Smyrna times., 1879-10-01

in is that for your own convenience or
the public generally?
Filter h.-For all who choose to use it,
Our rules allow families of parents and
children to live near US i'll degree Of
relation with the Society, but they manage
their own temporal concerns: parents are
required to be kind and dutiiul to each
other, to bring up their children in a godly
manner, and manage their property wisely,
and SO long as they continue to conform to
the religious faith and principles Of the
Society, they can stay, and no longer.
Here they can enjoy spiritual privileges
and live away from the world, while they
preserve their own domestic relations.
L-This feature of Shakcrsm is quite
new To me: how do you train tho children
given to you 10y their parents?
Filter "A good common school cdu
cation Is given them, and If any ono dis
covers genius and special aptnc~e to learn.
he is provided with the best instruction. in
higher branches Of knowledge. They are
all taught in the Holy Scriptures, partcu.
larly the life and lessons of Christ and the
Apostles.
.ht this point in Our conversation, Elder
Blnn returned with the party Of visitors,
/ and in reply to some inquiries which did
not make, he went into An explanation of
/ the religious i,rtr.a Of the Shakers This
j. as unintrliglhle as the mysticism Of the
! IuddIsts, or the transCcndrutalI~m OF
/ Emerson.
The priestcss Of Shakerism was a woman,
/ Ann Lee who was born in England, and
coming to this country, had Il following OF
believers who formed a Community ncaI
( Schenectady ~, Y, where she died The
sect discards the marriage and parental
relation, leads a life Of isolation from the
world, men and women living side, 10y side IL
all the gentle relations, except the dearest
and sweetest, lc.u~In. to obey The first com
mand that Cod gave to IN, creatures thu.
enacling rcbcllions by law as the basis o
their Society. What Is their idea of th,
Heavenly Father?
They teach that Gpd exist, in Il two.fDlo
nature, male and female, and manifesto
himself IN the creation of the sexes in I'M
own likeness Jesus, the Son of God wa
the male manifestation Of the Father
hood and in these latter days Ann Lea
WAS born ~ the revelation Of the Mother
hood Of God, and 80 we have in Shak erisu
\ religion that enjoys all the communica
tions Of the Dual Deity in whom we live
they find passages Of the Bible which the
hold to favor tins unintelugih,e statemcu,
They superadd a pure Christian system q
practical duty in which the moral law
fully enforced and life Of simple godi
ness is inculcatrd. So far as the knowIcd.
, and belief Of their friends and cnrmic, cA
. tend, they are true u their principle,
upright in their department., honest j
their dealings with the world and tn
i breath Of scandal or suspicion Of vic
among themselves has never sullicd the
l. a
, Such people cannot be very numcrou
D in this world, for very obvious reason
t There are }h.r1. communities Of them
+ the United states, nine being in Ne
England, three in the State Of New Norl
i four in Ohio, and two in kentucky. :
Y some OF these communities are very, smal
!. it is not probable that they number in a
. more than 100 members in the who
c country. 1t IS not quite a hundred yea
r since Ann Lee died, the mother Of Shaker
0 and another hundred years will not sec Il
:, race more numerous than it - now. 1t
r more likely to die out than grow.
: Elder Blnn put into my hands Il
o printed programme Of their next Suud.
o service, to consist chiefly Of singing. III
r world'~ people are welcomed, and seats a
IF provided fer them. Dancing, or meaSur,
= march. j, frequent part Of the serviC
d which is conducted with delibcration Al
ir without enthusiasm. Quctncss and Sc
j. control are cardinal beauties Of the Shak
:. system.
d We left our kind friends with mutu
e. expressions Of regard. Grateful to the
). for their Kindness We drove homcWard
IA the cool Of i lovely summer cvcnu
.! taking London Ridge. ,louc> Mil al
4 she .I4'Amr l.aN" ia the way. The mo-
L. stood over the mountains in glory in,
70 'clihahIr, hcr -iycry sheen cluthn. WOO
u. and waters. meadow. and hill sides.
., stall, 80 calm, 80 pure perhaps all the mt
II 50 h"cuu-, sc brought such clements wi
Ic u from Shaker Village; but as the sou
i, Of Il stra,n-rngiur on rail or river has nry
Is yet disturbed tho serene rrpu,r Of Il
ii scqursicrcd vale, We could for the nome
oil enjoy the heaven and the earth as if tn
Is were summtiily cotnprehcnded in t
or town of GIluldnton.