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

that the time had come io gather lbgm-
.a,rs, out oi the world, and in the poVer
uf the Holy Spirit "to cruelty 90 worldly
lust. and ta enter into tbe spiritual
milleuuial churcb, Ia the practice OF per-
feet chastity, temperance. charity. BROTH
erly and sistcrly love, abandoning g3
private property for the common good,
and having, like The early Christians,
"ali things In common. From their great
ieryor IN preaching their trembling, and
/ quakings were spoken OF as
">hakers," which name they arc bf uo
means ashamed 10 adopt, Their pro,
grcss was necessarily slow. "a, they took
up q cross to heavy to be borne by or,lin-
AIRY men aud women Of the world The
Shaker communities are divided iulo
{ families. Within sight ef each other al
Mount Lebanon, are three og these fami.
/ lies North family, Church family and
South family. The first number, sixty
( brethren and sisters. the second one
hundred aud twenty. Ia tlte New Lcb-
anon society there are altogether eight OF
these iamilies--in all five hundred broth.
rem and sister. This New Lebanon
society owns Elk thousand acres Of land
"a large proportion OF which is devoted
TO fuel, timber aud sheep. This people
also possess garden seeds, herbs and
fruits, which are everywhere famed tor
their quality, Throughout tbs Union
there are eighteen hourishiug shaker SO
cities, sacredly living a eelibate life, and
enjoying perfect community Of worldly
/ goods. II was with no small delight, on
/ Friday evening last, | found myself in
! front of stage wagon, with my friend
/ William IIardacrc, ofPhiladelphia, riding
/ seven miles over muddy roads between
/ Canaan aud Lebanon. II was evening
and the setting sun bathed hills aud val
/ leys ia food OF light. The rirulets
were swollen 10y heavy rains, and stream
lets rushed and rparked down the fa-
vines, leaping into the laughing waters
beneath. Grasses, leaves, and flowers
were beaded by rsin-drop- that glistened
/ like diamonds in the rays OF setting sun.
We reached North family about seven
| o'clock. and were welcomed with modest
grace, by an elderly sister, aud We
grasped the warm hands of Elder Fred
erick Evans, who, some months ago cour-
teously invited me to share "the simple
hospitalties" of the society, We were
/ soon introduced 10 other brethren, and
found ourselves ut home and at ease with
our hearty friends. The brethren aud
sisters at North family occupy three neat
and substantial houses. There is no re-
straint other than the restraint OF good
breeding and true Christian propriety.
Brethren and sisters occupy the same
houses-the sleeping accommodations be-
ing at opposite parts OF the dwellings.
They rise at Aalf past four in the morn
| ing, breakfast at six, dinner at noon, sup
per at six in the evening, and retire to
rest about ten. At meals the women oc-
cupy one end Of the table, the men the
other. Before meals they all kReel down,
and offer prayer and thanks in solemn
] silence. My friend and took our meals
| in small, neat room, alone. We were
waited upon most attentively by one Of
the sisters, who constantly left the room,
returning to inquire if anything was wan
| ted. A Shaker meal is wholesome feast.
| A room beautifully clean, plain clean
table, good white and brown bread,
sweet, fresh butter, rich milk and cream
wholesome well-cooked meat plain veget-
ables, preserved fruits but all served in
tue simplest, ueatest, and most eeoDom-
ical way. We occupied two bedrooms
that opened Que into tine other, The
beds are sweet and clean, and you
sprawl in them with perfect delirium
of lazy delight. All the rooms of the
houses are cleanliness and ncatneS- 10
perfection. Round about are the gar
deus, orchards, farms workshops. barns,
aud stOre-h0uses. The large barn i- tho
most perfect model for space, convent.
encc, and ventilation. ltconsi.t- ot three
stories. the lower story being appropri-
atcd for staliing cattle. II /, built on the
side of q hill 50 you can drive wagons in.
to the third story from the road on the
side Of the hill. The men aud women
grayilatc towards the work they can
most easily perform; aud all arc busy
from morn until night, working with a
Joyous will. The men dres, as the early
Shakers dressed. The women with the
same Quakcr-like nealnes,--and lbey
. are all simple but hearty in their man
ners.
t On Saturday night ssc attended wor.
ship for the first time. The mcu and
women stood ia three lines in the pres.
cuce Of each other. 4 brother read .
/ hymn, while they all joined in singing
ing. This was followed by other cxer.
cises Ia song, Elder Evans thcu gave d
! powerful eKhouation from ihe words
There j. therefore DOW no roudemna.
ton Tor those who sire in Christ Jesus. q
He spoke Of the victory they had achieved
over the world aud the power Of Just and
/ efi BY The grace and favor oi cod
( maintaining, with gravity, "thW etcN
good and perfect gin eomcth from God
aud iroin 'the power of His Chfi-l" Ie
was followed bv 4 brief eNhortatl8u from
one ol the sisters, 4 line was tbtr
formed ia the center OF the room, tire,
! brethren aud three sisters standing iact
. 10 face. The remainder formed I'll d cir