Middletown transcript., 1875-04-03
Shakers.

came a church of anti-christ, under
favor and protection Of Constantine the
Roman Emperor; but, at the same
time profess to believe that God has in
every age raised up witnesses to bear
testimony against sin and the power Of
anti-christ. Among these they claim
to be, and profess to be of those known
as the French prophets. who were rails
ed up and endued with the true spirit
Of prophecy. The French prophets
alluded to appeared in 1888 Three Of
their most distinguished men, Elias
Marion, John Cavilier and Durrand
Fage, left France and went to Lendon,
about the year 1705, where they began
to prophecy as in France. 10 England
they met with much opposition Several
of the prophets went into Scotland, and
afterwards into Holland
James Wardley, tailor by trade,
and his wife Jane, formerly Quakers,
living at Bolton. county Of Lancashire.
England, joined the French prophets
in testifying against all the churches
then standing. About the year 1747.
several other persons were added to
them, and small society formed with
out any established creed or any par
tieular manner Of worship, as they pro-
fessed to be only beginning to learn the
new and living way of complete saliva
ton, which had long been. the subject
Of prophecy; and. thesefore. they pro-
fessed to be resigned to be led and
governed from time to time as the spirit
Of God might dictate. The principal
members besides Wardley and his wife
were John Townley. 4 Of Manchester
and his wife. Wardley and bis wife
conducted the meetings. Jane Ward
ley was called mother" and to her
confessions of sin were made. She had
the principal lead in their meetings.
In 1857. Ann Lee joined their society
by confsssing her sins to Jane Wardley.
Ann was born about the year 1885 At
a manageable age she entered into the
bonds Of matrimsny with Abraham
Stanley. Some years after joining the
society, Ann united ,hsr testimony
against the "root Of b.omau depravity,
and professsd she had received the
greatest gift that Of prophecy From
the year 1865 or go. she was owned as
the spiritual mother, and took the lead
Of the seesety. thenceforth, known as
Mother Ann" Their society in 1772,
numbered about thirty persons, though
many more had joined and fallen of.
As the prospects Of any further increase
we're gloomy, and as the people in gen.
eral disbelieved their testimony, Mother
Ann about that time received revela-
ton from God to. repair to America.
She prophesied a great increase and
permanent establishment of the church
and the work Of God in this country.
Accordingly as many as firmly believed
in her testimony and could get passage
concluded to follow her. They pro-
cured passage at Liverpool, in the ship
Maria, Captain Smith, and arrived at
New York. in 1774. Those who came
with "Mother Ann" were her husband.
Abraham Stanley, William Lee. James
Whitaker. John Parlington and Mary
his wife, John Hocknell. James Shepard
and Ann Lee the ''Mothers" niece. To
the spring Of 1776. she went to Albany,
thence to Wis Kenuna. now Water
Vliet. eight miles from Albany. where
a small society was established Septem-
Der, 1776, and still exists. From this
society have grown several communities
Among their earliest and most dis
tinguished converts was David Darrew,
Valentine Rathbene, a baptist preacher.
Daniel Rathbone and Ruben Rathbone.
Valentine Rathbone renounced bis
union with the society soon after be
had joined them, and published a
pamphlet against their faith and prac-
tice.
Their numbers in the United States
had at one time been considerable. but.
on the death of "Mother Ann," who
died at Water Vliet. September 9Th,
1874, they began to diminish.
They live in communities. are in
structed to be industrious and generally
useful.
Their religious exercises vary. Their
heaving dancing as it is called. is per
formed by perpetual springing from
the floor, about four inches up and
down. Moving about with astonishing
transport, singing, some times one at
time, some times more, they will fall
down on their knees groaning and cry
ing to God for the wicked world who
persecutss them. They are non-som-
batants like the Quakers, simple in
their manners. plain in their dress. living
in perfect accord. one with another.
They do not build many houses. pre-
ferring one that will contain many per-
sons. A fire broke cut in their settle
ment, at New Lebanon, New York.
during the past winter, and not being
provided with suitable fire apparatus the