Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...
Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...
Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...
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176 ANNALS OF OUR ANCESTORS<br />
post to tell us which way to take. As we proceeded on <strong>our</strong><br />
way we found it all pla<strong>in</strong>, <strong>and</strong> after we had reached <strong>the</strong> guidepost<br />
anxiety departed <strong>and</strong> we settled down to enjoy <strong>the</strong> new<br />
th<strong>in</strong>gs we saw all about us. Pass<strong>in</strong>g from <strong>the</strong> level country<br />
we found we were <strong>in</strong> sight <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> large <strong>and</strong> impos<strong>in</strong>g build<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Shaker settlement. Some time <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> year 1700 <strong>the</strong>y<br />
had found this rich country a wild tract <strong>of</strong> native forest, <strong>and</strong><br />
made a home where <strong>the</strong>y could worship accord<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong><br />
dictates <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own consciences, hav<strong>in</strong>g like <strong>our</strong> Puritan fath-<br />
ers fled from persecution <strong>in</strong> Engl<strong>and</strong>. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Shaker songs<br />
expresses <strong>the</strong>ir orig<strong>in</strong> thus:<br />
'Twas <strong>in</strong> Manchester <strong>in</strong> Engl<strong>and</strong><br />
The flam<strong>in</strong>g truth began,<br />
Where Christ made His appear<strong>in</strong>g<br />
In blessed Mo<strong>the</strong>r Ann.<br />
A few at first received it<br />
And did <strong>the</strong>ir lusts forsake,<br />
And soon <strong>the</strong>ir testimony<br />
Brought on a mighty shake!<br />
This was a long rhyme concern<strong>in</strong>g Ann Lee, whom her followers<br />
believed a second appearance <strong>of</strong> Christ who had come to women.<br />
There was much that was fanatical <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir beliefs.<br />
They ignored <strong>the</strong> family relation; as worship <strong>the</strong>y danced, <strong>the</strong><br />
elders s<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g a jig song to which <strong>the</strong>y kept step. They owned<br />
some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>est l<strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong> Warren County, <strong>and</strong> built good,<br />
substantial brick houses, for which <strong>the</strong>y <strong>the</strong>mselves made <strong>the</strong><br />
brick. Everyth<strong>in</strong>g was <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> best as to material <strong>and</strong> condi-<br />
tion; <strong>the</strong>ir farms <strong>and</strong> groves were beautiful <strong>and</strong> perfectly<br />
kept; <strong>the</strong>ir houses were exquisitely neat <strong>and</strong> clean, floors<br />
pa<strong>in</strong>ted <strong>and</strong> varnished, with strips <strong>of</strong> rag carpet laid down to<br />
protect <strong>the</strong>m; <strong>in</strong> every department <strong>the</strong>re was perfect order<br />
<strong>and</strong> perfect cleanl<strong>in</strong>ess. There was noth<strong>in</strong>g bright about<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir furnish<strong>in</strong>gs or <strong>the</strong>ir dress; everyth<strong>in</strong>g was pla<strong>in</strong>. They<br />
made Shaker bonnets for women <strong>and</strong> braided broad-brimmed<br />
hats for men; <strong>the</strong>se latter were <strong>of</strong> such exceed<strong>in</strong>g f<strong>in</strong>eness that<br />
once when a young man asked, <strong>in</strong> my hear<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>the</strong> price <strong>of</strong><br />
such a hat, he was told that <strong>the</strong>y were not for sale, but if <strong>the</strong>y<br />
were <strong>the</strong>ir price would be eight dollars. The Shaker women,
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