USA > Ohio > Shakers of Ohio; fugitive papers concerning the Shakers of Ohio, with unpublished manuscripts > Part 36
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During the reign of design and credulity there were Shakers. who were not swept into this maelstrom of fanaticism. They came in for their share of reproof and upbraiding, as may be wit- nesed by the public reprimand given Jan. 20, 1847 :
"Our heavenly Parents are weeping over us, there are some who- still continue to sit in the judgment seat from day to day and to insult
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the living God in his holy Order. The church must become a pure re- ceptacle for honest souls to gather to, and her members must be holy and exemplary. Ephraim must be joined to his Idols if he will have it so; all have been warned again and again, and that which will not have the gospel must and will be separated from that which will obey it, and keep its precepts, for all opposition to the gospel shall assuredly be put down forever. The truths and precepts and laws of the gospel are not all to be explained away, but they must be believ'd and obey'd in simplicity and truth. Believers in Zion must live the faith of the gospel, and if a young believer comes in amongst us, he must see, yea and feel that here is the holy gospel of salvation. The armies of God surrounded the house, and blazing light shone round about, and all thro' it, and a stream of the burning shone in a piercing ray on the heart of each indi- vidual, showing to the Angels his true state and shutting up all hope of ever turning again from the light of God. While the armies of God were moving swiftly along, the instruments with streaming eyes and convulsive struggles, of extreme pain and suffering cried and pray'd, say- ing Awake! Awake! O dear brethren and sisters. Awake! O Ephraim, awake, for the day of judgment in Zion is now here, and yet will you try to reason every thing away. Will you still attempt to account for every- thing with your Philosophy. How can you sleep and slumber a mo- ment. O proclaim it on the house tops, Proclaim it in the high way. Destruction cometh as a whirlwind, O brethren and sisters tremble and fear exceedingly. O repent, repent; for the hour of God is come ; we must be broken to pieces, and find a contrite spirit.
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"Through the whole meeting the excitement was intense. It was testified that the Zion of God was seen as a large wheel turning swiftly round, and there was three Cogs broken. And also it was seen as a large tree, vigorous and stately; but as having three limbs wither'd and dead and dropping to the earth. The instruments suffer'd in an astonish- ing manner very uncommonly so, and almost everything they did or said was indicative of extreme distress and pain."
EXPULSION OF RICHARD M'NEMAR.
Among the extreme actions was the expulsion of Richard McNemar, Malcolm Worly and Garner McNemar, by order of Freegift Wells. This unfortunate circumstance I have entered into at length in my "Life of Richard McNemar," and need not be here repeated. Since that book was published I have learned from the Mount Lebanon Shakers that Freegift created trouble at Watervliet. New York, and also in the North Family at Mount Lebanon.
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SPIRITUALISM AMONG THE SHAKERS.
SPIRIT BOOKS.
The Records make frequent reference to the spirits present- ing books in the meetings, but as to their nature nothing was said. I have already enumerated four of these spirit books which were published. For Jan. 7, 1840, the Church Journal states : "We continue to have an inexhaustible supply of Books, letters and messages from the spiritual world, accompanied by verses, songs, and anthems, many of which are in unknown tongues." There. are two references ( Mar. 1 and Dec. 25, 1840) to the "Holy Laws of Zion," without any definite description of the contents. of the same ; and the only clew given is that it "is a sacred instru- ment," and required most of a day to read it. It exists only in MS. form, -"Written by the Angel Vikalen. Appointed and recommended by the Ministry and Elders of the Church at New Lebanon." It was the handiwork of Philemon Stewart, and con- tains 128 quarto MS. pages. The following are the "Particulars to be observed in reading The Holy Laws of Zion:"
"Commence reading at half past eight A. M. to all the Family that can attend that are 14 years old and over. See page 60. .
"Continue reading till you have finished the 61st page, then make- 8 low bows, - then repeat the following words with 3 bows: 'I will keep - thy holy Laws -O Zion.' Then let the assembly again take their seats, and read to the end of the 64th page. This completes the fore- noon reading.
"Commence reading in the afternoon at half past one (see page 103) at the 65th page, and after reading the 15th part. have all under 18 years old leave the room; then read the Note at page 110, and part 16; - then let those who went out return, and continue the reading until you finish part 20th, page 105.
"Then let all the people bow three times; then with 3 more bows. repeat the following words ; 'Even so Lord, - let it be, - Amen.' Then repeat the words of the roll, at page 104, with 4 bows, viz, 'Love! Love! - from God - your heavenly - Father.' Then kneel and pray, as di- rected at page 108, near the bottom.
"Again commence reading at the Communication, page 103, skip page 110, and go through the supplement ; which completes the reading. Those who read should have three hours notice to gain a proper gift. See. page 60th."
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SHAKERS OF OHIO.
I judge the most popular of all the MISS. of this period was the "Harvard Book," which contained the life and sufferings of Jesus and Ann Lee, "Given by inspiration in the Church at Har- vard, Oct., 1841," by William Leonard. It is a quarto of 172 pages.
ANGELIC SONGS.
References frequently occur to the songs of the angels, and some wonderful effects of the same. An instance of this kind is recorded for Oct. 4, 1846:
A sister lying "on the floor, was heard learning a little song from the Angels, and soon she sang it loud enough to be caught by the singers, and when it was started up fresh from the heavens, in the very gift of divine inspiration, and sung by the singers in the same spirit, the effect on the assembly was almost like Electricity. All sprang for the floor, and as the Music made the heavens ring, so the dancing shook the immense house we were collected in, as tho' an earthquake was moving it; again and again was the sacred music called for, and again and again was the house shaken from end to end, by the exact and simultaneous movement in keeping time with the soul stirring song beginning
"Hail the day of Jubilee Hail the day of Liberty."
The remainder I know not.
The following is a song of an angel delivered Nov. 1. 1846 in "a most sublime and moving time:"
"Now is the day, Call my children, O Yea call my Children from afar, and my little ones from the ends of the earth, call my children from afar, and my little ones from the ends of the earth, Lift up the trumpet in Zion, yea sound aloud the trumpet of God, and call the needy souls from the four quarters of the earth, for behold I have sheep that do not be- long to this fold, they know not thy word, nor have they heard my call, but they are mine saith the Lord, and with my right arm will I bring them. from among the nations, and in my strength will I protect them. And for this cause have I sent forth my mighty Angels, and my flaming spirits over the earth. Therefore come, O ye Sons of affliction, and ye daughters of sorrow, make haste to obey my call, and learn to obey the voice of mine Anointed, for consolation yea sweet consolation is flowing from the heavens. Come O come ye desolate and afflicted from the North and from the South, from the East and from the West, for behold the gulph is opened, and will not more be clos'd, untill it swallow up the wicked, and destroy the ungodly from among the righteous seed, and they shall be separated forever. Behold the day is come when I will call home
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SPIRITUALISM AMONG THE SHAKERS.
my lost sheep. O Ye holy saints of God, pray for them, lift up the voice and cry aloud for the lost sheep of the fold, for to the fold shall they come, and within my enclosures of safety shall they flock, as doves to the windows shall they come. Blow ye aloud the trumpet, O ye children of Zion, and behold my chosen ones shall come. O who will raise up the voice in mercy, and sweetly call my wanderers home they shall sound the blessed sound of salvation, and O my Lovely Children, ye who are own'd by the most high, and blessed by the God of heaven, let your souls flow out in Love to the poor lost children of this world, and pray ye O my little ones, that my scattered flock may find the fold, and praise to God, and glory to his holy name, shall sound and sound, Yea sweetly sound, because redemption and salvation shall reach the. honest soul. Therefore call my wandering Lambs, and erring children home. Yea to the fold of safety call them home and securely in the everlasting gospel shall they find a lasting home, and they shall skip and play before the Lord, and rejoice in thankfulness and holy praise before the God of their salvation, forever and forever more - Amen."
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DECLINE OF SPIRITUALISM.
Near the close of the year 1847 the reign of Spiritualism practically came to an end. The people of Union Village had simply tired of it, although elsewhere foretold of a cessation by revelation. There was a gradual decline nevertheless, and as late as June, 1853, some of the young people were exercised by spir- itual influence. Even to this day the spirits of departed Shakers are occasionally seen at Union Village, but no special account is made of it.
NOTE - For the MS. records used by me in the preparation of this paper my acknowledgments are due to Mr. James H. Fennessey, trustee of the Society at Union Village. I am also under obligations to Mr. Moore S. Mason, Secretary of the Society, for searching through the ar- chives for such MSS. as would be of value in this investigation.
Franklin; Ohio, July 28, 1902.
BOUND TO PLEASE THE Heckman Bindery INC.
JULY. 66
N. MANCHESTER,
INDIANA
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