The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-12-22


are in popular use next to the circulation
of the Scriptures. No house has done SO
much to delight and educate the commu.
nifty. Their illustrated Weekly and their
Basar arc the wonder Of art, while the
Monthly is in itself library. Every
family should have these publications and
can d. so if an effort is made. The next
years issue is more brilliant than ever.
You have all heard Of the death Of our
Mayor Mr.. Havemeyer. This is the
first death Except suicde,) which has
ever occurred in the City Hall. lie was
a stout German in appearance, noble
looking man and died at the post of duty.
Three of our Mayors were Of German de.
scent, Philip Hone, Daniel F Tieman,
and William F. Havameyer, all were men
Of ability, and good character and like
the Germens generally, were men Of
wealth. CAYADuTTA.
THE SHAKERS.
In the year 1747, n few malcontcnts
living near Manchester, England, and be
longing to the Quaker denomination set
up for themselves an independent organi.
zation, at the same time assuming no par
ticular name, and assigning no reason for
their movement save little misunder
standing. AS they would dance. run, and
Jump, they were called Shakers" by
way OF reproach, They were laughed
at, ieered at, and at last some Of then,
were arrested and thrown into prison
Their persecution made them thrive rath
er than decline. In 1710, twenty.thrcc
years after their first inception, and while
persecution twas waxing fiercer, one oi
their number, maiden known as Anna
Lee, professed not only to have received
a special divine revelation, but specia
divine mission, and with her friends i'm.
migrated to America. In 1T74 the Sha.
kers landed in New YORK and proceeded
Immediately up the Hudson to place
called Watervliet, seven milea from AL
bany, where they settled
From this colony the Shakers Of th'
United States have grown until they mum
Der between 4 900 and 5000, divided in
to eighteen societies.
Their settlements number sometimes c
many as 500 members. These settle
ments are divided into " families" eacl
family always varying in the number 0
its members, and each occupying on
large frame dwelling house. The houses
are not remarkable for architectural beau
ty, being both externally aud intcrnall.
very plain, and rarely, if ever. painted
Through the centre Of each honsc a larg
hall may always be found. On one sid
of these halls the houses are devoted ex
clusively to the sleeping apartments o
the females. while on the other side the
are devoted no less exclusively to til
sleeping apartments Of the males. Orig
inally agriculture was the only kird Il
industry the Shakers pursued recently
however, they have engaged extensive
in dairying and in the manufacturing {
brooms and drugs. At New Lebanon Il
lone the Shakers own several thousan
acres of land. much of which is under .
excellent state Of cultivation. lndustr
is one Of their cardinal virtues, and idle
ness is recdoned as very sinful. Neatne'
and order have become two Of their prom
inent characteristics. Their worship cor
sists in violent exercise of both sol
aud hody.
Instructed by an elder or cldrcss. the
array themselves in long lines. the male
facing the females, and while standin
they listen to brief address from son
Shaker upon the doctrine or 2rimiti,
virtue, after which they begin marchio
and singing to use their own languag
they" 90 forth in the dances Of them tn
make merry" Their evolutions aud
gility under these circumstances are woi
derfu. by such physical exercises e.
citement with them runs TO a very hlg
E pitch,
Originally the Shakers divided the or
alton into four cycles of time, but nov
I under the teachings Of Father Evan
| their new leader. they claim that thel
are to be seven cycles. The first eye
they are about closing and are therefoi
r about to enter upon the second. III
} sign of the Grst cycles elimination til,
see in the dogma Of Papa inlaliblit
l and in the ventilation Of such scandals
$ have filled the newspapers during the Ia
I summer In this second cycle they b
, love the doctrines of human brotherhoo
in which Christ instructed Jesus are
become thoroughly Known aud that
{ God's children the earth is to he Civ
: for an everlasting possession.
0 The spiritual and temporal offices
a Shakerdom are shared mutually by Sh
, keis ara Shakeresses Their official
n ties are elder and eldrcs,, deacon and de
n couess. The denomination is divided i
to three classes, viz Novitiates, junior
aud seuiors, the first two hring simp
!. probationary, while the third is fully 7
d ceived of God, aud enjoys the highc
a tyre of spiritual happiness.
!, The Shakers hrvc lust held convc
n tion to commemorate the closing OF I
r. first cycle and the dawning of the -ccon
~ aud large sumhcr Of delegate. male a
n female, attended it, They cxpouud
: their own doctrines. as well as discuss
"a Christianity. Spiriiuall-r' lliielity, a
IN other social questions. There was che
,r singing OF their own peculiar songs a
,e music, and they believe that many de
10 ples will he gained.
"llad - SIR" said Henry Erskine
H. u dilatory carpenter, "bcen there to bu
IL the ark, we should not have had the fo
Is yet"
Id Cincinnati women psrsist in draw
D. their baby carriages into the street'os
be and the men have TO get out or stand
d. on the platform.
y. Out of the ten million women in Am
he lea there isn't one who won't scream
lis the sight of a rat