Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-02-25
For Sunday Reading
iii Sort, of Osini.ns
Tn. Grand Old Woman Of shaksri,

The Grand Old Woman Of shaksrism.
Another woman notable in religious
leadership has recently died. She was
Elderess Anna White who for thirty
years has been the head Of the largest
family of Shakers in this country. This
small sect. whose numerical strength
was reckoned last year at BIS. is said to
be rapidly dying out. At their greatest
period of prosperity. as reported by the
different societies. there were only A.
500 members. Their principal seat is
Mount Lebanon, n. Y. Enfield, Conn.,.
formerly had q large colony, but this
has greatly shrunk in recent years.
Elderess White. as the editor OF The
Christian Advocate informs US. was the
daughter OF a wealthy Quaker mer-
chant of New York City. and cousin
of the author and critic, Richard Grant
White. She wrote a history of Shaker
ism and was president of the Peace So
ciety that held the great national re-
union at Mount Lebanon four years
ago. DR.. Buckley. editor of the Metho-
dist journal we are quoting. goes on to
give us some personal Impressions of
Shakerism and OF several women who
have figured IL religious leadership:
is merely nickname. but. like the
Quakers, the Shakers deemed the ridi-
Guile Of 20 account and simply adopted
the name wnen It became common. in
the same way the Methodists adopted
their mare. The Shakers, in their SER
vices, have a k:-l of dance; and the
Quakers, under The influence of the
Holy Spirit, trent led and their voices
revealed It, The Methodists recognized
that their systenla,ized service Of COG
was truly Ie;il3t site.
las a religious denomination the
Shakers exist only in the United States
They arose in England about 135 years
ago, from an obscure religious conmo-
lion. dating back to the French
prophets Their original name was
United Society of Believers in Christ's
Second Appearing The founder Of the
sect as such, was Ann Lee.
She had quite an exalted opinion OF
herself, as did Mrs. Eddy of herself
and her car like rule, for she was Ann
the Word The Second Incarnation OF
the Christ. this time in the female line
In 1774 she came across the ocean
with her followers. They built their
first house OF worship in 1855 at New
Lebanon. Two years later they organ
lied their frs, community. family. or
household. Ten years after they build
their frs: house of worship they signed
their first written covenant. Their COM
munity is a complete communism.
But not like most communities. their
social relations are on the principle Of
strict celibacy. They live in the same
house and converse with each other
Nobody. however, has ever heard any
scandal among them.
They absolutely refuse to take up
arms.
They will have nothing to do with
politics and they will accept no public
office except one of these three: road
commissioner. school officer, and post
master.
Two % their branches existed IN
New Hampshire. where we visited them
and were greatly interested in their
methods Of ar1um eotation Solemn and
slow. they all seemed happy. but they
were not increasing. IN some OF their
societies they have adopted children. In
point OF fact, when they began they
expected the end OF the world to take
place very soon, and. according to their
system, If their religion had been ac-
cepted by the world. it would IN a CEN
fury or so bring it to an end whether
Christ came or not.
When married couples join the so
ciety they regard each other as brothers
and sisters only. They will not eat
meat or fish; they will not use alcohol
except as medicine They taboo to-
bacco. They have generally had excel
lent health and lived to advanced age
and not one OF them has suffered from.
cancer
Members OF this society who had
served as soldiers, when they joined the