The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-11-21

land In Ohio, made large offers to pur-
chase, but all were finally refused.
True to Their Greed.
Five years ago, with the member
ship numbering less than fifty, all re-
ligious services were finally abandon
ed. The members continued to live
as Christians, to pay their daily re-
spects and thanksgiving to their Ma
ker, but they dismissed forever the
teachings which in former years made
them the object of persecution and
hatred. Gradually the quaint old build
ings were remodeled; the roads were
made into streets; the old-fashioned
flreplaces we're replaced by modern
steam heating appliances. A rural
free delivery route was secured
through the village and the daily news
paper made it's appearance at the
breakfast table. And all of this has
been responsible for the peculiar con-
ditions which mark Union Village to-
day.
Now the seventeen survivors are
found in the midst of the most modern
surroundings. A high powered and
costly automobile is at their CON-
mand. Their central Office building is
small skyscraper. Their household
conveniences are of the latest and
most approved type and yet, they 81
lently await the end. These new ma
terial things have served to occupy
their moments for a few months Of
late, but the novelty has now worn of,
and the aged members live from day
TO day, wondering who will be next to
answer the call, and who will be the
last to represent the sect at Union Vii
lage.
Realizing that the 1000 acres of fine
farm land we're no longer of use to the
aged members, few Of whom are able
to Withstand the least physical exer-
ton, Manager James Fennessey has at
last completed most satisfactory ar
rangements for the disposal of the es-
tate. On last Wednesday a deal was
consummated with the United Breth-
rem church of Dayton, o., for the pur-
chase of the property for the price Of
$325,O00 and other very valuable con-
siderations. One of these latter is that
the few remaining members of the
United Society of Believers shall have
the use of certain portions of the land
and the new Office building and other
smaller buildings for a period of ten
yearS.
Await Final Summons.
liere again is that frank acknowl-
edgmcnt of the impending demise for
ever of the Society of Shakers. The
seventeen aged survivors now at
Union Village realize that the death
rate in their ranks has for the past
year been almost one member per
month. They know that in ten years
the membership will have been almost
wiped out by the angel of death, and
for that reason they have made provi-
sion for but ten more years.
The rules that govern the Society Of
Shakers provide that the property of
one is the common property of all. AS
long as there remains a member at
Union Village he will have charge and
ownership of the thousands of dollars
received from the sale of the estate.
But as the number decreases and the
new owners, the United Brethren, es-
tablish their orphanage for aged per-
sons and disabled ministers the parent
branch at Mount Lebanon, N. Y, will
remove the last few survivors to the
settlement in the east and the history
of the Shakers west of the mountains
will be concluded.
But for ten more years these quaint
old people will live at Union Village,
enjoying their machines, their horses
and carriages, their roomy and we'll
appointed houses and the right to sit
and ponder about the future. Their
light has failed, they realize that the
end is near and they silently await the
word Of bo Molyor