The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-31

REVIEW OF VIEW BoOKs.

Lebanon, N. L.
We read this work with considerable atten-
lion, in the expectation that we would be able
10 gain a clear idea of the Shaker system
Mr.. Evans is one of the principal elders of
that strange sect, and he therefore speaks as
one having authority All that we can gather
from it is that Shakerism is a phase of what
rs now called spiritualism; but beyond this
The book reveals nothing that the world does
not know already, and the Shaker creed, if
there is one, is as much matter of doubt as
ever. Mr.. Evans relates the story of his own
conversion in a tolerably understandable
manner, but the greater portion of the book
rs a series of rhapsodical effusions that are
entirely beyond the comprehension of the
uninitiated. After reading it we know no
more about the Shakers than we did at the
beginning. Some of our readers may wish to
know something about Ann Lee, the founder
of the Shaker sect, and we therefore quote
the following sketch of her lfe:-
"Ann Lee was born February 90, 1856, in Toad
lane (now Todd's street,, Manchester, England.
Her father John Lee, was n blacksmith, and
poor; with him she resided until she left England
for America, Her mother esteemed very
pious woman. They had eight children, who
were Gas was then common for poor childTen)
brought up to work, instead of being sent to
school; by which mears Ann acquired a habit of
industry, but could neither write nor read. Dur
ing her childhood and youth, she was employed
in a cotton factory, and was afterwards n cutter
OF hatters fur; and then cook in an infirmary.
She was in every calling noted for her neatness,
taithfulness, prudence, and economy.
"IIer complexion was fair; she had blue eyes
and light chestnut hair. Her counteuance was
expressive. but grave, inspiring confidence and
respect Many called her beautiful.
'She possessed a strong and healthy physical
constitution, and remarkable powers of mind. At
times, when under the operation of the Holy
Spirit, her form and actions appeared dyinely
beautiful. The influence of her spirit was then
beyond description, and she spoke as one hay
ing authority
'In childhood she exhibited bright, saga
cious, and active genius. She not, like other
children addicted to play, but was serious and
thoughtful. She was early the subject of reli-
gious impressions, and was often favored with
heavenly visions.
GAS she grew in years, she felt an innate re-
pugnanCe to the marriage state, and often eX-
pressed these feelings to hcr mother desiring to
be preserved theretrOm notwithstanding which
(through the opportunities of her reatives), she
was married to Abraham Stanley, q blacksmith.
The convictions of her youth, however, often
returned upon her with much force, and at
length brought her into excessive tribulatiOu of
soul, in which she earnestly sought for deliver
ance from the bondage Of sin, and gave herself
no rest day or night but spent whole nights in
laboring and crying to God to open some way of
salvation.
'rIn the year 1855 the twenty-thrd of
her age, she joined society of people who; be-
cause of their indignation against sin in them
selves, often shook and (by the Spirit were
shaken, and hence by the rabbc were desig-
mated Shakers. The society was under the lead
of Jane and James Wardley, formerly of The
Quaker order. The people of that society were
blameess in their department, and were distin-
guished for the ClcarnGss of their testimony
against sin, the strictncss of their oral disci-
pline, and the purity of their lives
'"Hhe light of this people led them to make an
open confession of every sin they had commit
ted, and take up finally and forever the cross
against everything they knew to be evil. This
endowed them with great power over SIM and
here Ann found that projection she had so long
desired, and which cOrrespondCd with her faith
at that time She was baptized into the same
spirit, and, by degrees, attained to the full know
ledge and experience of all the spiritual truths
of the society.
"Her statement isl felt such sense of my
sins, that was willing to confess them before
the whole world. | confessed my sins to my
elders, one by one, and repented of them in the
same manner. When my elders reproved me, l
felt determined not to be reproved twice for the
same thing, but to labor to overcome the evil for
myself Sometimes | went to bed and slept; but
in the morning, if | could not feel that sense of
the work of God that did before l slept, |
would labor all night. This did many nights,
and in the daytime put my hands to work, and
my heart to God and the refreshing operations
of the power of God would release me, so that
felt able to go to my work again.
"'Many times, when ! was about my work, I
have felt my soul overwhelmed with sorrow.
used to work as long as | could keep it con-
cealed, and then would 90 out of sight, lest any
one should pity me with that pity which was not
of my God. In my travail and tribulatOn, my
sufteTings were so great, that my flesh consumed
upon my bones, bloody sweat pressed through
the pores of my skin, and became as helpless
as an infant. And when was brought through,
and born into the spiritual kingdom, | was like
an infant just born into the natural world. They
see cOlOrs and Objects but they know not what
they see. 1t was SO with me; but, before | was
twenty-iour hours old, | saw, and knew what
l saw.
"Ann was wrought upon after this manner fol
the space OF nine years. Yet she often had in
teryals of reeasement, in which her bodily
strength and ygor were sometimes miracu
lously renewed; and her soul was filled with
heavenly visions and Divine revelations. By
these means, the way of God and the nature OF
His work gradually opened upon her mind will
increasing light and understanding.
''she spent much time in earnest and inces-
SAINT cres TO God to show her the foundation OF
mans loss, what it was, and wherein it con
sisted, and how the way of salvation could be
discovered and eiteCtually opened to mankind
IN Lhelr present condition. and how the grea
work OF redemption was to be accomplished
''Ihe ultimate effect of the labor and SUFFERING
oil soul that Ann passed through was TO purif,
and ttly prepare her for becoming TEMPLE il
which the Christ Spirit, that had made the frs
appearing to Jesus and constituted him Jesu
Christ could make a second appearing. an,
through whom the God of heaven could SET nm
church, or kingdom which should never be dc
stroyed.'
''While Ann for bearing her testimony agains
'neshy lusts, which war against the SOUL wa
imprisoned in Manchester England, she sa
Jesus Christ in open vision, who revealed to he
the most astonishing views and Divine mantle