The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-06

should dissent; but felt in no mood for discus
sion, ana had not opportunity enough for pa
tlent investigation OF the doctrines which kept
| them apart from other secs. Those who desire
information on these points must search them
out i0f then selves; they will find them epito-
! m1zed in works published by the society. /
cOutented myself with the results | saw before
me, and thought them sufficiently remarkable
| 10 command the respectful and thoughtful atten-
tion of the Church and the world.
~ saw community OF men and women of all
ages living pure cellbate lie, under the same
root, full OF sweetness love- and geutleness-a
happy family OF brothers and sisters. knew
that many oil them had been married men and
women before they were led, by religious
princple and motive, to cruelty all worldly
lusts and enter into what they regard as the
mllCun al state. knew that this life had been
lived by mOUks aud nuns, VINO were excluded
from each other with prlson.ike rig0r, under
locE aud key, bols aud bars; but here | saw a
spiritual tamiy-the once husband aud wife
entering upon new lie in the daily presence
OF eaCn Other-apd that this chaste community
had tested this lie of purity Tor seventy years
without any cloud arising TO dim the lustre OF
ITS chastity.
"Oi course, we all cxcam, How can these
things DeP Aud the profligate aud the base
taise Tie yell ot laughter; bat the Shakers
modestly reply, Not unto US, but unto God be
all the 81 ry.' The world laughs again, aud
slaldeIs; but the answer is the fact of this life
which this people lays open 10 the gaze of all
the world. 1 saw, n nOreOyer, people who Will
not hold private property-a people who rest
securely and IN perfect harmony and prosperity
ulon a community ot goods, The dream of
Utopia IS here realized. They work hard, they
ENJOY the fruits Of their industry, they live
simply and irugally. For ten years they have
ceased to eat swlue, or to drink alcoholic drinks
except uudcr medical advice,
81 saw that this community Of goods sprung
from Deeper motive than a social o. ecouomi.
cal trutt. udee 7, in one Of their publications
found this paragraph: They could not under.
stand Low sO-Caled Christians (brethreu aud
sstcrs) could be members OF the same religious
body or Church aud be diyded into rich ana
poor IN he things of this temporary world, but
who are vanly expecting that in the world to
come they Will all be willing to have eternal
things in common Thus their Commuuisuc
idea sprugs from a religious motive, aud such
a TACT Is worthy the contemplation of thought
ful men.
Il iLquired into the internal working of the
community, as to how disputes or msunder-
standings were settled il they unfortunately
arose. ] was told that here again they adopted
the Chflsuan plan, speaking 10 the brother or
sister alone, and If that failed, tell il unto the
ChuICh;' and that, so far, all had moved on
with harmony, amt 10 serious difficulties had
disturbed Them. Another thing have also seen
in relation to the shakers. Every Que iu Ame-
rica with whom have spoken speaks highly of
their moral character, OF their uuthfulnesS, of
Their honesty I'm their dealings with their tellpw-
men; all bear TINS testimony with the eyceD-
tOn OF those degraded people who believe thple
are no such things as virtue and truth on the
earth.
Surely the success of this community must
have cause. What is that cause? do not
pretend to answer the question. But it is a
question worthy of an answer. Many simils
experiments have totally tailed. Why has this
succeeded? Within the past forty years the
Owenitc experiments in England aud America
have failed, but Shakersm Is a living and tri-
umphant tact. Let me urge upon divines and
scholars in their rambles through America 10
| visit the Shaker community az Mount Lebanon,
aud II they are disposed 10 inquire How can
these lhlngs be" my answer is, Come and
see.' We left the brethren and sisters with
regret ut tOuI O'CLOCK Yesterday
ing, ard had a difficult ride of three hours to
Chatham Four Corners, and took the train for
New Yolk. Elder Frederick Evans is an Eng
lishman by birth, coming from the old county
of Worcester He is a tall man, with an earnest,
thoughtful face, and a pleasant play of grave
humOr round the mouth. He appears, to be
over sixty years of age. He is atlable in mis- man.
Ters and anxious to communicate his opinions
TO inQulrerS. / cOnveIsed with three or four
EnRlIshmen, VINO were happy in the enjoyment
OF the lives they had chosen, My warm thanks
are due, and are thus puhlicly rendered, 10 the
brethren and sisters for their loving hospl-
tality.'