The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1871-04-13

sgmbIE aBd aH Sunday night, hy invita-.
liaA, mel tht Ctuych amlR, uud gave. go
che best 1t mf ability sketch Of she
present state al religion ia nEaglanj iu the
established church aul la tbc dissenting
bodies TAoy appeared particularly im-
pressed hy ihg account gave oltbo great
work resulting from tllc abor, 81 Mr.
>purgeon, and az both hmilir, tbry de-
sired mc 10 ,ay 70 brethren Ia England
that they blessed God for all tbs work
done by the working Of the Holy >piritin
other chuuhe- had not time to make
myself acquainted with all thr pgculmri-
tie, Of their belief. have no doubt they
hold many view, from which | should Dis
sent. but felt Ia no mood for discuss
ion and bad not opportunity enough for
patient investigation OF the doctrines
which kept ihrm apart from other .ect..
Those Who desire information on these
points must search them out Tor them-
selves; they will tind thcm cpitomiled iu
works published by the society. con-
tented my self with the results saw be-
fore nae. aud Thought them sufficiently no..
markahle To command the respectful aud
thoughtful attention uf the church and
the world, saw community OF men
and women of oll ages living a pure ecli-
bate life, under the same roof, iull of
sweetness, love and gentlouess, happy
family Of brothers aud sisters. knew
(hat many of them had been married men
and women before they wcrs led, by a re-
Iigious principle aud motive to cruelty
all worldly Iusts.' and enter into what
they regard a. the millenm state. |
knew that this life had been lived by
monk and who were excluded from
each other with prison rigor, under lock
and KEY. bolts aud bars, but here saw a
spiritual Gmiy--lhe once husband and
wife entering upon new life In the daily
presence OF eacn other aud that this com
munity had tested this life Of purity for
seventy year, without any cloud arising
to dim the lustrc OF is chastity. OF
course We all eNelaim, " How can these
thing. be- Aud the prohigate and the
base raise the yell OF laughter; but the
Shakers modestly reply, Not unto MS,
but unto God be all the glory The
world laughs again aud SANDERS, but the
answer Is the fact Of this life, which this
people lays open to the gaze Of all the
world. saw, moreover, a people who
will not hold private property--a people
who rest securely and In perfect harmony
and prosperity, upon community of
goods The dream of Utopia is here re-
allied. 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. I
saw that this community of goods sprung
from deeper motive than social or
economical truth. Indeed, in one oftheir
publications | found this paragraph: they
could not understand how so-called chris
tians, brethren and sisters, could be mem
bers of the same religious body or church,
and be divided into rich and poor in the
things Of this temporary world, but who
are yainly expecting that in the world TO
come they will all be willing TO have
things IN common, Thus their commu-
nistic idea springs from religious mo-
I tive, and such a fact is worthy the con-
temptation Of thoughtful men. inquir-
ed into The internal working of the com
muuity-a. TO how disputes and misun-
! derstandings were settled, ii they unfor-
tunately arose. was told that here they
again adopted the christian plan, speak
ing TO the brother or sister alone, aud il
that failed, tell il unto the church; aud
+ that 80 far al had moved on with har-
mony, and no serious difficulty had dis
turbed them.
i Another thing ! have also seen in rela-
ton TO the Shakers Every one IN Amer.
lea with whom ! have spoken speaks
highly oil their moral character. Of theii
trothtulness, of their honesty ia their
dealiugs with their fellow men; all beai
lh, testimony, with the exception Of those
degraded people who believe that there
arc 80 such things a. virtue and truth on
the earth. Surely the success, Ofthis com
munity must have q cause. What is that
causct do not pretend 10 answer th'
question. BUTT il worthy OF an au
.wer. Many similar experiments hay,
totally iailed. Why has this succeeded
Within the past forty years the Owenit'
experiments ia England and America
have failed, but ~hakerism &. living anc
triumphant ioet. Let me urge upon di
vines and scholars, in their ramblei
through America, tovisit the shaker com
munity at Mount Lebanon. aud ii thel
are disposed 90 inquire "IIow can thes,
things bey' my answer r., come aud soe
We lef the brethren aud sisters with re-
gret at four O'Clock yesterday morning
aud had d difficult ride Of three hours &,
Chatham Four Corners, aud took the trail
for New York. Elder Frederick Evan
% ap EuQlisnnau by birth, coming from
the old county 0f Worcester, iic /. tai
mau, with ag earnest thoughtful face
aud o pleasant play of grave hun0r rouut
the mouth, 49, appear. to be- over -i1t,
sears Of age. Ie j. ahable 10 biz man
uefs, and anAiou, 20 conmauicate hil
opinion, 70 inquiref,. eonyersod viii
three Of four LugiishmeH, who were hap
py tn The enjoyment of the liyes they hac
chosen II, warm ihank- are due, ant