New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-07
OBITUARY.
ELDER FREDERICK W. EVANS.

Lebanon, y. V. March Glider Frederick ".
Evans one OF the Oldest Shakers In the United States.
died here this morning.
Elder Frederick william Evans was born
in Bnmynrd, England. on June 0, 1903
lie spent his boyhood a farm Of 500 acres
at Chadwick Hail. near Worcester Later In life. when
he had become a power among the Shakers and was
asked how be secured his education, he said
my maps were the landscape OF hills and valleys:
my books, trees and plants my teachers the servants
and their masters and mistresses. ! graduated and
emigrated TO America in 1920. Then taught myself
how to read and began to study history learned
how to think. observe and upon theology and
the social and governmental organizations OF mankind
until became mnterialst, socialist, land re-
former and an nfdel to all the popular church ana
state religions OF ChristendOm.'
Upon his arrival In New-Yorl lis father appren-
ticed him to halter. Ii Mt this time, in the IN
tcrvals OF his work. that he educated himself After
lbs apprenticeship he took trip foot through the
West and went down the Mississippi to New-Orleans
Then die went England and upon his return to this
country he Joined the Shakers at Mt Lebanon In
1890 Eight years later re was appointed elder OF
the North Family, and In 1858 he became first elder
Of three OF the families.
lie invented simple methods OF warming the rooms
Of the family, houses uniformly. Not only has he
lccturd frequently but he has contributed to seventy
different publications. In 1879 he edited and pub
lshed, with Antonctte Dooitc, periodical entitled
Thc Shaker and Shakeress.' The teachings OF Elder
Evans have modified not n little the dogmas OF the
sect. Among his published works are: Compendium
Of Principles. Rules. Doctrines and Government oil
Shakers. with Biographies OF Ann Lee and Others
tNcw- York. 1850 Autobiography OF Shaker" and
TESTS of Divine Revelation n8G0); Shaker Com
mnnism,7 london. 1870; "Rcligous Communism
lecture delivered I'm st. Georges Hall, London, 1877:
and Second Appearing OF Christi (o'3l.
His brother, Henry George Evans, was also re-
former and came to this country with Frederick
william. Among the reforms for which he laborcd
were the destruction OF the United states Bank, III
aienabe homcstcads. the transportation OF mails on
Sunday. limitation OF the right Of any person 10 hod
lands. general bankrupt laws ard labcrers' liens. lie
also favored the abolition Of slavery and Imprisonment
for debt. Henry George Evans published his opinions
through various newspapers which he from time 10
time edited Frederick W. Is said to have agreed with
his brother In many OF his theories Of REFORM
A few words about the singular community With
which Elder Evans associated may possess inter
est Mount Lebanon village Is inhabited exclusively
by Shakers. II Is about mile long and Is divided up
into clusters OF buildings In which the different
families Of tho Shaker village live. Mount Lob
anon contains five Of these families. The first is
known the North Family" and consists OF about
fifty pcrsons. men, women and children. The other
families are the Church Family. the Second Family,
tho Centre Family and the South Family. Each
family consists Of about fifty persons and IS governed
by an Elder a Brother. Eldcress and a Sister.
The different families are engaged in different
branches OF business The Church family makes and
sells medicines. The North family produces milk,
butter. fruits, grain hay, cattle. etc. The Centre
family produces extracts Of roots and barks, such
as dandelIon and wild cherry. The Second family
produces cloaks and other articles Of clothing, besides
fruit and canned goods. The south family produce
chairs. rugs. sctecs and other light furniture.
TIE ministry at Mount Lebanon. consisting OF Elder
Joseph Holden. EldrcSs Harriet Bullard and Edrcss
Helen 4. stone forms the central or Directing Min
istry Of the entire shaker community from Maine 10
kentucky. In these three persons IS vested the
spiritual advisory power Of the seventeen shaker so
clcics similar To that OF Mount Lebanon In the United
states.
The property OF the families Is directly managed by
trustees who plan and transact business In
each family. The real estate Is held by one set OF
trustees for each society. The families consist OF both
scNes and all ages. The occupy different apart
m.ris In the dwelling and. though ahing meals
In the same hall at the same time, are seated apart
from each other.
The work out OF doors and in their factories
FIR the good OF all the members OF each So
cic,y The do all the household work. each
taking her turn In the kitchen. and the other parts
AZ the house.