ORDERS AND GIFTS.

These "orders and gifts" are the articles of the constitution, to which the members must conform. They were never hitherto, written; but committed to memory. In this, as in many other points, they are like the Druids, whose political creed says:

" Let no lessons in writing be given."

"Trust all to memory, that Great Gift of heaven."

For the instruction of the members, the Elders order every one to repeat the "Gifts" in private meetings. They say them thus. "It is contrary to order for one to do such a thing," and every person both male and female repeats some order. Hence all become acquainted with them. These orders, the Elders declare come from God through the ministry, who every short time, as circumstances may require, introduce some new ones. These are mentioned in meeting by the Elder, who informs the members, as these are the gifts of God from the ministry, to disobey or act contrawise is, unless confessed, punishable with the displeasure of God and probably with his reprobation. By the Shakers they are called the "Gifts of God" and the Elders require implicit obedience to them. In a meeting, I heard an Eldress say, "these are the Gifts of God and if you neglect them, God will neglect them." These little things hold the Shakers together and nothing else.

When a "gift" or "order" comes from the ministry, none dare oppose it, however inconsistent it may appear, both with reason and common sense. If a member oppose one, the Elders call him a heretick, full of the flesh, denounce the judgment of God upon him, and order every person not to speak to him on pain of eternal disunion with Mother Ann, hence they are fearful to question the propriety of them, and have to meekly submit to them, and hear the following verse. "O receive the gift that is given you and be glad giving thanks unto him that he hath called you unto his heavenly kingdom," Esdrass 2d chapter 37th verse. In one of their songs to Ann Lee, is the following verse:

" And God will bless her faithfulness

New glory to display

We'll be resigned to mothers mind

And carefully obey.

If we neglect or disrespect

One order Mother's given

As we refuse, we are sure to lose

Some precious gift of heaven."

In perusing these orders, the reader will find many digressions, but as I intend to give a general view of the Shakers in so doing, the reader will pardon them. Policy and even propriety of these orders, will be shown, and then the reader will be able to perceive the divinity of ShakerIsm.

The first order is,

"Contrary to order for any one to write the orders." This order was intended to deprive one family, knowing the orders of another and to prevent the world from the same.

"Contrary to order for men and women to sleep together." This is to support the doctrine of celibacy, and to mortify the deeds of the body.

"Contrary to order to allow any copulation productive of mongrelism." This order is justified by the 19th verse of the 19th chapter of Leviticus.

"Contrary to order to look at beasts when they copulate." This they say excites a sympathy of feeling in the beholder, an indulgence of which, may be evaded by the sight being withdrawn.

"To turn hogs and sheep together." Why the Shaker Pontiff gave this order, I am at a loss to know.

"To have watches or umbrellas." To supply every member with a watch, would be expensive, and if a few were allowed them, others pleading the prerogative of equality, must have them, hence as umbrellas and watches would be useless to many, it was deemed political not to allow them to any.

"Contrary to order for a brother and sister to be in a room together without company." Its policy will be seen in this light: this deprives the young people of any private conversation, which if allowed, would be the means of elopement. It cast a fear upon the minds of parties so disposed.

"Contrary to order for a brother to pass a sister on the stairs," and vice versa. This order was intended to suppress any courtship that might take place at twilight, or before the candles were lighted in the halls. This has happened, and in many instances, young men and women have met upon the stairs, and from their not separately taking either one side or the other, they have embraced each other on the spot, and fearful of Shaker inquisition have left the Society. To avoid secessions, and to maintain a severity of discipline, this order was introduced.

"Contrary to order to go into the sisters' rooms without knocking, and vice versa. This order must be approbated by every person, as not only polite, but in the peculiarity of their profession, from the often adjustment of apparel, highly essential.

"Contrary to order to inquire into the orders of other families." In the Society there are many "orders," and in proportion as these profess perfection, rules and discipline are appropriated. There are many orders or rules enjoined upon the members of the "First Order," which are not upon the common members, and upon these, some which are not enjoined upon the former.

"Contrary to order to eat any fruit after supper." This was given to prevent sickness.

"Contrary to order to tell he or she lieth." - The intention and propriety of this order is evident

"Contrary to order to drink any spirituous liquor among the world." This is to preserve the character of sobriety. ln the Society males and females are allowed three drams a day, each preceding a meal. The members are not allowed, by an order, to drink any cider until an hour after they have drank their dram. Inebriety, among so many people, cannot help having some favorites; but it is not sanctioned by the Society, who, to avoid it, place a member in each family over the cider department, and when a person wants to drink, if he be a "weak brother," the overseer goes with him, and if not, the key is granted him and he returns it after use. The sisters are supplied from the kitchen with this article. Over the liquor a person is appointed, who delivers the same to the brethren, and the doctress gives the sisters their share.

"Contrary to order to lean against the wall or bed with a chair." This order was given to prevent sluggishness in this manner.

"Contrary to order to carry fire without a firebox."

"Contrary to order to take a lamp or candle without a lanthorn into the clothes room, barn, or wood-house."

"Contrary to order to go to the drawers of clothes with a candle."

"Contrary to order to smoke in the wood-house, bam, or carding machine factory."

"Contrary to order to empty a pipe into the spit-box."

"Contrary to order to empty a pipe out of the window."

"Contrary to order to empty ashes into the ash-house until they have stood 24 hours in a tin bucket."

"Contrary to order to leave the stove door open, either small or large, and go out of the room."

"Contrary to order to leave wood on the stove or under it."

"Contrary to order to leave the spit-box near the stove and go out of the room."

These orders are worthy of example and if they were attended to among the "world," the distressing story of fire would be less heard. - Though these orders are the effusions of prudence, yet we cannot believe that there is any divine revelation attached to them; although the Shaker Elders declare there is, and make the members believe it.

"Contrary to order for a sister to go to the brother's shop alone." This order requires that every "sister" shall obtain a companion before she goes to the shops, as it has often happened, before the introduction of this, that one "brother" has been in the shop alone, and the sister by this circumstance being indulged with a private conversation, has opened her mind, and both of them eloped in consequence of it."

"Contrary to order to go to the barn, wood-house, or road alone." This is to keep them within the bounds prescribed by the principles of celibacy. The Eldresses, however, are allowed to go singly to the Elders' shops, as business may often require them so to do.

"Contrary to order for the brethren and sisters to go into each others' rooms after evening meeting." The evening meetings adjourn at a quarter past nine, and the members are requested by orders to be in bed at ten; hence, any visiting, from either party, would produce inconvenience, and to avoid it, this order was given.

"Contrary to order for brethren and sisters to talk together in the halls." - "To sing or smoke in the sisters' shop" - To shake hands or touch the sisters, and vice versa.

"Contrary to order to shake hands with a "world's woman" without confessing it."



"Contrary to order to make any presents to the sisters" - "To go into the room when the sisters are making the beds." These are orders intended to support the "separation act."

"Contrary to order to have right and left shoes."

"Contrary to order to pare the heels of the shoes under." These orders were given, as they said, to mortify the pride of the young believers, who, if allowed in these things, would border more and more on the fashions of the world, and by this means return to its beggarly elements.

"Contrary to order to have any money privately" Persons who join the Society, and are possessed of money, are required to give it up to the Deacons; and if they do not comply, they are not considered good and faithful believers. This order was intended to debar the young members of possessing money, as if these, in times of discontent, were possessed of money, they would be apt to leave the Society.

The ministry, in 1826, to establish and support a Society in Wayne county, N. Y. levied a tribute of 12 1-2 cents on each member, without exception; and the members to obtain this money were obliged to sell their trifling articles. When we see the professed character of the Shakers, and then hear them say that God gave a gift to the Elders to extort the sum of 12 1-2 cents from each member, we must be convinced that they speak lies in hypocrisy and are blasphemous.

"Contrary to order to play in the halls."

"Contrary to order to borrow money among the world." Among themselves, a settlement takes place once a year, and the dealings of every family with each other are settled by the deacons. Whenever any disputes arise between the deacons, relative to their dealings, the Pontiff interferes, and they are compelled to abide by his decisions. They enter prosecutions against the "world," although they have made a contrary profession.

"Contrary to order to wear spurs."

"Contrary to order to kick a beast." This is a preventive against cruelty.

"Contrary to order to wear hats above the height given by the Elders." This order was given to preserve a uniformity of apparel, which e Shakers deem almost a point of faith.

"Contrary to order to go without money among the world.'' It has happened, that members leaving . their residence on business, have met with some unforeseen accident, which to repair has cost them money, and to support an independence in these cases, this order was introduced.

"Contrary to order for a person to go out of the door-yard after evening meeting."

"Contrary to order to go out among the world or among other families." The manner in which they obtain permission to visit any place is, they must go to the Elder of the family in which they reside, and ask his liberty. He questions them, learns their business, and if he thinks it an apology, he allows them liberty, and tells them to go to the Deacons, who allow them a small purse, sufficient to bear their expenses, and sometimes more. On their return, according to order, they proceed to the Elder's department, by whom they are questioned about their journey, and are required in confession to give a detail of it.

"Contrary to order to employ a "world's doctor."

"Contrary to order to give the cooks any directions." This prevents the brethren of too free an intercourse with the "sisters" of this department.

"Contrary to order to leave a span of horses untied among the world." This is to prevent accidents.

"Contrary to order to give nicknames." This is a worthy order; and though we cannot believe it divine, we must consider it as laudable as any which they have.

"Contrary to order to shake hands with the "world," unless they first tender their hand." - This is an order of ancient date among them, and it is said was given by Mother Ann. In the introduction of Shakerism, its new made adherents were required to pass unnoticed those who were not of their faith, and even went so far as not to allow the members to speak to their relatives.

"Contrary to order to reprove each other before the Elders." This prevents altercation when they are brought up for trial. When any difficulty takes place between the members, the same must be laid before the Elders of the family, who order the. aggressor upon his or her knees, and require that the forgiveness of the offended party be asked. Upon this, it is required that both parties meet each other in friendship, and express a reconciliation. If the aggressor is obstinate, or circumstances will not show who of the parties is, and by this means a reconciliation is deterred, the Elders lecture them both, and they are "shut out of union and labored with." This in a short time discovers the aggressor, who must down on his knees and beg pardon. Respect, however, is had to age in these cases, and if the offending party is aged, and the offended young, an acknowledgment only is required. When any difficulty arises between the sexes, the offender is brought before the Elders and Eldresses, and an adjustment takes place by the parties asking forgiveness of each other. When children are impertinent to the brethren or sisters, or quarrel with one another, it is the duty of the offended to repair to the person to whom the child is entrusted in care, who is bound, by order, to settle the differences in the same manner as the Elders; with this exception, when they are impudent and obstinate, he is authorized to chastise them. - Hence the members, taught to believe, and believing that the Elders' decision is divine, without much hesitation settle their little disputes, and these, well aware of the issue of disputes, and fearful of it, are not much disposed to disputation.

"Contrary to order to cut hair, pare nails, wash feet, clean shoes, or shave on the Sabbath."

"It is contrary to order to walk in the garden" - "to pick fruit on the Sabbath," These orders are given to preserve the Sabbath. These services are required to be performed on Saturday, and the shops to be cleaned, and every article put in its proper place. To an exterior cleanliness every attention is paid; and whoever is disposed to be negligent, is reprobated in severe terms. - During the Eldership of E. Cooley, he went into the several shops, enjoining this order with great power and spirit. In this visit, he took particular notice of the tub of the shoemakers' shop, and observed that it would, unless kept clean, breed devils. A little boy, on hearing those words, cast his eyes towards the Elder, and. very pertly replied, "I did not know that the Devil was a water fowl before." The Elder, astonished; at the wit of the youth, and finding his divinity exposed, quit the shop very quick. No fires are allowed in the shops on the Sabbath, nor are the members allowed to stay in them, unless rendered indispensable by business.

"It is contrary to order to ready worldly books or newspapers on the Sabbath."

"It is contrary to order to read newspapers in the dwelling house at any time, unless indulgence to that purpose is granted by the Elders." The reason for the introduction of this order is, they say that the houses are sanctified as the residence of the pure, and to allow worldly papers and knowledge to be disseminated in them, would be to permit a species of contamination. The real policy is this: if the papers were allowed to be read in the house, the youth would resort there, and peruse them uninterruptedly; but if they are at the shop, the minute they take the paper in the hand, "go to work!" is the cry.

"It is contrary to order to go into meeting with boots on." This order is, considering Shakerism, a proper one. With light and easy shoes, the members could dance with the full expression of their zeal; but to clog them with heavy boots, would be to render their sacrifice too weary.

"It is contrary to order to go into meeting without sleeve strings." When the Shakers prepare to dance, they (the brethren) take off their coats, and every one has a blue or green ribbon around his arms. This prevents their shirt sleeves being too loose, and presents an uniformity of appearance.

"It is contrary to order to fold the left thumb over the right, in prayer, or when standing up in worship."

"It is contrary to order to kneel with the left knees first."

"It is contrary to order to put the left boot or shoe on first."

"It is contrary to order to kneel with handkerchief in hand."

"It is contrary to order to put the left foot on the stairs first when ascending." These are to maintain a severe discipline, and display much of the character of Shakerism.

"It is contrary to order to receive or write a letter without the Eiders' perusal of it." When a member receives a letter for himself, he is obliged to carry it to the Elders first, and in their presence to open it. He is forbid opening a letter, unless in their presence. If he be a suspicious character, the Elders read the letter; if not, he is permitted to. When a member would correspond with a friend or relative, he must ask permission of the Elders of the family in which he resides, and by whom he is closely questioned as to his business in correspondence; and if congenial to their views, he is- permitted to write. -His letter must be submitted to the perusal of the Elders, and sealed in their presence. By this means any disaffection on the part of the member and the intention of his friends is exposed.

"It is contrary to order to write a letter without retaining a copy." In all their letters, the Elders require that a full expression of their faith shall be penned, and defended by their determination to adhere to it. These copies bring to mind the sentiments conveyed in the original, and so frail is the human mind that it will be forced into sentiments, which it has attempted by sinister motives to defend and inculcate. Perfection is their great tenet, and which they most strenuously defend: hence, teaching this doctrine, and professing to believe it, the pride of their heart deceives them. The Elders, well aware of the movements of the mind, and its nature in these cases, employ every artifice to make the members profess to believe their doctrines, until the natural deceitfulness of their hearts makes them believe that they possess them.

"It is contrary to order to take a book without liberty." It is expressly contrary to order to borrow or receive any book from the "world," and if a book is wished by a member of another, it is his duty, or he is obliged to ask permission of the Elder of the family in which he resides. If he concede, which he seldom does, unless to a favorite, the lender is obliged to ask his Elder's permission to loan it, which is granted on the concession of the borrower's Elder, but not without. Hence, a severe regularity takes place in these proceedings, and is directed to it by the policy of the Society. Learning and intelligence are dangerous subjects in despotic governments, and always display themselves as such. This the Society will acknowledge, as has its policy already.

"It is contrary to order to lie on the ground."

"It is contrary to order to leave the lower sash of the window up at night."

"It is contrary to order to eat bread until it is out of the oven 24 hours." These orders were given as preservatives of health, and like the others are enforced with great rigor.

"It is contrary to order for brethren and sisters to milk together."

"It is contrary to order for a brother and sister to eat at one table, unless there is some company."

"It is contrary to order for a brother and sister to ride together in a waggon without company." These are enforcers of the "separation act."

"It is contrary to order to play with dogs and cats." This they say produces a feeling different from that which should always fill the believer's mind.

"It is contrary to order to go into another union meeting without liberty." In each room in which the brethren reside, the union meeting is held. The sisters in the next room join the meeting; hence, in every room, on the appointed evenings, these meetings are held, each consisting of six or seven brethren and the same number of sisters. Some of the young people, during this meeting, have eloped, under pretence of going into the next union meeting, to which they did not belong. To avoid this sly manner of secession, and to keep a regularity in every department, this order was introduced.

"It is contrary to order to stay out of meeting in the evening without liberty."

"It is contrary to order to stay from meeting on the Sabbath without liberty." These are requisites of order; and when a person is unable from sickness to attend to them, he must inform the Elder of his inability, and beg permission to stay at home.

"It is contrary to order to spit out of the window."

"It is contrary to order to throw water out the window." These orders are essential, as many are passing under the windows.

"It is contrary to order to spit on the floor." - To prevent this, every room is supplied with two or more boxes.

"It is contrary to order to open your mind out of the line of order." By "opening the mind" is meant to confess your sins, or to express your grievances. By the "line of order" is meant the Elders of the family. If any member feels weak in the faith, it is his duty not to preach it to the others, but to repair to the Elders, and express himself. It is a forced peculiarity, among them to express themselves to the "world" in strong terms, whether they are weak or not in the faith. Great encouragement is given by the Elders to those who are bold to testify with great boldness, their faith and comfort in the gospel of Mother Ann, and nothing is so sharp to them, or meets the reproof of the Elders so severely, as for a member to express his doubts to the world. - Many of the Shakers who are continually cavilling and disputing among themselves, when they are engaged on the same subjects with the "world," they boldly declare them as their belief, and that salvation can be attained only by them. It may, however, be remarked, that the Shakers are not alone in this practice.

"It is contrary to order to expose counsel, or tell what the Elders say." By "counsel," they mean the private lectures of the Elders. Its policy will be seen in this light: the Elders lecture the members in terms appropriated to their condition or strength of faith; and this order was given, that a member might not know the severity used to another who is judged superior to him in faith, or the slackness of it, to his inferior. A knowledge of either case would render him no benefit, but rather an injury; in the latter, as it would retard his travel in the gospel, and in the former, as it would fearfully discourage him to pursue it. It also gives the Elders the liberty of exercising a tyrannical mode of treatment, which, if allowed to express itself for redress, would produce a civil war, and issue in the destruction of the Elders' power.

"It is contrary to order to go to meeting -with sin unconfessed." As I have before observed, confession is their greatest policy, and every artifice is used to extort it from the members. The members being taught that -this order came from God, and from this, fearful to disobey it, they-generally confess their sins before they enter their meetings. As the Elders, by their spies, are acqainted with the common conduct of the members, if a charge is lodged against one, he is, if he enter the meeting without confessing it, ordered into one corner of the room, and sometimes on his knees. As the members are. obliged, if they see any misdemeanor in each other, to inform the Elders of it, they become acquainted with the circumstance, and when the transgressor enters the meeting, the Elders profess to have a gift of discernment from God and Mother Ann, tell him his conduct, and order him on his knees. Many of the members, unconscious of the Elders' deceit, and fearful of them, confess their sins before they enter meeting.

"It is contrary to order to take your place in meeting after you have been out among the "world." When a member has been out on business, it is his duty on his return, to proceed to the Elders and "confess up and shake off the spirit of the world," before he enters family or public meetings. He, is generally placed in the rear rank, and sometimes alone "in the corner." In addition to the various "gifts" for the regulation of their affairs, they have what they call "purging gifts" for those who are opposed or will not conform to them. These gifts are used to force any unruly, member to secede. Of this class there are many, some of whom are bolder than others. These from fear, are silent, those openly oppose the Elders, who immediately enforce the "purging gifts" with the greatest force. The tyranny, inconsistency and nonsense of these, at once gives the members an apology for secession, and he seldom fails of so doing. These, or a few of the "purging gifts" are as follows. "When you pass by ,a good believer, shake." "Stand in the corner during the meeting." "Eat by yourself." "Confess your sins every night." "Must not speak to any good believer." " Must not go near the sisters' room." And a number of other tyrannical orders.

Many of these "orders and gifts," as they approach secular concerns, are commendable, and even worthy of example; but the major part of them must excite in us a sensible resentment, when the Shakers declare that each and every of them was given by Divine revelation, and came from God. These orders are the only articles by which the members are governed, and the provisions are within the option or voice of the Elders. When a member, as they call it, "breaks order," it is his or her duty to go and confess it to the Elders, as a sin. By this means, and numerous others, the members are constrained to attend to them.

These "orders" show much of the drift of Shakerism, and may aid in some measure to expose the tyrannical conduct and deceit practised by its Elders.

All of the Societies are not subject to all of these orders, but to some that are less, and others that are more severe. The Society of New Lebanon have the "orders" to attend, as they are represented in the foregoing pages. They have some that are temporary, as not "to talk to the sisters, vice versa." This order is enforced when any courtship is suspected, and it remains but a short time in force.

In fine, to conclude upon this subject, they present much prudence and great tyranny: they are worthy of notice in some points, in others they should be the objects on which we should look, as upon the effusions of a blasphemous and deluded spirit.

THE SINGULARITIES AND GIFTS OF THE SOCIETY.

The "gift" of singing is much patronized in the Society, as it is a necessary requisite in the performance of its worship. A meeting, on Sabbath afternoons, is held for this purpose, and- every member is obliged to sing a song, or contribute the whole of his or her vocal powers to the aid of the general singing. Their songs are composed by themselves, and oftentimes impromptu. They are sometimes sung with words, and sometimes without them. They beat time with their feet and hands concurrently. They do not make use of the nominal notes, but substitute the insignificant sounds, lo, o, do, dle, do. One of their songs, probably the most curious of them, is this, which was composed by Elder Joseph Hodgson, of Watervleit.

1 The devil in walking the earth to and fro,

   Has stamped the whole human race;

   This awful impression believers do know,

   Great I in the front of the face.

When they come to the last line, they put their hands up to their foreheads, as it were, pointing to the impression alluded to in this verse.

2 Since Mother has taught me that this is the case.

   No more I'll be deceived with a lie,

   But now from my forehead I'll quickly erase

   The stamp of the devil's great I.

In singing the third line of this verse, as it were in a rage, they all put their hands up to their foreheads, and give a violent pluck, and then proceed to the next verse.

3 Come brethren and sisters,pull low and pull high

   Pull away with a free heart and hand;

   O pull away, pull away, pull down great I,

   Then we who are little may stand.

In singing this verse, they perform the contents of it in a nautical manner, with great zeal and ease; and though very expert in affecting the starched look of hypocrisy, yet in the performance of this, a coy smile will be seen on the countenances of the fair sisters, and sometimes on the faces of the aged brethren. In one of their marches is the following lines:

I love my faithful brethren more

Than any souls I've seen before;

Their spirits are so clean and pure,

They are so kind and clever:

I love to see them stamp and grin

And curse the flesh, the seat of sin,

To all such souls I feel akin,

I will love them forever

When they come to the words "stamp and grin," they all in concurrence give a violent stamp, and then grin in the most frightful manner.

In a song commemorative of Ann Lee, they sing the following words: "My Mother is a valiant warrior - she wars - she wars - she wars - and overcomes and conquers all evil. I will be like Mother, I'll war - I'll war - I'll war the flesh, and overcome and conquer and reign with my Mother." The eccentricity of this anthem consists in the manner of the action of the member when pronouncing the words "she wars" and "I'll war." Standing, and sometimes sitting, when, they sing this anthem, they all being in a line, with both hands make a violent motion similar to a man mowing.

They have a song, much sung among them, which is as follows:

My old fleshly nature I'll torture and vex,

I'll humble my pride and supple my neck; [broke].

Never flinch at the cross, have my stubborn will

Till I am accustomed to Christ's easy yoke,

Easy yoke, easy yoke, till I am accustomed to

Christ's easy yoke.

In singing this last line, they all bow their heads similar to the Catholics, at the pronunciation of the word Christ's. During this performance, the Elders observe the members, and if they do not bow their heads with ease, they take them by the heads and bow them, until they become perfectly supple and pliant.

Since the establishment of Shakerism, its Elders have had numerous "gifts" for the members to attend to, some of them are truly significant of the divinity of Shakerism, and while they expose the delusion of the members, they do not; to the reflecting mind, leave undetected the blasphemous pretensions of the Elders. All of them, they declare,were given by divine inspiration and immediately from "God and Mother Ann." Some of them are practised for the present, and others are continued for some time, according as the policy of the Society may require.

In the first establishment of the Society, its Elders received from God, (as they blasphemously declare,) a gift for the members to eat their meals as quick as possible. One, who was then a member, informed me that supper was ate in a minute and a half.

During the time the first meeting-house was built, the Elders had a "gift" for the brethren to eat in the space of four minutes, and it is said, the victuals, which consisted of pudding and milk was served up very hot. This is acknowledged by the Society. Of late, an Elder in the church had a gift for the brethren and sisters to place the back of their hands upon the floor, and then for them to place their face in their hands. This was a gift of repentance, as they bowed to the earth. They have a gift sometimes for the brethren and sisters to turn their backs to each other in meeting for a short time. The most general gifts are shaking, leaping, turning, and dancing. The Elder commands them to shake or leap, and they are obliged to obey, if they do not, disunion is the consequence; and this, the Elders teach them, will issue in their eternal destruction. Fearful of this, and taught that it is in the power of the Elders to curse or bless, they are obliged to either obey or secede. Thus in blasphemy they would fill the temple of God, sit in the temple and exalt themselves above God.

Source: Introduction and transcription by Bryan Wright