USA > Ohio > Shakers of Ohio; fugitive papers concerning the Shakers of Ohio, with unpublished manuscripts > Part 8
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SECTION 5. TRUSTEES TO EXECUTE A DECLARATION OF TRUST.
For the better security of the united and consecrated interest of the Church to the proper uses and purposes stipulated in the Covenant, it shall be the duty of the Trustees who may be vested with the law- ful title or d'aim to the real estate of the Church, to make and execute a Declaration of Trust, in due form of law, embracing all and singular, the lands, tenements and hereditaments, with every matter of interest pertaining to the Church, which, at the time being, may be vested in him or them or that may in future come under his or their charge, during his or their Trusteeship. The said Declaration shall state expressly, that such Trustee or Trustees hold such lands, tenements, hereditaments and all personal property of every description, belonging to the Church or So- ciety, in Trust, for the uses and purposes expressed in, and subject to the rules, regulations and conditions prescribed By the Covenant or Con- stitution of the said Church, or any amendments thereto which may hereafter be adopted by the general approbation of the Church, and in conformity to the primitive facts and acknowledged principles of the So- ciety ; and the said declaration shall be in writing, duly executed under the hand and seal of such Trustee or Trustees, and shall be recorded in 4 the Book of Records, provided for in the preceding section.
SECTION 6. VACANCIES IN CERTAIN CASES HOW SUPPLIED.
We further covenant and agree, that in case it should at any time happen that the office of Trustee should become vacant, by the death or defection of all of the Trustees in whom may be vested the fee of the lands or real estate belonging to said Church or Society, then, and in that case, a successor or successors shall be appointed by the constitutional authority recognized in the covenant, according to the rules and regulations pre- scribed by the same; - and the said appointment, being duly recorded in the Book of Records provided for in this Article, shall be deemed, and is hereby declared to vest in such successors, all the right, interest and Authority of his or their predecessors in respect to all such lands, property or estate belonging to the church or Society aforesaid.
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SHAKERS OF OHIO.
ARTICLE IV. OF THE ELDERSHIP.
SECTION 1. CHOICE AND APPOINTMENT OF ELDERS.
The united interests and objects of Believers established in Gospel. order, requires that Elders should be chosen and appointed for the spirit- ual protection of families, who are to take the lead in their several de- partments, in the care and government of the concerns of the Church, and of the several families pertaining to the Society. Their number and order should correspond with that of the Ministry. They are required to be persons of good understanding, of approved faithfulness and integrity, and gifted in spiritual administration. They must be selected and ap- pointed by the Ministry, who are to judge of their qualifications.
SECTION 2. DUTIES OF THE ELDERS.
As faithful Watchmen on the walls of Zion, it becomes the duty of the Elders to watch over their respective families, to instruct the mem- bers in their respective duties; - to counsel, encourage, admonish, ex- hort and reprove, as occasion may require; to lead the worship; to be examples to the members of obedience to the principles and orders of the Gospel, and to see that orders, rules and regulations pertaining to their respective families or departments are properly kept.
ARTICLE V. OF FAMILY DEACONS AND DEACONESSES.
The office of family Deacons and Deaconesses has long been estab- lished in the Church, and is essentially necessary for the care, manage- ment and direction of the domestic concerns in each family, order or branch of the Church. They are required to be persons of correct and well grounded faith in the established principles of the Gospel ; honest and faithful in duty, closely united to their Elders, and of sufficient capacity for business. Of these qualifications the Ministry and Elders, by whom they are chosen and appointed are to be the judges. Their numbers in each family is generally two of each sex, but may be more or less, according to the size of the family and the extent of their various duties ..
SECTION 2. THEIR DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS.
The Deacons and Deaconesses of families are entrusted with the care and oversight of the domestic concerns of their respective families. It is their duty to make proper arrangements in business; to maintain good order; to watch over and counsel and direct the members in their various occupations, as occasion may require; to make application to the. Office Deacons for whatever supplies are needed in the several departments. of the family; to maintain union, harmony and good understanding with . the said Office Deacons and Deaconesses; and to report to their Elders,
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THE SHAKER COMMUNITY OF WARREN COUNTY.
the state of matters which fall under their cognizance and observation. But their power is restricted to the domestic concerns of their respective families or departments, and does not extend to any immediate or direct correspondence or intercourse with those without the bounds of the Church : They have no immediate concern with trade and commerce; it is not their business to buy and sell, nor in any way to dispose of the property under their care, except with the union and approbation of the Trustees.
ARTICLE VI. PRIVILEGES AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS.
SECTION 1. BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERS IN CHURCH RELATION.
The united interest of the Church having been formed by the free- will offerings and pious donations of the members respectively, for the objects and purposes already stated, it cannot be considered either as a joint tenancy or a tenancy in common, but a consecrated whole, designed for, and devoted to the uses and purposes of the Gospel forever, agreeable to the established principles of the Church ; -
Therefore, it shall be held, possessed and enjoyed by the Church, in this united capacity, as a sacred covenant right; that is to say, all, and every member thereof, while standing in Gospel union, and maintaining the principles of the Covenant, shall enjoy equal rights, benefits, and privileges, in the use. of all things pertaining to the Church, according to their several needs and circumstances; and no difference shall be made on account of what any one has contributed and devoted, or may. hereafter contribute and devote, to the support and benefit of the Institution.
SECTION 2. PROVISO.
It is nevertheless PROVIDED, STIPULATED AND AGREED, that in case any one, having signed this Covenant, shall afterward forfeit his or her claim to membership, by renouncing the principles of the Society, or by wilfully and obstinately violating the rules and regulations thereof, then, and in that case, his or her claims to all the aforesaid benefits, privileges and enjoyments, shall be equally forfeited.
SECTION 3. OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS.
As subordination and obedience are the life and soul of every well regulated community ; so, our strength and protection, our happiness and prosperity, in our capacity of Church members, must depend on our faith- ful obedience to the rules and orders of the Church, and to the instruction, counsel and advice of its leaders: Therefore, we do hereby covenant and agree, that we will receive and acknowledge our Elders in the Gospel, those members of the Church, who are, or shall be chosen and appointed
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for the time being, to that office and calling, by the authority aforesaid; and also, that we will, as faithful Brethren and Sisters in Christ, conform and subject to the known and established principles of our Community, and to the counsel and direction of the Elders, who shall act in union as aforesaid and also to all the orders, rules and regulations which, now are, _ or which may be given and established in the Church, according to the principles, and by the authority aforesaid.
SECTION 4. DUTIES OF THE MEMBERS.
The faithful improvement of our time and talents in doing good, is a duty which God requires of mankind as rational and accountable beings, and more especially as members of the Church of Christ -therefore it is, and will be required of all and every member of this Institution, unitedly and individually, to occupy and improve their time and talents to support and maintain the interest of the same, to promote the objects of this Covenant, and discharge their duty to God and each other, accord- ing to their several abilities and callings, as members in union with one common lead; so that the various gifts and talents of All may be improved for the benefit of Each and all concerned.
SECTION 5. NO SPECIAL CLAIMS IN CASE OF REMOVAL.
As we esteem the mutual possession and enjoyment of the consecrated interest and principles of the Church, a consideration fully adequate to any amount of personal interest, labor or service, or any other contri- bution made, devoted or consecrated by any individual ; - so we consider that no ground of action can lie, either in law or equity, for the recovery of any property, or service, devoted, or consecrated as aforesaid. And we further agree, that in case of the removal of any member or members from one family, society or branch of the Church to another, his, her, or their previous signature or signatures to the Church or family Covenant from whence he, she, or they, shall have removed, shall forever bar all claims which are incompatible with the true intent and meaning of this Covenant, in the same manner as if such removal had not taken place ; yet, all who shall so remove in union, and with the approbation of their Elders shall be entitled to all the benefits and privileges of the family or order . in which they shall be placed, as they shall conform to the rules and regu- lations of the same.
ARTICLE VII. DEDICATION AND RELEASE.
SECTION 1. DEDICATION OF PERSONS, SERVICES AND PROPERTY.
According to the faith of the Gospel which we have received, and agreeable to the uniform practice of the Church of Christ from its first es- tablishment in the Society, WE COVENANT AND AGREE to dedicate, devote
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THE SHAKER COMMUNITY OF WARREN COUNTY.
and consecrate and give up, and by this Covenant WE DO SOLEMNLY AND CONSCIENTIOUSLY dedicate, devote, consecrate and give up ourselves and our services, together with all our temporal interest, to the service of God and the support and benefit of the Church of Christ in this Community, and to such other pious and charitable purposes as the Gospel may require, to be under the care and direction of the proper constituted authorities of the said Church, according to the true meaning and intent of the Cove- nant, and the established rules and practice of the Church.
SECTION 2. DECLARATION AND RELEASE OF PRIVATE CLAIM.
Whereas, in pursuance of the requirements of the Gospel, and in the full exercise of our faith, reason and understanding, we have freely and voluntarily sacrificed all self-interest, and have devoted our persons, ser- vices and our property as aforesaid, to the pious and benevolent purposes of the Gospel ; - Therefore, we do hereby solemnly, and conscientiously, unitedly and individually, for ourselves, our heirs and assigns, release and quit-claim to the Deacons, or those who, for the time being, are the act- ing Trustees of the Church, for the uses and purposes aforesaid, ALL our private personal right, title, interest, claim and demand, of, in and to the estate, interest, property and appurtenances so consecrated, devoted, and given up: And we hereby jointly and severally promise and declare, in the presence of God and before witnesses that we will never hereafter, neither directly nor indirectly, under any circumstances whatever, contrary to the stipulations of this Covenant, make nor require any account of any interest, property, labor or service, nor any division thereof, which is, has been or may be devoted by us, or any of us, to the uses and purposes aforesaid, nor bring any charge of debt or damage, nor hold any claim, nor demand whatever, against the said Deacons or Trustees, nor against the Church or Society, nor against any member thereof, on account of any property or service given, rendered, devoted or consecrated to the aforesaid sacred charitable purposes. And we also ratify and confirm hereby, every act and deed which we, or any of us, have acted or done agreeable to the true intent and meaning of the Covenant.
In confirmation of all the aforesaid statements, covenants, promises and articles of agreement, we have hereunto subscribed our names and affixed our seals, on and after this twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord and Savior - one thousand eight hundred and forty- one."
The above Constitution was the result of experience, owing to the fact that undesirable members had been added from time to time and who had made trouble on the score of property rights. This Constitution is practically the same as that adopted in 1829 and no material change has been made since.
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SHAKERS OF OHIO.
Agreeable to the Constitution of 1829, on March 18, 1830, all the deeds and conveyances of land belonging to the Church (con- taining at that time 3,642 acres), were collected for the purpose of making out declarations of trust, which was accordingly done and duly executed by all the Trustees.
The year 1830 was disastrous to both the Communities at North Union and Whitewater, for a special record is made of donations sent from Union Village. The year was marked by some desertions from the ranks.
The years 1831 and 1832 were successful in the product of corn, yielding 10,000 bushels for each year, but a disaster hap- pened in the burning of the flax barn, the work of an incendiary.
The population in 1834 was 331. The year 1835 was one of disaster and changes. Caterpillars denuded the forest trees of every leaf and killed many. On the 9th of June the village was visited by the most unparalleled freshet ever known. The water fell to a depth of nine inches. All the mill-dams were swept away or broken through. One-half the clothing, fulling and coloring shops were swept away, and the oil mill shared a similar fate. The tail-race of the great mill was filled with gravel and stones. Much timber was carried off and the lands of the Big Bottom were overflowed to a depth that would support a steamboat. The leather in the tanyard floated out of the vats. The damage was estimated at $25,000.
There were internal disorders that greatly afflicted the more sedate and conservative. There was a manifest tendency to looseness of discipline and consequent disregard for good order among the more giddy and thoughtless of the Society ; and even some of the officers were not exempt from serious dereliction in this matter. For a time it appeared that a crisis was approaching.
Many changes took place among the officers, and on October 4th Elder Solomon King announced that he would return East for a season and that he had appointed Elder David Meacham his successor, and on the 13th of the same month, in company with Eldress Rachel Johnson, Eliza Sharp and Luther Copley, set out for New Lebanon.
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THE SHAKER COMMUNITY OF WARREN COUNTY.
REIGN OF DAVID MEACHAM, 1835-1836.
The reins of government were assumed by David Meacham on the day that Elder King took his departure. The Ministry living in the Meeting House now consisted of David Meacham: and Betsy Hastings, with Joshua Worley and Nancy McNemar assistants. The advent of Elder Meacham and Eldress Betsy. gave great relief to the Society. While Elder King was a thor- oughly good man, upright and pious, he did not possess the char- acteristics so necessary for one in his position. The rebellious-
EXTERIOR VIEW OF OFFICE.
and seditious met with a different reception with the new minis -- try, and were soon weeded out.
The heavy burden, which had grown to unbearable propor- tions under Elder King-that of entertaining and receiving visi- tors at the office-was done away with on October 7, 1835. It also had an undesirable effect upon the younger and more thoughtless members of the Society.
On November 30, Elder Meachem, accompanied by Elder Matthew Houston set out for New Lebanon. On the 27th Stephen Wells and David J. Hawkins arrived from the East, having been sent to assist in regulating the temporal affairs of the Church .: After surveying the field, about the Ist of January, 1836, it was.
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·decided to make certain radical changes. This matter was put to the vote of the Church and carried. It was decided to consti- tute two interests of temporalities in the Church; and to this end it was proposed that the first . family should occupy the Brick House, South House and North House, the South House to be denominated the Second Order of the First Family. The second Family was to occupy the North Lot buildings. The young Be- lievers were to move to the West Section, and the West Brick and West Frame families were to be the Gathering Order of the So- ciety. The West Lot Family was to break up and move into the West Brick and West Frame buildings. The East House Family was to be scattered among other families and their former home vacated. Two whole families were broken up and their homes abandoned. The change began January 12th and required many days before the work was completed.
The officers now stood as follows : Ministry-David Meacham, Joshua Worley, Betsy Hastings and Nancy McNemar. Elders, First Order-Stephen Spinning, Andrew C. Houston, Lois Spinning and Mary Hopkins. Elders, Second Order-Jo- seph Johnson, John Babbit, Elizabeth Sharp and Nancy Milli- gan. Elders, Second Family-Eli Houston, James Darrow, Caty Boyd and Sally Sharp. Trustees, First Family-Daniel Boyd and Ithamar Johnson. Trustees, Second Family-William Run- yon and David Parkhurst.
On the 14th of February, 1836, a letter was read from Elder Solomon King, who was still at New Lebanon, resigning his posi- tion in the Ministry. The same letter stated that the New Leba- non Ministry had appointed Freegift Wells, of Watervliet (near Albany, N. Y.), to be first in the Ministry at Union Village.
The number of members at this time was 330, in the Church Order 256, and 74 in the Gathering Order.
REIGN OF FREEGIFT WELLS, 1836-1843.
Elder Freegift Wells arrived at Union Village April 27, 1836, and on the same day was installed as First Minister of the Society. On the Sunday following he received a hearty wel- come. On August 7, Elder Freegift "bore a powerful and scath-
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THE SHAKER COMMUNITY OF WARREN COUNTY.
ing testimony against hidden iniquity and all manner of sin, con -- fessed or brought to light. Also the reading of newspapers on, the Sabbath." In 1842 the circulation of newspapers was inter- dicted. On April 3, same year, "a very heavy restriction was laid upon the Church, with regard to meats, drinks, medical and dom- estic beverages, etc., under various degrees of limitation, accord- ing to age and infirmity ; the cause to commence on the 10th in- stant. Under these restrictions (with the above modifications), the use was forbidden of pork, store tea, coffee, tobacco and strong drink." For fourteen years this was religiously kept,, when tea and coffee were re-introduced.
During this reign, for the first time it is noted by our chron- icler that the men wore drab clothing, which, doubtless, had al- ways been the custom. Every man made his own hat (until 1873), which was made of braided straw, and some of them were so finely executed that they readily sold for $5 a piece. Fur hats were purchased in the markets in 1837. It is also revealed that there was a custom known as the "yearly sacrifice," which con- sisted of a "general opening of the mind and confession of all known sin, required of all in the Society."
The year 1837 "was one of the most remarkable periods in our whole history, at least up to this time. A remarkable revival of religious zeal was prevalent throughout nearly the whole year. The peculiar inspiration of the revival was that of pure love to- ward each other, and a sorrow for our shortcomings in regard to hard speeches and feelings toward one another. On Sabbath, February 5, the Ministry attended meeting with us, at the Center House, it being too inclement to use the Meeting House. Elder Freegift read a discourse delivered by Mother Lucy Wright in the East some years since. It was very solemn and impressive and well adapted to our situation. He also strongly urged the necessity of our gaining the gift of repentance of all wrong, and in humiliation of spirit to labor for a deeper inward work. Many of the brethren and sisters were deeply affected and wrought in their minds and strove to lay hold of the gift. And this meeting may be reckoned as the beginning of a very remarkable revival and a time of peculiar refreshing in this place, together with the:
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SHAKERS OF OHIO.
:preparatory work that preceded it. On the 12th the Church meet- ing was, according to a journal kept at that time, 'one of the most extraordinary of the kind we ever witnessed at this place. It was attended with many mortifying and humiliating gifts, calculated to unsettle and to free souls and enable them to serve God in spirit and in truth. Surely the spirit of the Lord is striving won- derfully with this people! This remarkable revival, thus inaugu- rated, continued for many weeks without cessation, seeming to grow more intense with every meeting. I have seen many meet- ings wherein there was scarcely a dry eye, so overwhelmed were . we, not with sorrow, but with the love of God and tender feel- ings toward each other. It seemed as though we never wanted to break up, but remain to bless one another with our tender feelings and forgiving spirit. I have seen, over and over, many parties kneeling and asking each other's forgiveness for unguarded words that had passed between them. I have noticed many times . the floor of the meeting house wet all over with tears after the members had retired."
It was during the reign of Elder Wells that Spiritualism broke out among the Shakers and reached its highest tide. The first notice of it occurred on March 25th, 1838, when two letters from the East were read detailing the wonderful visions of Ann Mariah Goff, a girl of Watervliet, N. Y. On August 26th, in church meeting, Elder Wells remarked upon the wonderful works going on in other places, and added that it would eventually break out among them. Immediately "many were taken under the mighty shaking power of the Spirit."
Oliver C. Hampton was a pronounced Spiritualist and has much to say about the manifestations, and leaves us to infer that astounding circumstances took place during the first seven years of this phenomenon ; but for the facts, and the instances and :special work, he refers the reader to "the several books," the "" Records " and the " Annals." It is claimed that the revelations were caused to be made by Mother Ann Lee, who continued among them until her final departure for Heaven; that even Jesus Christ silently and unseen made a special visit among them, and bestowed upon them "faith, charity and wisdom."
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THE SHAKER COMMUNITY OF WARREN COUNTY.
About the middle of May, 1839, "the Spirits of the Indians be- gan to make their appearance to the Mediums, and this con- tinued for many months."
Elder Hampton claimed that great good resulted from these manifestations; and yet he tacitly admits there were many ex- travagant features during the early period, for he remarks : "In looking back over the whole ground covered by it, we are able to see many things which happened during its advent that were the consequences of a want of wisdom in the leaders of the Society; yet when these untoward features are allowed their full weight and measure, there still remains a precious residuum, partly outweighing all the more eccentric, in some cases, unfor- tunate feature of this great work amongst us." Again he adds : " About the latter part of March, or beginning of April, of this year (1839), the work thus far having been kept within the limits of prudence and a Godly discretion, by the untiring efforts of the good Ministry and Elders, now for a time took on a phase, and was as it were pushed to an extreme, in several direc- tions, which could not have been in unison with the Spirit of our Blessed Mother; but which the Leaders from some cause, seemed unable or unwilling to interfere with, and embarrassing the mediums; who also seemed conscientious to convey noth- ing that did not come from good and progressed spirits. But as I am no pessimist, and have not one atom of faith in sending the chronicles of ignorance, susperstition, or failure, down to future generations ; and as recently, these indiscretions, were all finally corrected, condoned and reconciled among all parties, I shall draw the veil of oblivion over them, and let them rest in eternal sleep."
The Hampton MS. is so vague on the subject of these phe- nomena, and the subject, owing to its peculiar features among the Shakers, so important, that I design preparing a special paper on the subject. Hence I dismiss the subject here without further reference.
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