The New York herald., 1874-11-23
THE SHAKERS.
Convention of the Religious Celibates
at Steinway Hall.
Matrimony Variously Con-
Sidered.

The morning Attendance at the Shaker Conven-
tion IN Steinway Hall was not quite as large
that in the evening. In the latter portion OF the
day the hall aud galleries were crowded. Much
interest was ielt in the various addresses. some OF
which touched upon sociological topics that were
singularly treated, and with, perhaps far less pro-
priety than many people expected The audience
seemed to be composed OF tnat numerous class
or people in this city who attach themselves 10 no
church in particular and take anything tnat comes
along IN the name OF reform rs delightful change.
The stage OF Steinway Hall was occupied by
Shaker delegation, numbering about twenty per-
sons, half male ana hall female. The latter sat
at the lett hand OF the stage. cad IN purple
dresses, with white NANTES wrapped around
their shoulders. The men wore their hair
long, and their dress was simplicity Itself.
The ladies' made quite picturesque appear
ance In the evening. The address by Elder
LOOMS caused unusual asonishment among
the Gentlles and several scores OF ladies left the
hall during the course OF the gentleman's address.
He spoke learnedly on the subject OF procrea-
tion but his remarks would hardly SUIT
the columns OF the HERALD. He was
an elderly man, clad IN blue flannel,
with brass buttons down the 'front.'. His hair was
combed behind his ears, and his face wore most
salacious expression. He spoke at great length
on his indicate subject Ills train OF ideas
quite similar to that Of the ree.ove apostles.
or whom the country already knows something.
In the afternoon session Elder John B. Vance,
Eideress Antonette Doolittle Elder Evans and
others spoke.
The following is a sample OF the morality and
theology or the sect:-
STOMACH AND CONSCIENCE.
Two manners or people exist-the Jacob class
and the Esau class. TO the first the blessing OF
God comes in the sunshine or an inner spirit
world, continually ripenlng them up for sphere
wherein they will be invisible to the Esau class.
and live upon food, that 10 1t, would be as the
mama to the Egyptian appetites Of the Israelites.
To the latter class, the blessing Of God comes in
the sunshine or earth, and in the dews and lot.
ness thereof.
1T Is question between stomach and conSclenc ce
as to which class acn person shall belong.
"All the labor OF man is for his mouth" and we
are made up OF the kind OF jood we put into it.
II we eat earthly lood we are earthly men and
women. II We eat angels food tmanna) we be-
come angelic-spirtual men and women. If
| stomach appetitel have the control ana pleasure
| (the Representation OF labor IS priced the
means OF Indulgence. Money may be accumulated
any use to be accomplished ny It's possession. That
/ is acqulsltiveness run mad-sheer covetousness.
tlnct, and every earthly and heavenly comfort is
| sacrificed Tor the purpose OF econ0mtZlng eX-
sss ss sast eaa 1s
| session, either to the owner thereof or to some
| other person.
AS nation it viii be generally recognized that
| stomach predomnates, at this present tiLe, over
conscience and the love OF money over the love Of
| Appetite and looks, lust OF the eye and per.
verted taste, are the controlling lnhaence that
that men provide and women cook, and
also mo- nov rneIn,a tuey sna coo cook Il. Tne same
govern arst the men and next the women, in
relation to dress. Health and comfort, morality
e a se
appetite and looks 10 that degree tnat lie or she
ns an AZ a @ and az tht what why & ao
the use the com ort in tis article of food, drink,
apparelo medicine contemplate buying ana pre-
| the social circle as are the insane. And indeed,
they are by petlte-created-mentaity, accounted
as "Samaritans"-a "havng devl' or as being
beside MISUNDERSTANDING class who are ior-
ever turning "tne world that now is'' upside
| gods and change The ordinances OF the degree
tDat has accomplished It's mission. become old and
Is ready TO perish anu be supplanted by its success
sors as new wave Of progress.
me same lines OF argument. the same turmoil
OF passion that the existence Of chatte slavery IN
| America gave rise to, terminating IN a destruc-
tive, unclyil war; come into operation In all con-
SCIENCE taat nave occarred and VIII aereater ate oe
cur, In any new degree OF progress, In nations, in
societies or even individuals. Three classes are
created.
TsmTns psopnesc slaass who receive the IN.
whether It be tle captive man and woman. who
are bought and sold IKE animals, or souls captive
to some appetite, some iuss OF the aesh or mind
Second-The second class are the moderates,
peIied by the conservatives. With tni. ciass wiz.
dom was born. And When 1t becomes extinct wis.
Of . suck. horror Of tie two snds-of . al sx.
TArd-The opposite extreme, or conservative
4 ~
whose intelects are enslavea BY their appstltes,
and VINO reason only TO mako inc worse appear
i the better part-to prove that what they want
and Will have. 70 agreeable TO tneir conscience,
wnica Is suoOrdlnased to ana enslaved BY the
il has not been revealed to these Moderatea that
/ n the two ends were cut or there would still be
shorter until It Represented the simious tribes,
but the same order would still exist-tnere would
be the two ends and middle, held together BY the
Flesh meat is, almost exclusively, the lood Of the
WINS with sparse popuiation. 10 change Ineir
taet they come 10 ieed upon doestc animals there
must be liked habitarlons and system OF agricul.
ture, such as the Creek indians nave adopted and
adapted themselves unto.
il, again. they would change their diet ana dis.
continue tne use OF domestic animal food tnat
| would involve the Introduction OF horticulture,
| ike the reople OF Vineand. mus would they ap.
proXmate the diet OF the lsraeltes in the wilder.
Had Moses lived would ne ever have taken the
children of Israel into the land OF Canaan2
Had Jesus lived would he ever have formed an
Organization 7
In Canaan they went back. not unto Egyp-
tiaa diet with lss fesn pots, but to mixed
most holy class among them-the Nazarenes-
ate no lesn drank no wine and lived lives
OF celibacy. These were what the whole body
or the people had begun to travel toward, anu
would attain unto, when the Messiah came to
change their diet and teach them to eat tie most
sacred OF a / iood-uneavened bread, made oil un.
bolted nour-the Lords Last supper These things
were written Tor our admonitton, upon whom the
ends Ui the world have begun TO c0me When the
seventh trumpet begins TO sound the mystery OF
God shall be flushed.
young man or woman who begins life with
conservatism is as an lsraete who began life by
desiring to go back into Egypt 10 get hls educa-
ton. They Will not leave the world any better
than they iound 1t. Neither Will sucn help to pro-