, 1876-05-14
THE SHAKERS.

WAT IaE1 A6hy AND NdA4 1AAI 6El44EFH~
fhe Brooklyn 4rgus has the following inter-
ziex with Frederick ". Evans, ths recognized
head Of the Shaker people:
Elder Evans is g. yeasa old He Il fal}y feet
n height, his eyes are bright there is ruddy glow
&.l. ne was dressed In the quaint Shaker garb Of
med Shaker Int covered his head, and the coats.
espes, coaks, furs, and wrappiags which the Ei-
der WORE suggested comfort in the co1dest weather.
II LIE ZEE you arc to speak in the Academy OF Music
YES We come to Brooklyn to try a little ez-
.{s ts Edsr in visiting Brooklyn
Elder Eysnt-conrerts to shakerism generally
s,9s On the hee!s e !. revival: r. gTSsat Zen.
.'Nha: is the object Of the Shaker 3rateEnlty!"
Elder Eyans-Wc claim that Shakerism is the
best tsuit Of the tree Of humanity.
''But you are celibate order, and II your views
Should prevail everywhere, the tree OF humanity
Elder Evan.-Wc believe in the existence Of two
osdess-the reproductive, the natural order, and
rhe spiritual arder. These are as distinct M from
each other IS the sun and the moon are. The Light
Of the moon is from the sun. but they don't mngle
together after the fashion Of our Church and State
Establishments.
:"Have the Shakers political aims."'
6e e bee3e
that the Government Of this country should be left
to IN order Of ceibates. No married man or
conan should hold an otllce. The work Of I, The b,
p.ohlems-should be left to IN order Of intellectual
eelbates- Married men and women should take
''Then, You do belicvc in mntrimony."
eod is duality. We believe in : Heavenly Father
and Heavenly Mother.
'tDo you accept the Scriptures?"
Elder Esans-We accepr the Scriptures ~ 20
nuch literature Of the Jewish nation, but we do
not aecept the writings the Word Of God. We
belIe7a that Jesus was eon OF God in the same
eease that Ann Lee, tho founder Of Shakerism-
via daughter Of God. Jesus was representa-
Lee was Of the Western World God is dual. Je.
hovAh means be, she. We believe in the duality Of
Deity, the duality of Christ spirit and the duality
ot The men and women whom the Christ spirit In
But believing in natztmtony, it seems strange
"taat yoo do not practice it."
Elder Evaus-Ne refrain, believing that we can
not hare generation and regeneration at the same
time We aim 70 elevate and improve We aim
% arouse the highest moral, intellectual, anu re-
lisious elements Of the race. But wc can't serve
two masters It's like tying to be man aud q
ehlld At the same time
c,n;se Yeu speke dIsparaEingl1 Of the ningllns OF
Elder Evans-Yea; and we regret to see the ten.
aeneJ in that direction in America. Church and
ctate Ehou1d be separate There Is very deter
mnea effort on the part Of such men ns Moody
4na e4nkey to subyeft Tor, as they call II. con-
1eHl our Government and bring in the Bible as
he great ruler. When that is done, then goodbye
VIZ d4CthE8- ] uE EQUVQuu01llE AAA
ins Of religion snd civil law has created much dis
Ieas and confusion in the past, and We heleve the
3''oe has come for their complete separation -,
DO you take any practical intercst IN poiltcs!
Elder Eyans-Nay; but We labor to bring about
puzez and better Government A. things exist
noH, We caa hardly dud good material with which
a,.1o DO you hare many applicants from outsiders
oEnE0g to Join you:"
Elder Evans-Yea; occasionally we have. several
xpplleationA in day, but we do not receive one
Auu1ln OF those who Ann1T.
r,sNh.s papers DO You read in your fanilies."
.,a;sa hiaer Evsns-We read them all-fTom TIE most
I'D I'D he Few York Sun; then VIC read the Tribune;
saen We read one OF Beechet's Sermons; then we
anS hs Ton Paine, We read 7almnge 1eea5i9aay
mona mona, Even our children shook their sides with
iaeeetef g. At Aoods,s theology:
ElSs;s Ss s91 a. have children With yon," ~. ,.r~nt,
Io,a us they, Of Course, bring their children. We
oa.G &c, number Of the young.
xnt; spPpese that sometimes Jour youth have IN
AoI- ecAbate tendency:"
Ellaet Evans-Iea, but rarely. a matrimonial
ssnaen:y On tae part Of young man "ou!o ne o.
eS = Immediately. We should discover It direct
@e, u als wa1k, In many ways.
ATE Lacy ever obgtinatet"
riih huSs e.. ssans-Not often We labor and deM
s sas sPLlt yon arc under il not Of our order iou
Tree 1I iHoso must turn every way to suh1o tno
e,Ho" many Shakers are there in America!"
.oi3 Eiiue1 Erans-Abont four thousand. We are
a;soppottlng, and, compared With other religious
rv.Ssues We have increased in. encouraging pro-
What religions denomination did you leave in
ssHs5 70 embrace Shakerism -
ytsra ,as Esans1i was born in England. Fqs nse
Ssn SSsSen and Fanny Wright. In 1880 embraced the
St sSaaket faith, and located At New. Lebanon. We
The famous apostle Of ShaEerism then went into
seiJ able review Of the political situauon In this