Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-09
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AMONG TIE SHAKERS.
HABITS AND CUSTOMS CFAcuRIOue
RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY.

Origin of the Term .'Sha,ser"-Inven.
lions and Industries Their Simple
Eesimen-Their Theology In Erief-A
Life of Celibacy.
There are societies now in Massachusetts,.
New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine, Ohio,
kentucky and other states The first church
was built at New Lebanon, in 1855. Prior to
1913 the society did not have any distinct
Title But IN that year it adopted The
United Society Of Believers in Christ's Sec
ond Appearing" OF course, this was al
together too long and awkward for public
use. The members were dubbed Shakers
In derision by their enemies, because they
shook themselves while at worship, and this
apt name stuck. The Shakers themselves
were finally forced to adopt it, and now 1t
has lost its original significance. The Shak-
ers have never been a slothful people. They
have not only been patient and industrious,
but thev have also been inventive. More
than half q century ago they originated the
drying of sweet corn for food, and they were
the first TO paper and vend garden seeds in
the present styles. The immense patent
medicine trade OF to-day sprung from their
first methods Of preparing medicinal roots
and herbs for the market They first began
the broom corn business, and the first buzz
saw was made by them at New Lebanon.
The Shakers, at Watervliet, invented our
metallic pens, the first being made of brass
and silver. At New Lebanon were invented
the machines for cutting and bending card
teeth, and planning and matching and dress
ing flooring and ceiling lumber, also cut
nails. At Watervliet the making Of ex-
tracts was until recently an important bust
ness. At New Lebanon the manufacture of
patent medicines is now fourishing in
dustry.
THEIR SIEPLE REGIMEN.
Now, as to their regimen, over sixty years
ago the Shakers discontinued the use of dis
tiled liquors rs beverage About forty
years ago they abandoned all pork for
healths s2l.a~ Tobacco and snuff are rarely
used ard Ia94- and grease are reduced TO the
minimum quantity. The Shakers arc not
strictly ve-atarians and the articles above
mentioned are not prohibited by any society
order. But the Unwrltten law prevails and
is generally respected. To their virgin cell
bate" life and 10 their simple regimen Of food
they attribute their longevity. When was
a child my idea Of a Shaker WAS that OF
person who lived forever. Bysome authority
the average duration of human life Is put at
less than forty years. But here the Shakers
claim en- average as high as fifty-seven and
one-third years in c population Of 4,420.
AUNT Dolly who died a few years ago at
Lebanon, was aged los.
But of course instances like this are not
proof Of the average Shaker longevity; for
old negresSes, aged 80 or less, who zursed
George Washington, are still to be found,
and the number thereof IS not visibly de-
creasing. But il seems probable that Shakers
who never get drunk, or go into politics, or
indulge in any physical excuses, and who
live almost wholly il the open ART IS
natural to suppose they should live longer
than the same number Of persons of an Oppo-
site mode of life. From what | have OBJ
served, they do not slave Ike farmers, eSpeci- |
ally that class Of farm tilIers who are always
trying TO add 4 lining patch" True it is, |
they are always busy, but never unreason- !
ably SO.
Now, as to their Theology. Let nlsrlake it
plain TO you if I can The spiritual, and to a |
large degree the temporal, affairs are directed /
by board Of ministry two males and two |
females. These are the recognized rulers of
all Skakerrlom. Elder Giles B. Avery, who |
spends most Of his tir.a 81 WatervIiet and /
New Lebanon, Is one Of TIE four. From his /
Thereof IS follows:
Ann Lees appearance was the second c0rl- !
ing of Christ. which occurs through the fe- |
male Her followers hold Christ and Saviour !
to be SYNONYMOUS Jesus was not Christ, |
but he represented Christ. he was simply !
the Christ OF his day. When Christ next |
appears it VIII be again il the form Of a |
woman, instead OF that Of q man. We say, |
sour father who art ii Heaven" There can |
be no father where there Is no mother. There
fore there IS q heavenly mother. Again, /
there never was q bridegroom without a |
bride The scriptures speak Of the bride /
groom Christ. Ann Lee was the first 10 re-
ceive the brideship Of Christ. In fact, she
was the second appearing Of Christ.
This. briefly, is the Shaker theology. To
unbelievers il may seem trile vague. and
also c ltcle moro than they can swallow.
But TO this belief Shakers cling tenaciously.
Its conditions or penalties may keep out some
yvouId-be converts, and break the self-denial
OF others after they become converts. But
the creed Is q harmless one. Therefore, what
good i does, great or small, is clear gain TO
society ct large.
ALLIE OF cELIBACY.
Ther believe il the Bible 17d in baptism. /
They gre unlike other scots only in leading q 4
life of virgin ceIibacy. The notion that ell /
intercourse between the sexes IS forbidden Is I
an error. They spend evenings together; not 1
in couples, but in groups AID classes, and in /.
conversation or reading or singing. They (
SAY grace before and after meals, but dur 4
ing the meal itself they utter To word not 1
made necessary by tie business on hand. The /
property Is common. as 1t was IN the Oneida 1
community before the latter became . joint I
stock company.
Here al similarity ceases. In soma remote /
quarters the notion prevails that the Shakers .
are in some degree Ike the Iorrnons They !
are anti-afCrTro1 and anti-0neidan. They /.
do not even condemn marriage. though Of /
necessity they do lot get married or recognize (
the married state among members. They /
often lose members. who withdraw and set I
married. Others are expelled for wiIlful vio- /
la-io.lS Of the rules Elder Avery admits that I
the numbers arc not increasing but he thinks !
the faith holds its own now, and that grand /
revival VIII occur II the near future which F.
will increase the membership rapidly. / infer I
that the Shakers are e-pcctantly awaiting 4
more revelations through some one Ike Ann t
Lee who VIII give tie faithful added zeal and /!
enable the sect to weather another century. /
/ mentioned the fact that 81 the church .
fs-r1ilv tllaT- were some children These were /
adoDted, or are being temporarily cared for. +
They Were born outside, Of CO-ESe, OF parents I
who have died or are worse than dead New /
members are required TO confess al sins II an
elder or elderess and are accepted FOR few 4
months on PROBATION. II they tLen conclude /
thew should not like the life, or II the scclsfy .