The New York herald., 1874-11-17
TIE SHAKERS

vAs ApYzSaehins co.vsnsa'. ~ s'S,s-
way Aall-The Doctrines OF Ann Lee
To He Fully Expounded-Interossa
Topics for Discussion.
A mvssery mas hitherto surrounded the Shaker
communlty ana, in view OF the fact that their
vuission ideas and religious oeiief are generally
misunderstood, q convention Is to be held at
steinway Hall on Sunday next when Shakerism,
v,th all It's doctrines and peculiarities. will be
fu,,v set before the public. Among other
features to be presented, Shaker choir OF twelve
yocaIIsts will sing al the commencement, between
Elder v. +. Evans win conduct the proceedings.
They are truly singular people, and IL may not
be lnopportune, in view OF
THE COMING DEMONSTRATION.
70 cite briefly lew OF their chief characteristics.
Although their property Is common TO all they be-
heye dseness TO be sinful, and hence every men,
per VINO is able 10 work Is employed AZ some labor
They devote great attention TO the cultivation or
medicinal herbs and vegetables, and OF late have
done an extensive business In the manufacture of
brooms. The shakers make their own clothing.
They oeieve, among other things, that in the an
known as q Great SPIRIT; that in the second
period He revealed that Jesus Christ in the
tna sce made mm as hs . IN
vealed In the character OF Mother, an eternal
mother. the bearing spirit OF all the creation OF
and are given IN marriage are "children Of this
world" tnat they as shakers are called to lead
holy and spiritual lie, nee from all sexual indnl:
gence daily dying to the generative nature, and
sSns becoming new creatures, VINO are able TO
comprehend the mysteries Of God." Another
doctrine Is the development or
A HUMAN BROTHERHOOD
IN community OF goods, according to the ex-
pearing OF Christ without sin into salvation"
they believe TO nave taken place through Mother
was the daughter OF James and Jane Wardley, OF
Manchester, England, who were members OF q
society in lS47. an ofrshoot from the Quakers. In
ITO sne prolessed TO have received. by
A SPECIAL MANIFESTATION
OF divine light those revelationsin virtue OF which
her followers have ever since gwen her the name
years latef, accompanied ~ ten members Of the
cialm that the. necessity for sec
ond appearance Of Christ resulted from the
% teey Seieve exists. TINS second appearing Of
Christ they hold to be the true resurrection state
and repudlate physical resurrection as repug-
they contend Is the basis OF all Ieligion all human
sickness being the result, tney say, OF some
against the teachings oil Moses direct or indirect.
They hold oral confession OF sins to God in pres
ence OF one or two witnesses as essential to the
power fOrsake sin, and they also uelieve In the
power Of their members to heal physical diseases
BY means of dietetcs and prayer. Altogether, the
hers and elders they regard valid and important
These but q few OF the more prom
inent doctrines which which vii wili be expounded
meetlngs-in the morning. afternoon and evening.
The addresses Will be delivered by Elders Evans
Albert Loomis and John B. Vance and Elderesses
Harriet Bulard, AntOinerte Dooltte, Thomas
Smith and others. Among the topics to be intro
duced will be whether Shakerlsm would depopu-
late the world, and that true religion based on
physiology secures salvation or Doth soul and
body, supplying all spiritual and temporal wants.
IL viii be submitted also thot there are
TWO GREAT FUNDAMENTAL ORDERS,
the earthly order based on correct generation
with cooperation. ana the heavenly order or
Christian celibacy, with communism, ana that in
the millennium the civil government will hold the
hand as common property and all labor will be
performed by cooperation. The question OF
capital and LABOR will also be discussed and the
Day OF Judgment explained. An interesting ses-
slOn may be looked forward to.