Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-05-28
SHAKER DOCTOR F!
PECULIAR BELIEFS OF A PECU
LIAR PEOPLE.
They Pay Taxes but Don't Vote
Don't MArry-Industry Is Next
TO GOdlInesS--GIe eat Men
Who Have Lived
and Died ShR-
keFs.

seems tOpsy'turvy regarding the wonder
full work being done here by the Shaker
doctor, and thinking our many readers
might like a short sketch regarding who
aud what the Shakers are, reporter
of the GAZETTE called on the Shaker
doctor at the Reno house and on making
his wants known was given pleasant
reception. We found the doctor to be a
highly educated, courteous. gentleman
and we'll informed on the general topics
of the day.
In answer to the question "Who and
what are the Shakers, aud in what do
they differ from Quakars of William
Penn's tme?" he said:
"The Shakers are seceders Of the Qua
kers, and differ from them in many par
ticulars. The Shakers are communists
in the strictest acceptance of this term,
but must not be COMPOUNDED with an
archists, as communism means to protect
every member of TIE community; an
archism means to tear down the present
state of society. Communism protects
the most humble in health, sickness and
burial of the dead. Tie property Is all
held in common; no man owns a dollar
individually, but it is all held as com
mon fund. The first law, and all our
laws are unwritten, is to give your heart
to God and your hands to labor-every
man, woman and child IS placed in his
sphere according to his talents; some
upon farms, some on diaries. and some in
workshops. While the world has wit
! messed the rise, decline and fall Of nu-
merous organizations which have proved
failures, the Shakers stand today as a
monument of the first fruits of commun-
ism"
doctor, what is the factor of their
SUGGEST"
"In the first place our belief is follow
ing in the footsteps Of the Master, as we
worship the same God as the Hebrew
and the same Savior rs the christian, as
Christ is the pattern of all virtues,
among which is celibacy or not marrying.
do understand you to say the Sha-
kers do not marry?"
"They do not marry. Neither are they
given in marriage, and | will give you
nv honor there is no free love practiced
among them"
"Well, doctor, how do you maintain
your numerical strength"
I'VE take children Of worthy parents
and educate them in our peculiar belief. }
"What stress do you lay on celibacy or
why do you practice it?" They can lead
more quiet, peaceful life US ce.ibates. F"
"In what way?"
"In this way There are many pas
sions aroused in matrimony, which are
dormant IN celibacy, among which are
avarice, sellshness, and jealousy. la
regard to averice, the Shakers believe
there are no pockets in shrouds. In
selishness, 1T has no place among us, as
everything is on an equal footing. We
are not jealous, but proud when one sis
ter or brother shows superiority to the
other"
"What relation do the sexes occupy
to each other?"
1.-THE same relations as existed in yoLr
own family until you left home. The
| no sitions of brothers and sisters. While
you severed your relations when you left
home, we continue as long as life lasts,
with the relation of brother and sister"
Can men and women maintain their
superiority to old age by living tie life
OF 4 cellbate?"
"Were permitted l would refer with
pride to the number of prominent men
of America who were raised a Shaker
aud remained Shaker until death. l
might mention Samuel j. Tilden, who
was raised Shaker and was buried rs u
Shaker in Shaker burial grounds. One
of the Judges on the supreme bench to-
day was raised Shaker and is still a
Shaker. One Of the most prominent aud
leading men of Kansas was raised a Sha-
ker and is still Shaker. Asa Gray, the
botanist, was raised a Shaker and died
one"
"Do you believe in education?"
ayes, we believe in education, moral,
physical, mental and musical. Our sys-
tenn of physical education consists in reg
ular habits, eating, drinking, ETC., and en-
ables us to show the greatest longevity Of
any people on earth, as we have numbers
who have attained the age of eighty
ninty and hundred"
What do the Shakers manufacture"
''Brooms, jeans, satinets, Shaker flannels,
preserved fruits, canned fruits and boz
tanical medicines"
Why do you claim superiority to medi-
cines?"
We have taken the medical plants that
are rare from all parts of the earth, and
in our botanical garden by cultivation
and accimation have brought them to
the highest perfection"
What are the politics and who is the
Shakers favorite candidate for pre1i-
dentpn
The Shakers are non combatants, be
lieving that il you take their coat to give
them your jacket also. They are non re-
sistant, opposed to wars. never fighting
the battles OF any flag under which their
let may be cast as a community. AS indi-
viduals we gave the Union generals who
made their mark. We believe as Shak-
ers in living in peace with all mankind.
We pay our taxes but meyer vote. Here
Is a direct case of taxation without repre-
sentation, and to-day the Shakers are
worth fifteen million dollars"