The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1875-06-24
A New Crusade.

After century of quiet existence,
the Shakers, or, as they call them
selves, the "United Society Of Be.
levers in Christ's Second Appear
ing" are taking the aggressive. Nc
longer satisfied with living alone in
their own peculiar way, they are de-
termined to make others acquainted
with their views and correct errone
GUS prepossessions respecting them.
The Canterbury On. H. family is first
in the field, we believe. 1t numbers
among its members Mx. James Hart.
ley, graduate of Oxford, and for
merly one of the editors OF the Lon
don Telegraph. III any one can de-
fend the Shaker tenets with ability,
his antecedents would seem to point
him out as prominent champion.
Shakerism, though now mainly
confined to the United States, is Of
English origin. 1t started among
some members of the Society of
Friends near Manchester, England,
in l.i.. Among them were the
parents Of Ann Lee, since known to
the denomination as Mother Lee.
The original disciples danced and
trembled in their worship, and
claimed the gift Of tongues. They
were prosecuted somewhat by their
unbelieving neighbors. In ITO Ann
Lee claimed to receive divine revela-
tions, which form the substance Of
what is now believed by her follow
ers. In l11l she emigrated to this
country with several other believers,
as was alleged, by command from
above. They settled near Albany,
N. Y, and their numbers were much
increased from the participants in a
sort Of religious revival which was
accompanied by violent physical
manifestations. Mother Ann died in
1871. Before her death she had
promulgated the idea that the faith
ful ought to dwell in communities,
and soon after her departure Joseph
Meacham, formerly Baptist preach
er, began to carry her ideas into eli
feet. There are now dozen or four
teen of these families or societies in
different parts OF the Union. The
inmates are sober, hard working
people, holding their property in
common, yet keeping it under care
full management. They worship, as
they say, with both soul and body,
dancing being regular feature Of
their religious exercises. They hold
to the immediate agency and influ-
ence of angels, and the departed
spirits Of their brethren and sisters.
Their creed is peculiar, embracing
the quality of God. He is the Eter-
nal Father and Mother of all angelical
beings, being revealed in the latter
characteristic in 1ss0, through Ann
Lee. The fourth cycle then began
The first made God known only as a
spirit; the second or Jewish revealed
Him as the Jehovah, and the third,
inaugurated by the advent Of Jesus,
proclaimed His t'atherhood.
The second appearing Of the Christ
without sin unto salvation" tool
place through Ann Lee. Neither
Jesus nor Ann, but the principles
they proclaimed, are the foundation
Of the church. Thy iNi8re IN four
heavens antfonr hells, corresponding
with the four cycles, the first three
Of beth being probationary The
fourth, however, has only been
reached, thus far, ~ Christ and Ann
Lee, but viii eventually be attained
by all good Shakers, aad by those
inmates Of the lower heavens and
hells who shall make good use OF
their light after death. Gclibacy is
enioined on all saints. The ''chil-
dren Of this world are still allowed
to use marriage solely for the per-
petnation of the race, but the mem
bers of the communities must be
above all this.
Whatever may be said in regard
to the peculiarity Of the above views,
the practical effect Of Shakerism in
assuring the destruction of the race
should its tenets ever attain universal
adoption, will seem reductio ad
absurdum. The mass Of people will
be content that the brethren and
sisters shall lead their prosaie and
industrious lives, but will not be in
clined to join them unless their own
situation is positively disagreeable.
The communities want none bat sim
cere and reputable members, and
these are not likely to get in very
large numbers. While human ma
ture remains as it is. marrying and
giving in marriage Will be more pop
ular than celibate existence. Gin
ciauati GazCtte.