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fit for the kingdom of God. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love to one another.' 'Love your enemies.' In all this, Jesus accords strikingly with the most advanced morality of the present age, which admits that the prevalence of these dispositions is the most essential requisite to the improvement of the world."— p. 10.

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A DAY WITH THE SHAKERS.

BETWEEN two and three miles northward of the centre village in the township of Harvard, Massachusetts, the trav eller discerns a rustic guide board, on which is inscribed "To the Shaker Village." Uncouth name for any association of serious people seriously to adopt; yet we never hear them called otherwise. The Quakers, we all know, denominate themselves "the Society of Friends," but these people seem to have no other appellation besides this grotesque one thus placed at the road's head. Possibly, however, the town erected the board, and they did not originate the popular and current designation of themselves.

At about half a mile up this road we arrive at three or four houses of no very attractive exterior, with a large stone barn, having very much the appearance of a prison, which for the animals contained therein probably it is. At this station, which is the probationary village for such persons as propose to join the family, the visitor is met by some of the brethren, amongst whom will be found one of superior intelligence, who in good temper answers questions to which he has probably responded some hundreds of times before. Most likely the conversation turns upon the subject of self-denial, and thence naturally to their especial instance of it, that is to say abstinence from marriage. Of him you may learn that the number in the family is about two hundred persons, of whom only thirty-eight are under sixteen years of age, and not one is younger than four; that they did not settle here from any choice of this rough and sterile domain of about fifteen hundred acres, but because their founder, Ann Lee, received from the persons

who resided here during her brief earthly sojourn that cordial support and sympathy which frequently attends the career of the pious.

Passing this group of buildings, on a turn of the road to the left hand over a broad slab of rock, a street of houses is presented to the view. Some of these buildings are small and old; some are large and new. Many active laborers are in the fields and gardens, and improvements are carried on with vigor; but there is much to be done, by reason of the original rudeness of this spot, in order to bring the external appearances to a like elevation with that which common report has assigned to other stations. orchards and gardens are the most striking achievements, and this family trades extensively in seeds.

The

No formal introduction is required; on the contrary, there is a general disposition on the part of both the more intelligent men and women to enter into free conversation at once upon their distinguishing practice of self-sacrifice. On the subject of abstinence from outward marriage they are as lively and energetic as recent converts. It reigns so monarchically in their hearts that they have always a stirring topic whereon to speak, and an exalting object for which to act. So far from being lifeless or indifferent about other persons, they seem to be fully aware that unless fresh comers are gathered in from the world at large, their family must decline gradually to total extinction. There is, therefore, great promptness manifested in laying their arguments before sincere inquirers, although they are not so zealous as to send forth especial missionary brethren. Words alone they may perhaps consider would be fruitless; while in conjunction with a life fully realizing them, they become almost irresistible. The family being thus sustained by the addition of convinced minds, and not by the imposition of educative habits, there will probably be ever found a degree of animation and heartfelt zeal unknown amongst other religious orders.

Our business being the purchase of a few seeds, and the gardener being occupied out of doors, the trading agent attended us to the store, and supplied the articles with an activity and business intelligence, which prove him qualified to conduct any such transactions they may have with the old world. Their trade, he informed us, amounts generally

to the large sum of ten thousand dollars a year. For persons of simple habits, desirous of relief from circumstances morally depressive, this is far too great an involvement in money affairs; but it seems to grow out of their peculiar position, and the want of true simplicity in many particulars. Their estate does not at present produce a full supply of bread-corn; most of the members, except the children, consume flesh-meat; much milk is used; and the aged amongst them still drink tea, or coffee, and the like. For these reasons some of their produce has to be exchanged, which occasions considerable traffic. To provide for their wants they also are extensive manufacturers of various clothing and other fabrics, and have to buy raw material to work upon, as well as to sell the goods when finished. These proceedings require more extensive interchanges of money, and more frequent intercourse with the world, than seems compatible with a serene life.

Yet their life is serene. The repose, quiet, and cleanliness reigning throughout the establishment are indeed as remarkable as attractive. As a retreat for the thoughtful or poetic mind, it seems most desirable. You could there "walk gowned," conscious of feelings as reverential as those which pervade the bosom of the worshipper when he enters the ancient cathedral. Nor is the superstition there, nor the outward devotion which results from the artistic effects of architecture, painting, music, and the rest. Of these they can boast none. As they have built several spacious houses for themselves, their idea has necessarily been expressed by an architecture of some character, yet wanting in most or all of those artifices which distinguish edifices erected by other religionists. The building last erected is large and plain. Externally it has somewhat the appearance of a school-house or church. Internally, however, it is divided into separate apartments, and is of several stories. Corridors in the middle, with rooms on each side, keep the whole well-ventilated, light, and cheerful. The stairs and most of the floors being covered with a homemade carpet, the foot-tread is inaudible. At this house visitors are received and entertained; and, if they remain during a meal time, here take their repast; the accommodations being reported too small to permit even all the inmates to eat together. The internal fittings of the new

Window-sashes,

house are of the most comfortable kind. spring-blinds, closets, &c. are of the best workmanship and most convenient contrivances for endurance. The joinery is not painted, but varnished slightly, so that it can be cleaned with facility; and the only objection seems to be the use of close stoves instead of open fire-places. The furniture is not home-made, but is wrought mostly in a more ancient fashion still common to the country, and much more cheap than elegant or luxurious.

Here we enjoyed an animated conversation with several of the brethren and sisters, or, as they would say, men and women. They are faithful to the precept of "Aye" and "Nay" in their replies, and are as new and fresh in mind as we may suppose the Society of Friends were within sixty years of their founder's time.

It appears that in consequence of the number of visitors who came to their weekly worship, with other than devotional feelings, they have ceased to permit any chance of interruption, so that we had no optical evidences of their peculiar religious modes and forms. But their books, of which we purchased copies, show that they advocate dancing as a religious exercise, claiming for it the same virtues and station which are by most churches awarded to singing. Their scriptural confirmations of its propriety strongly fortify them in the practice, though they admit, that what was originally an involuntary emotion is now repeated as a voluntary duty.

The clearest book they have published is entitled "A Summary View of the Millennial Church, or United Society of Believers, (commonly called Shakers,) comprising the rise, progress, and practical order of the Society;" printed at Albany in 1823. This work, in the first place, reveals their legitimate title; and secondly, narrates the origin and progress of the Society under the auspices of ANN LEE, who was born at Manchester in England in the year 1736, arrived in America in 1774, and collected the first family in 1787, at New Lebanon, near Albany, in the State of NewYork. Notwithstanding the difficult passage they had to steer during the revolutionary war, so as to avoid the charge of partisanship, and subsequently the still more limitary effect of their doctrine and lives, the number of believers in all the States of the Union is considered now to be over six thousand.

Their theological system is strictly scriptural. At the same time they are not mere verbalists. They say that "nothing but the real and abiding presence of Christ, by the indwelling of his spirit, ever did, or ever could save one soul. Such as reject Christ, and take their own wisdom. for their guide, never were, nor ever can be saved. And in no better situation are they who profess faith in an absent Saviour, who believe that Christ was once upon earth, but is now departed to some remote and unknown heaven, where it is impossible for the weak capacities of mortals to reach him." They look upon Ann Lee as the female principle or supplementary nature to Jesus Christ, who was the male complement, and that she initiated the second advent, of which this church exhibits the progress.

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As Christ did not marry, neither will true believers who really take up the cross and follow him." The number of scripture texts in favor of a celibate life, quoted in this book, is much greater, as well as much more decisive than ordinary readers suppose; and we do not hesitate to say, they have strong authority on their side. At the same time, there is nothing gloomy in their general doctrines, nor monkish in their tone of mind. They have not yet banished all the lusts of the table, though these are evidently the excitements to other lusts which they find it to be their principal cross to restrain. They still believe in the perpetual battle against this desire, and scarcely contemplate a life on earth which shall be above this temptation in the same degree as the really sober man is superior to the allurements of the glass. Though they do say (p. 99) "The doctrine of christian sinners, or the idea of christians living in sin, so strenuously advocated by many, utterly inconsistent with every attribute of God. All doctrines, which imply that real christians cannot live without sin, are inconsistent with the attributes of power and goodness, and indeed with every divine attribute. 'Whosoever abideth in him, sinneth not; whosoever sinneth, hath not seen him, nor known him." "

In this book all the leading theological doctrines are ably discussed on scriptural and rational grounds. They esteem. the Adamic fall to consist in a yielding to sexual temptation. "The temptation was first addressed to the mind: 'Ye shall be as Gods; and thence applied to the animal

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