The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-06-03
Shakers.

A New York reporter has been visit
ing the Shakers at Mount Lebanon, and
thus tells what he learned:
Farming is carried on, OF course, main
tlv to furnish supplies for the commuIii-
ty, but very important industry is the
raising of garden seeds for market.
Brooms are also made for sale; and, as
our readers are already aware, every
thing produced by the Shakers is of the
best quality, and every representation
which they make concerning their wares
is to be relied upon. The houses in
which they live are large wooden build
and thoroughly comfortable.
The neatness with which they are kept
can not be exceeded. The dwelling Of
the North family is warmed by steam,
and ventilated in the most scientific and
effective manner according TO system
Invented and applied by Elder Freder-
ick. The women live in one end Of the
building and the men in the other. The
cooking for the community is performed,
Of course, in single Kitchen, and
throughout the establishment everything
is perfect in It's way. Abundance, or
der, thrift, and transcendent cleanliness
prevail everywhere.
Coming from theology to practical re-
ligion, the two essential doctrines of
SRakerism are celibacy and the COM
munity Of goods. Celibacy they insist
| upon as the only condition of a high
spiritual state. Jesus OF Nazareth was
| celibate, and in their belief no human
being can attain great religious elevation
who does not observe this rule. lt'is,
however, only part of their system OF
asceticism. Their theory seems to COM
prehend every torn Of self-denial which
| I "a titt nhe I,,tn sni,
to health or the destruction Of life.
Selt-denial in eating and drinking, liv-
ing upon coarse kinds of food, tue re-
preston OF every passion and every vio-
lent tendency, abnegation OF all earthly
ambitions, the utter renunciation of the
world and its vanities, of all outward
show and self-assertion, all belong to-
gether in this part of their scheme. Their
extreme simplicity and plainness in
dress. habitations, life, and converse
tion, with devotion to industry, thrift,
and careful economy, are outward mani
| festations of the same principle. Com.
munity of goods the Shakers hold to as
the only sure foundation tor the outward
equality of spiritual men, and the indis.
pensable bulwark of selt-denial, humil.
| ity, and a heavenly frame of mind.
| One evening we were invited to be
present at the worship Of the family,
| The meeting was held in a large, uncar.
peted upper room, in which couple oil
chairs and row Of benches against the
walls were the only furniture. We were
taken in before the community assem-.
bled. They presently entered, the men
at one door and the women at another,
all in the community dress, except two
or three men, who had joined too re-
Gently to have their uniform; and each
party formed in tour lines across the
room, facing each other, with Elder Fred.
toinette, at the head. They remained
with their hands clasped and eyes down
i cast few moments, in silence.
Then Elder Frederick stepped forward,
| aud standing between the TWO divisions,
delivered brief exhortation upon the
Ijoy OF aspiring toward heaven and heay.
emily concerns, and the delight resulting
from putting the lower nature in all re.
spects entirely under foot. Then he
| turned back into his former place. Again
q pause OF silence, and then some of the
| brethren and sisters struck UP O song,
or hymn, as other people would call 1t,
and sang it through, the end being indi.
Gated by all the worshippers dropping
their hands. This was followed BY an.
other pause and anothersong, and so on,
until three or four melodies had been
completed.
/ Then the formation was broken up,
and eight or ten men and women took
their places facing each other in two
ranks in the center of the room, while
the rest of the family formed by tWos on
the outside, the men frstand the women
I!behind them. Alter brief period of ST.
llence. those in the center commenced
another song, accompanied with a toss
ling motion 1.-THE hands, as ifintended 10
SHOW that worship is labor; and at the
same time the ranks without began with
the same motion Of the hands TO. move
rather rapidly around the. room, some
simply walking, and others as. ii dancing
and indeed this part Of the service
seemed W. be Intended to illustrate at
once The idea OF a. sacred dance and OF an
act of industrious alteration toward the
Most High.
AS the song was finished, the company
stood still, dropping theirlIands at their
sides for a moment, and then clasping
fhau1 arait. hafora the ulf1aiQa In