Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-09-16
SHAKERS IN OHIO.
A Curious cummunlstlc Commun-
iiy at North Union.
TIE History Of a Strange PeOpls-origin
ola Sect With a Queer Belief
Voting Forbidden.

in England landed in New York from
Liverpool. Ann Lee, q woman thirty.
eight years Of age, was the centre Of the
group and soon after their arrival organ.
ICED several societies which espoused s
creed which she claimed was evolved
from a series of visions witnessed by hel
when in prison i'm ITO, she having been
confined for violating the sanctity o
the sabbath. These societies were the
beginning Of an organization which
still exists under the name Of THE
Shakers" This appellatiOn was ap,
Piled to them because Of the trembling
v it'll which they were seized while
under the influence of the shades Of the
work. The original name was
the United Society OF Believers" The
Of Shakers Is confined entirely
10 the United States. There are seven
TEN branches or "famili esq a they are
in various parts Of the country,
lour Of them being located In Ohio-one
sd Union Nillsge, in Warren county;
smother at Watervliet, near Dayton;
line third at Whitewater, Hamilton
.rpuuty, and the fourth at North Union,
county.
Al North GnIOu.
4 four miles ride over q level road
from the extreme eastern portion of the
|rity of cleveland brings one to North
lUnlon. II is neither village nor town,
|brt merely q settlement. y dozen
|frsme house, built after the style of the
|Orduary Ohio farm house, constitute
'the settlement, with the addition OF 8
smal brick structure used as q school
Ihou,r. Tue church, or place of wOr-
Shin. i a lOug, white, frame structure,
bne story high. Here every Sunday
sleruoOn ST two o'clock the "familyn
assemblies for worship. The rows of
benches are arranged along either half
III tie house, ~ that those sitting on one
de face those on the other. The
Brethren and sisters occupy opposite
hide Of the house.
The meeting i opened with q rellg-
3Ous hymn, often entirely original with
&Our urrsOn preSent-wOrdS, notes and
IN tie result uf the moments inSpira-
Ion. fOr these Shakers believe in in
E~iIallulss and visible manifestations
krOrtgdIug from the spirit world as
4TuIy ~ they believe everyday facts.
be elders OF tine church next address
b. congregation, occupying a position
N tie head Of the room, there being no
fulrit. The meeting is then in the
bands OF those present and anyone may
Spesk who CHOOSES, usually standing
khere he rises, as all their speeches are
brief aud 10 the point. Although no
&cripturul texts are taken up, the Bible
u freely quoted. An hour and q half Is
liz usual extent Of the meeting. The
kruptrty at the settlement owned by
liz shakers includes 1888 acres of land,
Snd the entire property is valued at
$4,000 or more. 1t vas settled in lS22.
hhe Numbers number at present sixty
Two. although at times two hHldred
&eruns have belonged TO the family"
Cornelius Bush i one of the trustees
Ind the leading man Of the community.
he i an old man, of medium height,
Elh slightly bent form aud long grIZ-
4 lucas. lie has the appearance of
! r., 20 60 labsring farmer and wears a
j Ch. broad brimmed Quakerish hat,
j ni.n o,yr>uadOwS Il kindly aud inyit-
y 9 lace.
N Inc Principles OF the Shakers
The Shakers number 5000 in the
tinted states. One of the cardinal
tnc;s If the order is celibACy. They
8.l.r,e with -. Paul, that ifa virgin
d arr.rS lie will do well, but if she re-
Mans siuglc she will be better. As a
hole the men live in one side of the
uu>p AID the women in the other. The
sonru COOK for the men and do other
ssks III ior their strength, and the men
II lie outside work. Tue Shakers be-
Dew in community of goods and inter
D.. They hold no property individual
Il. Their possessions are held by trus-
D. who are appointed to conduct their
kmyoral affairs. The trustees, or their
Hgtrl-, buy whatever. is needed, dispose
the surplus produce and hold all
trOyeTiy IN trust for the common good.
he society IN general is divided into
MG h,hOprics, in each Of which are
fgO male and two female bishops. Each
Ummuu.tv OF family has four elders,
w. ut each sex. The bishops, who
V.d Their POSITIONS for life, choose
eir own Successors that is, when one
e> or tor some reason r~etires, the va
fnry is filled by those remaining.
toWryrr, it must be filled ac~ceptably to
e l1vu 1rrs of the society, and when
b. hop i appointed who does not
vr SATISFACTION he is removed and an
Pier appointed in his place. The com
uuti~s are each given religious in
Iurl.ou aud guidance by four elders,
hen The order j. full-twO of each sex.
he hold their positions for life aud ars
appointed 10y the elders. Equal prOmi-
pence Is given to man and woman in
yery respect, and equality Of the sexes
one 81 the governing principles of the
Organization.
Religion, Dress and Diet.
One Of the principles of the Shakers is
nthsfm the duality ofthe GOdhead a
hlhtr and mother. II becomes rather
stlouS task TO be made = member Of
community. No one is luitted to
Li Membership or allowed to s.gn the
o''nart uLder the age of twsuty-Oue
rsi> although children are sometimes
aAtH on probation. If man and his
Ne Apply for membership they mus
fsiee 70 drop the marital relation and
De TO each other only as brother and
str' u only one off married couple
r. ADMISSION TO the society, that one
.lSI hr>t he legally separated from the
80. The Shakers believe that the
@lneut OF the millennium will Occur
~ The ven thOusandth anniversary
INe worlds creation and that the in.
ta>e IN goodness will have the effect
iaPIdiy hll.ngu up the old families and
Fauug many new ones.
Lne Shakers dress plainly. The wo,
~ Wear plain black stuff gowns and
~w,o"hnets made Of straw, A large
0Aerrhlef restSupOu the shoulders. ex,
IvIhg quite across them and falling
Ine waist in front and behind i'm mn
80 OF a triangle with the apex down.
TO. a plain white apron cOmnIate.
ureNs. Not a rufle or a Grimm an
SarS IN the entire costume. The bsi,
ombed back over the forehead an,
thered at the back Of the head, Tn.
wear the PREDETERMINED hats .
eQuakers aud dress in common Snits
Romespun. They aspire TO raise
o'ner beard nor mOuStache. Thief an
Soith the land occupies their tim S ii.
we warmer months, and in m,