Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-06-06
The Shakers.

A description of one "family" is
that of all, and the " family" life at
the particular settlement is the same
in its general features as that at the
other Shaker villages, one of which is
in the neighborhood of this city. the
brethren" and sisters of this vii
lage being oft seen on our streets.
Each family contains everything com
pete for living within Itself. The
property is held in common, and an
Elder and Elderess control everything
in the family, being in fact the father
and mother, the others being but
children, who receive their board and
clothes and instruction from the heads
of the family. All are celibates,
holding this as the cornerstone of their
belief. All are Spiritualists, and have
been since the foundation Of the
society, although there are many diff
ferences between them and Spiritual
lists in general. They claim that
Christ was but man; that the
Christ-like spirit" descended upon
Him, as it will upon all who live as
they live. Labor. they say, is wor-
ship, and men and women are up and
hard at work with the sun, and lie
down and sleep with it, except when
they have their regular evening meet
lngS, occurring once or twice each
week in a hall set apart in one of the
houses for this purpose. The men
labor on the farm and in the gardens
i'll the spring, summer and fail, and in |
winter make brooms, pack seeds, make |
and mend boots and shoes, cut wood |
and attend to their stock. The women |
spin, weave. make clothes and mend, |
wash, iron, cook, make beds, clean |
house, anever-ending round of duties
for both men and women. Their only !
recreation appears to be in their meet !
ings, at which all appear in clean linen |
ano smoothly-combed hair, the men
having their hair banged" and the |
women wearing close caps with
white, pointed cape over their should I
erS. The men march into the hall on |
in single file at one door,
and the women at another, forming III
rows facing each other, in the middle
OF the floor. y few remarks are made |
by the Elder and Elderess, the sub
stance Of which is that they have la
bored all day, and that Labor is wor-
ship. Then two or three women
commence singing, the others march
ing in a circle while the singersremain
in the middle of the floor.
those marching lifting up and dropping
their hands in monotonouS sort of
way. When the singing stops the
Is brought to "a stand, all
facing each other, as before. Then
sort of experience
meeting any one of the brethren or
sisters talking, as the spirit dictates
The foundation-stone of their belief
beng celibacy, Intoxicating drinks UNI
known, their passions subdued, their
wants few and all supplied, crime is
50 that they live quiet and
peaceable lives, without any care for
the morrow. Whatever virtue there
may be in this sort of life, it certainly
must be depressing TO live without
nope of change till life ceases; without
without motive OF incentive
# any kind the affections crushed
talents buried and life wasted to sup
ply the wants Of the body and protect
virtue by compulsion. The Shakers
10 not 90 to their labor either singing
II whiStling. \ good, hearty laugh
s unknown. Both men and women
ook sad and weary; and the few chill
iren III their charge have the care
worn look of elderly people. Albany
N. " Journal.