The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-21
a LETTER FROM MOI ICE oRrx.rr
Some VERY Mild Comments on Pre.en, ,.,..
In Washfneton

$500 "A''u tv'""cnts on Present I fnirs
In Washington,
Elder N. A. Briggs OF the Shaker O., o,o,w
e'SnaAe, mage New Ham pshire, gave suN
~ 80. n'o'os"nR facts In regard 70 the pres
emu oonultion and standing Of his peoul,a, sac,
He stated that according to thu ,a,.s, so,..U-
there are 1000 Shakers In the unitaa s,s,a.
There are now seventeen societ,ea loc.,aS
manly IN New York, Ohio. Kentucky. Msss.-
chusette, Connecticut, Maine and New Ham,
sn're' Inc scot has not increased 10 numbsr~
within the past past few years. but Elder n,,os.
denies that the societies have been depIeted IN
membership lately, az has been erroneon.,,
stated In some ofthe papers. There have also bean
some INTERPRETATIONS In regard to the govern
ment and RELIGION Of the Shakers. In the nr,t
piace, the name !" Shakers" IL objected To- rna
clety OF Believers" The seat of the snTi,voi
Nh 'em poIal Rovernment OF the societies ia az
acknowledged head 10 the Order OF MlnIstrv
composed OF four of1cers-two males and two
authority. The form OF government is wbas
might be called patriarohai, and is COPIED Nftss
mentioned have jurisdction over ali ~ The 90
enteen societies, but each society has a head
similar to that Of bishop in the Methodist or
speakinR, there are two bishops to each society
"a male and a female. Each society Ia Divided
INTO families, and each family is governed by
comprise less than three persons There ,,nust
20 =. least one brother aud two sisters or one
s's Ts and two brothers In family.
me society at New Lebanon has not vet re-
covered from lite severe loss OF upward Of one
INJURED thousand dollars by the late fire. which
HH.,ssIoyeu some Of their most vauA BILE buldinra.
N aw spcletles have materially assisted the
t New Lebanon people, and new buildings are he
inR erected as fast as possible 49,
,i u"o NaiiOus miles IRE located at present nm
,Mnnl9pwsi In New York State-Mount Iebanoo'
ri Wh, shirley VILLAGE, Aver. In Connocticus
- noun sonville In Maine-Alfred and West
Glouceeter. In New Hampshire-Sh ker Village
and ENFIELD. In Ohio-Lebanon, DAYTON, Pres
I'm I'm al, and oieveland. In kentucky-Pleasant
Each shaker Is bound spiritually and phvslcai-
w 10 sustain the Society Of United Believers"
Inc following Is from among one OF the most
popular hymns sung at the Shaker meetings.
We VIII sustain the structure. It's noble fame shall
unohsgged in all Its purity-the that God hath
We viii the structure God be our helm and stay
Throughout an earthly pilgrimage throughout eternal
Elder Briggs handed to the reporter the fol-
lowing communication, rurporting to come
from the late Horace Greeley through a medi-
um, Elder q. A. Loves OF the Shaker Society:
To @. A. LOmds.
perceive IN the Government OF Washington cor,
.pd look WITH pIn wp pe le
waken toe spirit OF war warming again, and for
the most selfish ENDS There are those In gOvernmtnta
When ON earth labored honestly for human elevation.
believed IN Just God anu In retributye conse-
lplift the people was considered a Washington,
Jackson nor as Others ted for peculiarly noble
live and work for the good Of humanity Here / can
see the folly Of earthly spendOr. sm now confirmed
OF any phs ss 81 ts e sItsn
earth HORACE GREELEY.