The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-12-05
SHAKERS IN OHIO.
Curious Commnnistic Community NJ
North Union.

Curious Commnnistic Community nj
North Union.
four.miles ride over level road from
The extreme eastern portion of the city of
Cleveland brings one to North Union It Is
neither village nor town, but merely q
settlement A dozen frame houses, built
after tho style Of the ordinary Ohio farm
house, constitute the settlement, with the
addition OF small brick structure used as
u school house. The church, or place of
worship, is long, white, frame structure
one, story high. Here every Sunday after
noon at two o'clock the g family assemblies
for worship. The rows Of benches are ar
ranged along either half Of the house, so
that those sitting on one side face those on
the other The brethren aud sisters occupy
opposite sides OF the house.
The meeting is opened with q religious
hymn, often entirely original with some
person present--worts, notes and MI
result OF the moments inspiration, for those
Shakers believe in inspirations and visible
manifestations proceeding from the spirit
Just as truly as they believe everyday
facts. The elders of the church next ad.
dress the congregation, occupying posi-.
ton at the head of the room, there being nc
pulpit The meeting is then in the hands
of those present and anyone may speak who
chooses, usually standing where he rises, as
all their speeches are brief and TO the point.
Although no Scrptural texts are taken up,
the Bible is freely quoted, An hour and a
half is the usual extent of the meeting The
property Mt the settlement owned by the
Shakers includes 1,1sS acres Of land end
the entire property is valued at $780, 900 or
more. 1t was settled IN 1922. Tho men,
bers number at present sixty-two, although
at times two hundred persona have belonged
to the +" family" .
Cornelius Bush is one of the trustees and
the leading man of the community. lie is
IN old man, of medium height with slight.
ly bent form and long grizzly locks. He
has the appearance of well-to-do laboring
farmer and wears a high, broad brimmed
Quakersh hat, which o,ershadows kindly
md inviting face.
The Shakers number 5000 in the United
States. One of the cardinal tenants of the
order is cslibacy. They believe with st.
Paul, that II virgin marries she will do
welt but il she remains single she will do
better. As rule the men live in one side
of the house and the women in the other
The women cook for the men and do Other
tasks fit for their strength, and the men dc
the outside work. The Shakers believe in
community of goods and interests. They
hold no property individually. Their pos
sessions are held by trustees who are ap.
pointed to conduct thor temporal affairs
The trustees, or their agents, buy whatever
is needed, dispose of the surplus produce
and hold all property in trust for the com.
non good. The society in general il di-
gided into six bishopries in each of which
.re two male and two female bishops. Each
community or family has four elders, two
Of each sex The bishops, who hold their
positions for life, choose their own sue
cessors-that is, when one dies or for some
reason retires, the vacancy is filed by those
remaining. However, il must be filed ac-
ceptably TO the members Of tho society, and
when the bishop is appointed who docs not
give satisfaction he is removed and another
appointed in his place The communities
are each given religious instruction and
guidance by four elders, when the order is
full---two of each Sex They hold their posi-.
tons for life and are appointed by the
elders Equal prominence is given to men
and women IN every respect, and equality
Of the sexes is one of the governing princi-
pies Of the organization.
One of the principles of the Shakers ia a
belief in tho duality OF the Godhead as
father and mother. II becomes rather a
serious task to be made member of the
community, No one Ia admitted TO full
membership or allowed to sign the covenant
ander the age of twenty-one years. although
children ere sometimes taken ON probation.
If man and his wife apply for membership
they must agree to drop the marital relation
and to be to each other only as brother aud
lister. If only one Of u married couple seeks
admission to the society, that one must first
be legally separated from the other. The
Shakers believe that the advent Of the
millennium will occur with the seven thou
sandth anniversary Of the worlds creation
M ,ho, ,,,e ;,cra,as il, oooanaas viii bova
.ho effect 81 ranidlv filing mn the oil
s,,o;,;os and creating MANY new ones.
me sho,,or, d,ess Mainly Tho voms.,
wear plain black stun gowns and sun-bon-
nets made Of straw. A large neckerchief
rests upon the shoulders, extending quite
across them and falling to the waist in front
and behind in the form of triangle with