Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-12-27
WHAT THE sHAYERs BELIEyB,

Their primary principles are, Faith,
Hope, honesty, confluence, inno-
cenee, simplicity, meekness, prudence,
patience, thankfulness and charity" I"
A virgin life is strictly believed to be
essential to true follower Of Christ I;
only the children of the world marry
and are given in marriage.
A true Believers union is spiritual,
and needs no feshly support. Their
parentage il spiritual, and produces
no fieshly offspring. Their inheri-
tance is spiritual, and cannot be con-
/ trolled by human laws. Their tenn
pOral property, which is necessary for
the support OF the body while in life,
is regulated by sacred compact. By
mutual agreement it Is cOnsecrated to
religious uses, for the benefit OF the
whole body, and descends to their
spiritual heirs.
The first gospel eldispensation appear
ed in the male, in the person Of Jesus
Christ. The second gospel DISPENSE
| ton was manifested in the female,
and is The second appearing Of CYlriSt
in the person Of ARn Lee, IN tCiifch APP
pedriR0 the tDOnldR as tUeH as The man
isTestored 10 her proper lot and order
I Ut tlt6 flStC CTCQttONs
The society do not believe that death
is the closing scene OF mans proba-
ton for eternity. The doctrine Of a
probationary state beyond the grave
was explicitly taught by Mother Ann
Lee, the spiritual head and founder
Of the sect.
Confession Is maintained to be the
only method whereby one can be
cleansed from his sins; and this infalli-
BILE key to heaven-so long and so
much abused in the church OF Anti
christ-was renewed in all its purity
at the commencement Of the United
Society. Those who have no oppor-
tunity in this world Of embracing the
gospel OF Christ's second appearing in
the female, It is believed. viii have it
offered to them in the next, with the
other dogmas of their faith. But aw-
full, awful will be the sentence on
those souls who, having this privilege
reject it in this world; and they alone
of all Gods creatures are forever and
eternally lost, who, having once en-
braced Shakerism, turn away and be-
come reprobates!
The Shakers believe in a dual God
"a Father, fountain of wisdom and
power, and a Mother, fountain of
goodness and love-" They believe in
direct divine communication-"th
revelation from the first parents Of all
souls not only to the man Jesus, as
the first born of humanity in the male
line, eighteen hundred years ago, but
also TO the woman Aun Lee, the first
born of humanity in the female line
I m roodarn ffnoaE -
Womanis rights are fully recognized
by giving her a mother in Diety.-l
Equal suffrage and equal participz-
tion in the government Of an order
founded by a woman, is an inevitable
sequence. -.....-
The ministers live in a house by
themselves. The power vested in
them is absolute. They make all the
appointments; each succeeding minis
ter is appointed by his predecessOr.-l
They claim the true apostolic success !
sion, or "holy amounting" from Moth |
er Ann and the first fathers and moth |
ers in the church, which Is the Millen- |
nial Church.
Every member has access to the |
confessional at all times, but there is
one day in the year especially set
apart as q season for fasting and con- |
fession." 1t occurs about the thanks !
giving period in the New England |
States. 1t is invariably appointed for
a Sabbath day-Whether TO save time |
or from the fact that bread and salt
are not very substantial articles Of
food to labor upon, it does not appear. |
The ordinary services are dispensed |
with, and the day seemed to us chill. |
dren interrniHable. While the worlds |
people were feasting on thanksgiving !
fare, we were Illuminating the bitter |
food of reflection. |
For social purposes there is "reti
ring house" whichis occupied even.
ings and Sundays by the brethren and
sisters. Here are the sittinR-rooms
wherein to wait Tor q few moments, |
until all descend together and in or
der to the dining hall. The sleeping
are in the same building,
situated on either side Of long corri-
dors. The rooms to the right IS you
enter are devoted to the use of the sis
tiers; the opposite ones belong to the
brethren. Four or five persons oecu-
py the same suite, which consists Of
the sIeeping.roOm, leading to a clothes
IOOIu LOOAAls Dn1ACA AGtAlACoo
and cleanliness are proverbial.
On Sunday. Tuesday, and Friday
evenings, an hour is devoted to a
.'union meeting" Then the brethren
and sisters living in opposite apart
ments meet for conversation. Each
sex sits in q long row facing the other,
about five feet apart, to enjoy this
feast of reason and flow Of soul."-
Anecdotes are related, and poetry is
provided it is original or by
another Believer, for worlds poetry"
is taboOed, lest it might contain senti-
ments of love. New songs which have
been sent by other societies are learn
ed, and visitors discussed, and per-
haps criticised by young brother or
sister, who are sharply reproved by
their seniors as not competent to pass
Judgment; but stocks, bonds. real
estate, the God Board, and politics
are especially forbidden.
In the large hall above the refaeto-
ries, evening services are held on
Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
evenings Of every week, and on Sun
days when the meeting house is not
opened. -" Fifteen Years ShGEeress,"
in January GdLdrV.