itself many things desirable and proper. It is an advantage that it
should have to do this, just as it is undoubtedly an advantage to a
young couple just starting out in life to be compelled by narrow
circumstances to frugal living and self-denial. It gives unselfishness
and a wholesome development of character. But I cannot see why a
prosperous commune should not own the best books; why it should not have
music; why it should not hear the most eloquent lecturers; why it should
not have pleasant pleasure-grounds, and devote some means to the highest
form of material art--fine architecture. It seems to me that in these
respects the communes I have visited have failed of their proper and
just development; and I believe this inattention to the higher and
intellectual wants of men to be the main reason of their generally
failing numbers. They keep their lives on the plane of the common
farmer's life out of which most of the older members were gathered--and
their young people leave them, just as the farmers of our country
complain that their boys run off to the cities. The individual farmer or
country mechanic cannot control this; he cannot greatly beautify his
life, or make it intellectually richer. But to the commune, once well
established and prosperous, all needful things are possible, so far as
money cost is concerned; and it is my belief that neither books nor
music, nor eloquence nor flowers, nor finely kept pleasure-grounds nor
good architecture would be dangerous to the success of a commune.
In another respect, the communistic societies fall short of what they
ought to be and do. The permanence of their establishments gives them
extraordinary advantages for observing the phenomena of climate and
nature; and it would add greatly to the interest of their lives did they
busy and interest themselves with observations of temperature, and of
the various natural phenomena which depend upon or denote climate: the
arrival and departure of birds; the first and last frosts; the
blossoming of flowers and trees. A Shaker family ought to produce
records of this kind of great value and interest; and I wonder that such
a book as White's "Selborne" has not empted some communist to such
observations. But I nowhere, except at Oneida, found more than a very
superficial interest in natural phenomena.
It is easy to see that here is a field of innocent and healthful
amusement which, with the abundant leisure the members of a prosperous
commune enjoy, could be worked so as to give a new and ever-fresh
interest to the lives of young and old.
I find fault also with the isolation in which communal societies live.
They would be the better if they communicated fully and frequently among
each other, and interchanged thoughts and experiences. Not only do the
different societies hold aloof from each other, but among the Shakers
even families do not communicate or advise with others living at a
distance. But I believe this is to be remedied.
Finally, I repeat that one cannot play at communism. It is earnest work,
and requires perseverance, patience, and all other manly qualities. But
if I compare the life in a contented and prosperous, that is to say a
successful commune, with the life of an ordinary farmer or mechanic even
in our prosperous country, and more especially with the lives of the
working-men and their families in our great cities, I must confess that
the communist life is so much freer from care and risk, so much easier,
so much better in many ways, and in all material aspects, that I
sincerely wish it might have a farther development in the United States.
With this wish I conclude a work which has interested me extremely--the
record of an investigation which was certainly the strangest and most
remarkable I ever made, and which forced me to take some views of the
nature and capacities of the average man which I had not before.
That communistic societies will rapidly increase in this or any other
country, I do not believe. The chances are always great against the
success of any newly formed society of this kind. But that men and women
can, if they _will_, live pleasantly and prosperously in a communal
society is, I think, proved beyond a doubt; and thus we have a right to
count this another way by which the dissatisfied laborer may, if he
chooses, better his condition. This seems to me a matter of some
importance, and justifies, to myself at least, the trouble I have taken
in this investigation.
[Relocated Footnote: Here is a list of titles, which I take from Noyes:
The Alphadelphia Phalanx, Hopedale Community, Leroysville Phalanx,
Bloomfield Association, Blue Springs Community, North American Phalanx,
Ohio Phalanx, Brook Farm, Bureau County Phalanx, Raritan Bay Union,
Wisconsin Phalanx; the Clarkson, Clermont, Columbian, Coxsackie,
Skaneateles, Integral, Iowa Pioneer, Jefferson County, La Grange,
Turnbull, Sodus Bay, and Washtenaw Phalanxes; the Forrestville,
Franklin, Garden Grove, Goose Pond, Haverstraw, Kendall, One Mentian,
and Yellow Springs Communities; the Marlborough, McKean County,
Mixville, Northampton, Spring Farm, and Sylvania Associations; the
Moorehouse and the Ontario Unions; the Prairie Home; New Harmony,
Nashoba, New Lanark, the Social Reform Unity, and the Peace Union
Settlement.]
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
The following list does not pretend to be a complete bibliography of
Socialism or Communism. It contains the titles of all the works which
have fallen under my own observation relating to the Communistic
Societies now existing in the United States, and referred to in this
book. Most of these are in my own collection; a few I found in the
Congressional Library or in the hands of friends. To a few of the titles
I have appended remarks explanatory of their contents.
1. A Brief Account of a Religious Scheme taught and propagated by a
number of Europeans who lately lived in a place called Nisqueunia, in
the State of New York, but now residing in Harvard, Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, commonly called Shaking Quakers. By Valentine Rathbone,
Minister of the Gospel. To which is added a Dialogue between George the
Third of Great Britain and his Minister, giving an account of the late
London mob, and the original of the Sect called Shakers. The whole being
a discovery of the wicked machinations of the principal enemies of
America. Worcester, 1788.
[This is the earliest printed mention I have found of the Shakers. The
pamphlet is in the Congressional Library, and came from the Force
Collection. Its intention was to make the Shakers odious as British
spies; and in the "Dialogue" between the king and his minister, "Lord
Germain" is made to comfort the king with an account of "the persons who
were sent to propagate a new religious scheme in America," whose
accounts, he says, are "very flattering," and upon whom he depends to
mislead the ignorant Americans into opposition to the "rebels." The
"Dialogue" pretends to have been "printed London; reprinted Worcester,
1782."]
2. Testimony of Christ's Second Appearing, exemplified by the Principles
and Practice of the Church of Christ. History of the Progressive Work of
God, extending from the Creation of Man to the Harvest, comprising the
Four Great Dispensations now consummating in the Millennial Church.
Antichrist's Kingdom or Churches, contrasted with the Church of Christ's
First and Second Appearing, the Kingdom of the God of Heaven. Published
by the United Society called Shakers. No date. (The Preface to the first
edition is dated "Lebanon, O., 1808." Of the fourth, "Watervliet, N. Y.,
1854;" pp. 632.)
3. Autobiography, of a Shaker, and Revelation of the Apocalypse, with an
Appendix. By Frederick W. Evans. New York, American News Company, 1869,
pp. 162.
4. _The Same._ London, J. Burns, 1871, with a photographic portrait
of the author.
5. Shaker's Compendium of the Origin, History, Principles, Rules and
Regulations, Government and Doctrines of the United Society of Christ's
Second Appearing, with Biographies of Ann Lee, William Lee, James
Whittaker, J. Hocknell, J. Meacham, and Lucy Wright. By F. W. Evans. New
York, D. Appleton & Co., 1859, pp. 189.
6. The Nature and Character of the True Church of Christ proved by Plain
Evidences, and showing whereby it may be known and distinguished from
all others. Being Extracts from the Writings of John Dunlavy. New York,
printed by George W. Wood, 1850, pp. 93.
7. The Kentucky Revival; or a Short History of the late Extraordinary
Outpouring of the Spirit of God in the Western States of America,
agreeably to Scripture Promises and Prophecies concerning the Latter
Day, with a Brief Account of the Entrance and Purposes of what the World
call Shakerism, among the Subjects of the late Revival in Ohio and
Kentucky. Presented to the _True Zion Traveler_ as a Memorial of the
Wilderness Journey. By Richard McNemar. New York. Reprinted by Edward O.
Jenkins, 1846. pp. 156. (The Preface is dated "Turtle Creek, 1807.")
8. _The Same._ Press of John W. Brown, Liberty Hall, Cincinnati,
1807.
9. _The Same._ Albany, 1808.
10. A Short Treatise on the Second Appearing of Christ in and through
the Order of the Female. By F. W. Evans, New Lebanon, N. Y. Boston,
1853, pp. 24.
11. A Brief Exposition of the Established Principles and Regulations of
the United Society of Believers called Shakers. New York, 1851, pp. 30.
12. _The Same._ Watervliet, Ohio, 1832.
13. _The Same._ Canterbury, N. H., 1843.
14. Shaker Communism; or Tests of Divine Inspiration. The Second
Christian or Gentile Pentecostal Church, as exemplified by Seventy
Communities of Shakers in America. By F. W. Evans. London, James Burns,
1871, pp. 120.
15. Religious Communism. A Lecture by F. W. Evans (Shaker), of Mount
Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, U.S.A., delivered in St. George's Hall,
London, Sunday evening, August 6th, 1871; with Introductory Remarks by
the Chairman of the Meeting, Mr. Hepworth Dixon. Also some Account of
the Extent of the Shaker Communities, and a Narrative of the Visit of
Elder Evans to England. An abstract of a Lecture by Rev. J. M. Peebles,
and his Testimony in regard to the Shakers.
16. Plain Talks upon Practical Religion. Being Candid Answers to Earnest
Inquirers. By Geo. Albert Lomas, Shaker. (Watervliet), N. Y., 1873, pp.
24.
17. Ann Lee, the Founder of the Shakers. A Biography, with Memoirs of
her Companions. Also a Compendium of the Origin, History, Principles,
Rules and Regulations, Government and Doctrines of the United Society of
Believers in Christ's Second Appearing. By F. W. Evans. London, J.
Burns. (The same as No. 5.)
18. The Shaker and Shakeress. A monthly paper. Published by the United
Society, Mount Lebanon, N. Y. F. W. Evans, Editor.
19. Social Gathering Dialogue between Six Sisters of the North Family of
Shakers, Mount Lebanon, N. Y. Albany, 1873, pp. 18.
20. Shakerism, the Possibility of the Race. Being Letters of A. B. B.
and Elder F. W. Evans. Office of the _Shaker_, 1872, pp. 14.
21. The Universal Church. By F. W. Evans. Office of the _Shaker_,
1872, pp. 16.
22. Catalogue of Medicinal Plants, Barks, Roots, Seeds, Flowers, and
Select Powders, with their Therapeutic Qualities and Botanical Names;
also Pure Vegetable Extracts, prepared in vacuo; Ointments, Inspissated
Juices, Essential Oils, Double-distilled and Fragrant Waters, etc.,
raised, prepared, and put up in the most careful manner by the United
Society of Shakers at Mount Lebanon, N.Y. First established in 1800,
being the oldest of the kind in the country. Albany, N. Y., 1873, pp.
58.
23. Plain Evidences by which the Nature and Character of the True Church
of Christ may be known and distinguished from all others. Taken from a
work entitled, "The Manifesto, or a Declaration of the Doctrines and
Practice of the Church of Christ." Published at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky,
1818. By John Dunlavy. Printed by Hoffman & White, Albany, 1834, pp. 120.
24. A Collection of Millennial Hymns, adapted to the present Order of
the Church. Printed in the United Society, Canterbury, N. H., 1847, pp.
200.
25. A Sacred Repository of Anthems and Hymns, for devotional Worship and
Praise. Canterbury, N.H., 1852, pp. 222.
26. Testimonies concerning the Character and Ministry of Mother Ann Lee
and the First Witnesses of the Gospel of Christ's Second Appearing,
given by some of the aged Brethren and Sisters of the United Society;
including a few Sketches of their own Religious Experiences. Approved by
the Church. Albany, printed by Packard & Van Benthuysen, 1827, pp. 178.
27. Familiar Dialogues on Shakerism; in which the Principles of the
United Society are illustrated and defended. By Fayette Mace. Portland,
Charles Day & Co., Printers, 1838, pp. 120.
28. _The Same_. Concord, 1838.
29. A Discourse of the Order and Propriety of Divine Inspiration and
Revelation, showing the Necessity thereof in all Ages to know the Will
of God. Also, a Discourse on the Second Appearing of Christ in and
through the Order of the Female. And a Discourse on the Propriety and
Necessity of a United Inheritance in all Things in order to Support a
true Christian Community. By William Leonard. Harvard (Mass.), published
by the United Society, 1853, pp. 88.
30. A Brief Illustration of the Principles of War and Peace, showing the
ruinous Policy of the former, and the superior Efficacy of the latter,
for National Protection and Defense; clearly manifested by their
practical Operations and opposite Effects upon Nations, Kingdoms, and
People. By Philanthropos. Albany, printed by Packard & Van Benthuysen,
1831, pp. 112.
31. Some Lines in Verse about Shakers, not Published by Authority of the
Society so called. New York, William Taylor & Co., No. 2 Astor House,
1846, pp. 56.
32. A Concise Answer to the General Inquiry who or what are the Shakers.
First printed at Union Village, Ohio, 1823. Reprinted at Enfield, N.H.,
1825. Albion Chase, Printer, pp. 14.
33. The Life of Christ is the End of the World. By George Albert Lomas.
Watervliet, 1869, pp. 16.
34. The Higher Law of Spiritual Progression. Albany, 1868, pp. 32.
35. The Social Evil. By James J. Prescott. North Union (Ohio), 1870, pp.
14.
36. A Shaker's Answer to the oft-repeated Question "What would become of
the World if all should become Shakers?" Orders supplied by John
Whiteley, Shirley Village, Massachusetts. Boston, 1874, pp. 32.
37. _The Same_. By R. W. Pelham. Cincinnati, 1868, pp. 32.
38. Shakers: A Correspondence between Mary F. C., of Mount Holly City,
and a Shaker Sister, Sarah L., of Union Village. Edited by R. W. Pelham.
Union Village, Ohio, 1868, pp. 24.
39. Respect and Veneration due from Youth to Age. New Bedford, 1870, pp.
15.
40. The Universal Church. By F. W. Evans. Office of the _Shaker_.
Shakers, N. Y., 1872, pp. 10.
41. Improved Shaker Washing-machine, etc. Manufactured and for sale by
the United Society of Shakers, at Shaker Village, N. H., pp. 12.
42. The Divine Book of Holy and Eternal Wisdom, revealing the Word of
God, out of whose Mouth goeth a sharp Sword. Written by Paulina Bates,
at Watervliet, New York, United States of North America; including other
Illustrations and Testimonies. Arranged and prepared for the Press at
New Lebanon, N. Y. Published by the United Society called Shakers.
Printed at Canterbury, N. H., 1849, pp. 718.
43. A Holy, Sacred, and Divine Roll and Book, from the Lord God of
Heaven to the Inhabitants of Earth. Revealed in the United Society at
New Lebanon, County of Columbia, State of New York, United States of
America. Received by the Church of this Communion, and published in
Union with the same. Printed in the United Society, Canterbury, N.H.,
1843, pp. 412.
44. A Summary View of the Millennial Church, or United Society of
Believers, comprising the Rise, Progress, and Practical Order of the
Society, together with the general Principles of their Faith and
Testimony, 1823. (3d edition, revised and improved) republished by the
United Society with the approbation of the Ministry. Albany, printed by
C. Van Benthuysen, 1848, pp. 384.
45. The Testimony of Christ's Second Appearing; containing a general
Statement of all Things pertaining to the Faith and Practice of the
Church of God in this Latter Day. Published in Union by Order of the
Ministry. Lebanon, Ohio, from the Press of John M'Clean, office of the
_Western Star_, 1808, pp. 618.
46. _The Same_. 2d edition, corrected and improved. Albany, 1810,
pp. 660.
47. _The Same_. 3d edition, corrected and improved. Union Village,
Ohio. B. Fisher & A. Burnett, Printers, 1823, pp. 621.
48. Account of some of the Proceedings of the Legislatures of the States
of Kentucky and New Hampshire, 1828, etc., in Relation to the People
called Shakers. Reprinted, New York, 1846, pp. 103.
49. A Selection of Hymns and Poems for the Use of Believers; collected
from sundry Authors. By Philos-Harmoniae. Watervliet, Ohio, 1833, pp.
186.
50. The Constitution of the United Society of Believers called Shakers;
containing sundry Covenants and Articles of Agreement definitive of the
Legal Grounds of the Institution. Watervliet, Ohio, 1833, pp. 16.
[Contains several forms of the Church Covenant, from 1810 down to 1833.]
51. Condition of Society and its only Hope in obeying the Everlasting
Gospel, as now developing among Believers in Christ's Second Appearing.
Printed and published at the _Day Star_ Office, Union Village, Ohio,
1847, pp. 121.
52. A Juvenile Guide, or Manual of Good Manners, consisting of Counsels,
Instructions, and Rules of Deportment for the Young, by Lovers of Youth.
In Two Parts. Printed in the United Society, Canterbury, N. H., 1844,
pp. 137.
53. Shakerism Detected, a Pamphlet published by Col. James Smith, of
Kentucky, Examined and Confuted in Five Propositions. Published at
Lebanon, Ohio, and Lexington, Kentucky, 1811, by Richard McNemar.
Reprinted by Request. Watervliet, Ohio, May 2,1833, pp. 12.
54. General Rules of the United Society, and Summary Articles of Mutual
Agreement and Release, Ratified and Confirmed by the Society at
Watervliet, Montgomery County, Ohio, January, 1833. Union Office, 1833,
pp.7.
[Contains the signatures of members.]
55. The Shakers: Speech of Robert Wickliffe in the Senate of Kentucky,
January, 1831, on a Bill to Repeal an Act of the General Assembly of the
State of Kentucky, entitled an Act to Regulate Civil Proceedings against
certain Communities having Property in Common. Frankfort, Ky., 1832. pp.
32.
56. A Memorial Remonstrating against a certain Act of the Legislature of
Kentucky entitled an Act to Regulate Civil Proceedings against certain
Communities having Property in Common, and declaring that it shall and
may be lawful to commence and prosecute suits, obtain decrees, and have
execution against any of the Communities of People called Shakers,
without naming or designating the individuals, or serving process on
them otherwise than by fixing a Subpoena on the door of their
Meetinghouse, etc. Union Office, Harrodsburg, Ky., 1830, pp. 8.
57. An Address to the State of Ohio, Protesting against a certain Clause
of the Militia Law enacted by the Legislature. Lebanon, Ohio, Office of
the _Farmer_, 1818, pp. 24.
58. Investigator; or a Defense of the Order, Government, and Economy of
the United Society called Shakers against sundry Charges and Legislative
Proceedings. Addressed to the Political World by the Society of
Believers at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. Lexington, Ky., Smith & Palmer,
1828, pp. 57.
59. A Brief Statement of the Sufferings of Mary Dyer, occasioned by the
Society called Shakers. Written by Herself. To which is added Affidavits
and Certificates; also a Declaration from their own Publication.
Concord, N. H., 1818, pp. 35.
60. A Compendious Narrative, Elucidating the Character, Disposition, and
Conduct of Mary Dyer, from the Time of her Marriage, in 1799, till she
left the Society called Shakers in 1815, etc. By her Husband, Joseph
Dyer. To which is annexed a Remonstrance against the Testimony and
Application of the said Mary for Legislative Interference. Concord, by
Isaac Hill, for the Author, 1818, pp. 90.
61. The Memorial of the Society of People of Canterbury, in the County
of Rockingham, and Enfield, in the County of Grafton, commonly called
Shakers. (No date--but about 1818), pp. 13.
62. Tests of Divine Inspiration, or the Rudimental Principles by which
True and False Revelation in all Eras of the World can be Unerringly
Discriminated. By F. W. Evans. New Lebanon, 1853, pp. 128.
63. Public Discourses delivered in Substance at Union Village, Ohio,
August, 1823, pp. 36.
64. A Revision and Confirmation of the Social Compact of the United
Society called Shakers, at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. Published by Order
of the Church. Harrodsburg, Ky., 1830, pp. 12.
65. A Short Abridgment of the Rules of Music, with Lessons for Exercise,
and a few Observations for New Beginners. New Lebanon, 1843; reprinted
1846, pp. 40.
66. Sixteen Years in the Senior Order of Shakers, a Narrative of Facts
concerning that singular People. By Hervey Elkins. Hanover, N. H., 1853,
pp. 136.
67. The Shaker Society _against_ Gass & Banta. (Brief of a case in
Kentucky.) No date, pp. 8.
68. Catalogue of Medicinal Plants, Extracts, Essential Oils, etc.,
prepared and for sale by the United Society of Shakers at Union Village,
Ohio.
69. Shakerism Unmasked, or a History of the Shakers. By William J.
Haskett. Pittsfield, 1828.
70. Two Years' Experience among the Shakers: A Condensed View of
Shakerism as it is. By David K. Lamsen. West Boylston, 1848.
71. The Rise and Progress of the Serpent, from the Garden of Eden to the
Present Day, with a Disclosure of Shakerism, etc.; also the Life and
Sufferings of the Author, who was Mary Dyer, but now is Mary Marshall.
Concord, N. H., 1847.
72. An Account of the People called Shakers--their Faith, Doctrines, and
Practice. By Thomas Brown, of Cornwall, Orange County, N. Y. Troy, 1812.
73. History of American Socialisms. By John Humphrey Noyes.
Philadelphia, J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1870, pp. 678.
74. Oneida Community Cooking, or a Dinner without Meat. By Harriet H.
Skinner. Oneida, N. Y., 1873, pp. 51.
75. Essay on Scientific Propagation. By John Humphrey Noyes, with an
Appendix containing a Health Report of the Oneida Community. By Theodore
R. Noyes, M.D. Published by the Oneida Community, Oneida, N. Y. (No
date--about 1873), pp. 32.
76. Male Continence. By John Humphrey Noyes. Published by the Oneida
Community, Office of the _Circular_, Oneida, N. Y., 1872, pp. 24.
77. Hand-book of the Oneida Community, containing a Brief Sketch of its
Present Condition, Internal Economy, and Leading Principles. Published
by the Oneida Community, N. Y., 1871, pp. 64.
78. Salvation from Sin the End of Christian Faith. By J. H. Noyes.
Published by the Oneida Community, Mount Tom Printing-house, Wallingford
Community, Conn., 1869, pp. 48.
79. Dixon and his Copyists: A Criticism of the Accounts of the Oneida
Community in "New America," "Spiritual Wives," and kindred Publications.
By John Humphrey Noyes. Published by the Oneida Community, 1871, pp. 40.
80. Faith Facts; or a Confession of the Kingdom of God and the Age of
Miracles. Edited by George Cragin. Oneida Reserve, N. Y., 1850, pp. 40.
81. Favorite Hymns for Community Singing, 1855, pp. 32. (Oneida
Communists.)
82. The Way of Holiness; a Series of Papers published in the
_Perfectionist_, New Haven. By J. H. Noyes. Printed by J. H. Noyes &
Co., 1838.
[The company consisted of himself, his wife, brother, and two sisters.]
83. Paul not Carnal. New Haven, 1834.
84. The Perfectionist. New Haven, 1834.
85. The Way of Holiness. Putney, Vt., 1838.
86. The Witness. Ithaca, N. Y., and Putney, Vt., 1838-43.
87. The Perfectionist. Putney, Vt., 1843-46.
88. The Spiritual Magazine. Oneida, 1848-50.
89. The Free Church Circular. Oneida, 1850-51.
90. The Circular. Oneida, 1854-74.
91. First Annual Report of the Oneida Association. Oneida, 1849.
92. Faith Facts. Oneida, 1850.
93. Second Annual Report of the Oneida Association. Oneida, 1850.
94. Third Annual Report of the Oneida Association. Oneida, 1851.
95. Bible Communism. Brooklyn, 1853.
96. The Trapper's Guide. Wallingford, 1867.