEaly. For ten years they have
ceased TO eat swine OF 70 drink alcoholic drinks,
except under medical advice
81 saw that this community OF goods sprung
from deeper motive than a social or economical
truth. Indeed, in one OF their publications found
this paragraph: They could not understand nov
so-caled Christians (brethren aud sisiers) could
be members of the same religious body or church
and be divided into rich aud poor IN the things o
this temporary world. but who are vanly expecting
that in the world "a come they will all be willing
10 have eternal things 10 common Thus their
communstic idea sprngs from q religious motive,
and such fact is worthy the contemplation Of
thoughtful men.
Inouired into the internal working Of the
community-as TO how disputes or msunderstsnd-
ings were settled IL they unfortunately arose. /
was told that here again they adopted the Chris
i'm 90 hak r,tl afa 81
and, if that failed. tell il unto the church : aud
that, so far. all had moved on with harmony aud
no serious difficulties had disturbed them. An
other thing | have also seen in relation 70 the
Shakers Every one Ia America with whom |
have spoken speaks highly of their moral oharao-
ter Of their trutnfulness of their honesty In their
dealings with their fellow men; all bear this tes-
timony, with the exception of those degraded
people who believe there are no such things as
virtue and truth on the earth.
"Surey the success OF this community must
have cause. What Ia that cause ! do not pre-
tend to answer the question. But 1t is a question
worthy OF answer. Many similar experiments
have totally failed. Why has this succeeded
Within the past forty years the Ogenite expert
ments in England and America have failed, bat
Shakerism is a living and triump hant fact Let
me urge upon divnes and scholars in their rambles
through America to visit the Shaker community
a. Mount Lebanon, and II they are disposed to in
quire How can these things ber my answer is,
Come and see. We left the brethren and sisters
and had difcufG4 9'eoek yesterday, morning,
-Four Corners aud took the train for New York.
Elder Frederick Evans is an Engshman by birth,
coming from the old country Of Worcester, Hei is
a tall man. with an earnest, thoughtful face, and
pleasant play or grave humor round the mouth.
He appears to be over sixty years of age. He is
affable in his manners, and anxious TO commun-
cate his opinions to inquirers. | oOnversed with
three OF four EnglishmeD, who were happy Ia the
enioyme of the lives they had chosen. My warm
thanks are due, and are thus publicly rendered to
the brethren and sisters for the loving hospitality"