The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-02-26

The Shakers or Mount Lebanon.

The following account Of the "Society OF
United Believers" commonly called Sha-
kers, will be read with interest even by
those who are most opposed to their doc
trines. 1t was written by Henry Vincent,
the English reformer and lecturer, and first
published in London Star:
"On the Northeastern border ofthe State
of New York, within mile of the divid-
ing line of Massachusetts and about $50
miles from the City of New York, is the
summer retreat of Lebanon Springs. Hills,
mountains and valleys, trees, gardens, farm
houses and farms, spread around and above
you in every varying beauty, reminding
one of the hills and valleys of Langollen, in
| Wales On the side of one of the noun
tains-Mount Lebanon commanding a
fine view of the whole panorama, cluster
three distinct portions ofthat singular body
of people called by the vulgar The Shak-
ers.' This society of believers is the pro-
duct of that mighty upheaving of the mind
and soul that manifested itself in England
and Europe during the greater part of the
last century. Wesley, Whitfield, the French
Prophets, Emanuel Swedenborg and others,
all represented, with more or less truth and
power, the warnings of living souls for
light, life and salvation. In this awaken
ing, as in the time of The Commonwealth,
many strange doctrines and new sects rose
and fell; and among these we must class
the people called Shakers. About the year
1853, Ann Lee, of Manchester, England,
came under strong religious convictions
and joined by six or eight brethren and
sisters, under the guidance of vision, left
England for America, settling in the coun-
try. After working separately for living,
and suffering much persecution and hard
ship for many years, the little band gath
cred into religious society in the woods
of Watervleit, near Albany, in 1776.
"ln 1873 great revival of religion oc-
CURED In New Lebanon, and in other towns
and villages, and many of these people
were gradually impressed by Ann Lee and
her friends that the time had come to gath
er themselves out of the world, and in the
power of tue Holy Spirit ito cruelty all
worldly lusts,' and to enter into the spirit.
ual Millennial Church, in the practice OF
perfect chastity, temperance, charity, moth.
erly and sisterly love, abandoning all pri.
yate property for the common good, and
having like the early Christians, all things
in common From their great fervor in
preaching, their tremblings and quakings
they were spoken of as Shakers which
name they are by no means ashamed tC
adopt Their progress was necessarily
slew, as they took up cross too heavy
to De borne by ordinary men and women
of the world.
1.-THE Shaker communities are divided
into families Within sight of each Other
| al / n, NF g.,
lies-North Family, Church Family, and
South Family. The first numbers sixty
brethren and sisters; the second, 1870. In
the New Lebanon Society there are alto
gether eight of these families-in all SOC
brethren and sisters. This New Lebanon
Society owns 5000 acres of land, large
proportion of which is devoted to fuel
timber, ard sheep. This people also pos
sesses garden-seeds, herbs, and fruits, which
are everywhere famed for their quality
Throughout the Union there are eighteen
fourishing Shaker societies, sacredly liv
ing celibate life and enjoying perfec
community of worldly goods. 1t was will
no small delight on Friday evening last
found myself in front of "a stage wagon, will
my friend, William Hardacre, of Philadel
phia, riding seven miles over muddy road.
between Canaan and Lebanon. 1t wa.
evening, and the setting sun bathed hill,
and valleys in flood of light. The rivu
lets were swollen by heavy rains, anc
streamlets rushed and sparkled down thu
ravincs, leaping into the laughing waters
beneath. Grasses, leaves, and flowers wer,
beaded by rain-drops, that glistened lik,
diamonds in the rays of the sun. w,
reached North Family about seven o'clock
and were welcomed, with modest grace, by
an elderly sister; and we soon grasped thu
warm hands of Elder Frederick Evans, who
some months ago, courteously invited m,
to share the simple inequalities of tn,
society. We were soon introduced to othe
brethren, and found ourselves at home anc
at ease, with our hearty friends.
although the ceremony was new to me
l felt no levity, but was gravely impressed
by the deep solemnity of what saw.
was permitted to address the assembly
and on Sunday night, by invitation, me
the Church Family, and gave, to the bes
of my ability, sketch of the present stat
of religion in England in the Established
Church and in the Dissenting bodies. The,
appeared particularly impressed by tn