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


account gave of the great work resulting
from the labors of Mr. Spurgeon; and at
both families they desired me to say to
brethren in England that they blessed God
for all the work done by the working of
the Holy Spirit in other churches. I had
not time to make myself acquainted with
all the peculiarities of their belief. Ihave
no doubt they hold many views from which
l should dissent; but felt in no mood for
discussion, and had not opportunity enough
for patient investigation of the doctrines
which kept them apart from other sects.-
Those who desire information on tb ese
points must search them out for themselves;
they will find them epitomized in works
published by the society. l contented my
self with the results saw before me, think
ing them sufficiently remarkable to com
mand the respectful and thoughtful atten-
ton of the church and the world. I 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 and sisters
l knew that many of them had been mar
rled men and women before they were led,
by religious principle and motive, to
| cruelty all worldly lusts,' and enter into
what they regard as the millennial state
knew that this life had been lived by
monks and nuns, who were excluded from
each other with prison rigor, under lock
and key, bolts and bars; but here saw a
spiritual family, the once husband and wife
entering upon new life in the daily pres
ence of each other, and that this chaste COM
munity had tested this life of purity for
seventy years, without any cloud arising to
dim the lustre of its chastity. of course,
we all exclaim, How can these things be2
And the prot1igate and the base raise the
yell of laughter; but the Shakers modestly
reply, Not unto us, but unto God, be all
the glory The world laughs again, and
ISLANDERS; but the answer is the fact of this
life, which this people lays open to the gaze
of all the world. l saw moreover, people
who win not hold private property peo-
pie who rest securely, and in perfect har-
mony and prosperity, upon community of
goods. The dream of Utopia is here real
lied. They work hard, they enjoy the
fruits of their industry, they live simply
and frugally.
"For ten years they have ceased to eat
swine, or to drink alcoholic drinks, except
under medical advice. l saw that this
community of goods sprung from a deeper
motive than q social or economical truth.
Indeed, in one of their.publications found
this paragraph: "They could not under
stand how .so-caled Christians (brethren
and sisters could be members of the same
religious body or church, and be divided
into rich and poor in the things of this
temporary world but who are vainly ex-
pecting that in the world to come they will
all be willing to have eternal things in COM
mon. Thus their communistic idea springs
from religious motive; and such fact
is worthy the contemplation of thoughtful
men. | inquired into the internal working
of the community-as to how disputes or
MISUNDERSTANDING were settled, if they I'M
fortunately arose. was told that here
again they adopted the Christian plan,
speaking to the brother or sister alone
and, if that failed, tell it unto the church,
And that, so far, all had moved on with
harmony, and no serious difficulty had dis
turbed them. Another thing l have also
seen in relation to the Shakers. Every one
in America with whom I have spoken
speaks highly of their moral character, of
their dealings with their fellow men; all
bear this testimony, with the exception of
those degraded people who believe that
there are no such things as virtue and
truth on the earth.
Surely the success of this community
must have a cause. What is that cause q
/ do not pretend to answer the question:
But it is question worthy of an answer
Many similar experiments have totally
failed. Why has this succeeded ? With
in the past forty years the Owenite expert
ments in England and America have failed;
but Shakerism is a living and triumphant
fact. Let us urge upon divines and schol-
ars, in their rambles through America, to
visit the Shaker community at Mount Le-
banon; and if they are disposed to inquire
How can these things Beg my answer is
Come and sec'
We left the brethren and sisters with re-
greet at four o'clock yesterday morning, and
had difficult ride of three hours to Chat
ham -Four Corners, and took the train for
New York. Elder Frederick Evans is an
Englishman by birth, coming from the old
county of Worcester. He is tall man,
with an earnest, thoughtful face, and u
pleasant play of grave humor around the
mouth. He appears tc be over sixty years
of age. He is affable in his manners, and
anxious to communicate his opinions to i'll
quirers. l conversed with three or four
Englishmen, who were happy in the enjoy
ment of the life they had chosen. My
warm thanks are due, and are thus public
ly rendered, to the brethren and sisters,
for their loving hospitality. am yours
respectfully, HENRY VINCENT"
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