New-York tribune., 1903-07-19
SHAKER COMMUNITY.
Continued from frst page.

hurried on 10 weed the garden patch. and the
visitor wandered down the road to look over
the rest OF the village
The Church Family. occupying a large mod
ern dwelling OF brick adJOins the North Fam
lily. They form higher branch OF the Shaker
order, and hold services each Sunday the Sc
crets or which are closely guarded Near their
house is the large. old fashioned church. IN
which the ordinary Shaker service used 70 be
held For years the public was admitted. but
OF late strangers have tried to break up the
meetings. and they have been abandoned
Across from the home OF the Church Family
Is the general store for the sale Of the Shaker
products. Near 1t is the government pOstoface.
presided over by a Shaker postmistress a relic
OF the days when the village was large and
1ourishing
The houses OF the Second Family and the
South Family are still further along the road
/ They are similar IN style and construction to
the home OF the North Family Each family
| is presided by an elder and eIderess. to
/ whom the members go for consultation and ad-
/ vice
/ In all the families the women have equal
| rights with the men. Now that they outuurnber
i the men so largely, 1t is possible that they have
/ more than their rights. The women look after
| the housewOrk and manufacture the fancy ar
| ticles from which much OF their income is
! derived. The men expected to farm the
| 5000 acres which comprise the property OF the
| organization. but there not nearly enough
| Of them to do 1t it should be done. The
| difficulty in hiring male help renders much OF
the farming land useless.
Back IN the guest room Of the North Family
house Elderess Anna White was waiting 10
answer questions and to send out an appeal TO
| souls. especially male souls. who are fitted 70
| refill the depleted ranks OF her order. She is a
| remarkable woman in many ways, is E,lderess
| White Fffty-four years ago she left her home
| in Brooklyn to join the Mount Lebanon colony.
She is a sister of r Cornell White long iden-
tifed with Brooklyn steamship interests.
With great frankness she talked about the
order. its troubles through being land poor and
not having enough men to work the farms.
We have room in this village for six hun
dred persons" she said. whereas We have only
12O all told You cannot get young men 10
stay on farms these days to say nothing OF
bringing them to a state Of mind and soul where
our high views appeal to them. We don't seem
to be able TO find boys who win appreciate the
training and advantages have for them
I'm afraid weu have to make a change IN our
treatment OF boys. They will be boys. and no
amount of training will make them believe
that their interest in a common fund and the
common good OF the great family Is better for
them than pocket money think We will have
to give them certain allowances with whichdhey
can do as they please
For some time now We have taken no boys
The few men in the settlement are too busy to
look after and train them The last two we
| had got the idea they owned the place. and
strutted around doing nothing We finally had
to send them away
Plenty Of old people want 10 come TO US.
and end OF relatives would like to send In
| firm parents or weak minded brothers and sis
ters 10 our care. We are not running a home
for the aged and infirm. We all work for one an
other here, and those who cannot work must
not expect to come into the order and in idle
ness enjoy the comforts the labor OF others
| brings"
You cannot find the present agitation against
race suicide great inducement to additional
membership the reporter asked
1T is a mistaken idea that We uphold race
suicide" said the elderess. with lofty smile
The truth that came TO came in the light
| Of lf-denial remuneration Of the lower for the
| higher life. Animal sexual indulgence hinders
| the evolution Of the spiritual and while we
| recognize marriage as a law OF God written
| upon humanity in terms OF organic function.
| also recognize higher spiritual law. written
| in the needs Of the SOUL revealed in the ad-
| vancing evolution OF the race The one by law
| full development rpens from the other: from the
| lower Is evolved the higher.
| Side by side with the millions whose work
| is on the plane Of nature. who IN lawful we'd
| lock should be producing children-healthy.
| well developed in body. brain and sOul-are the
l thousand others who by nature. spiritual de-
velOpment. the gifts and call Of God. are adapt
| ed for life the spiritual plane This is the
| life We are living. and IN virgin life alone Is
| community possible"
| To join the Mount Lebanon Shakers persons
| must go to the village and state definitely the
| reasons which prompt them TO give up the
| world for the order All debts must be paid.
| including the debts Of family well finan-
| cial obligations. If is married. whether
| man woman. legal divorce must be secured.
| If persons have relatives dependent upon them
/ they must be provided for. When all this has
/ been done any property that remains Is turned
| to the treasury OF the family
This Is not done AZ once, however For several
/ years the money remains under its owners con-
/ troll though the interest goes to the order. Ic
| at the end Of this probationary period the new
conner is still firm. the formal transfer is made
i and full fellowship accorded. After that the
/ believer Is sure Of home as long any
/ Shaker whether in Connecticut or Kentucky.
/ has a home. II Is not necessary for 70 bring
/ any funds into the order; indeed most OF those
/ who join have nothing.
And remember that women have equal rights
| with the men," said OF the sisters. ths
/ reporter started down into the valley where
/ live the people OF the world
Half a mile down the road toward New
| Lebanon is the house Of sturdy farmer A
/ troop OF noisy children were playing with
/ couple OF dogs and a pet calf in the dOOryard.
Watching them, akmbO. face REDEEMED in
contrast 70 the ethereal whiteness Of the Shak-
eresses the hill above stood the mother. A
smile broke over her face as she saw little
Teddy" tumble the clumsy calf over on a couple
Of his brothers and swing like young monkey
into tree TO avoid their revenge. II was rough
play. but they were sturdy youngsters. and
could stand IL.
above you? ?' the reporter asked
Envy th-e-m2 For what I'd Ike 20 know"
They have equal rights with the men OF their
community
yes" she answered. quickly they have
equal rights but they haven't the right 70 have
children. and they haven't any husband to love
'They say they know a heavenly love-" OBJ
served the reporter.
Heaven and It's love is all well enough. ana
the Lord knows I hope TO get my soul there
she crossed herself-'but while I'm on earrn
I'm going 10 live like my mother lived and
Here you Teddy, get out OF the top OF tnat
,Fu 4F7asa anti 10 vou