circumscribed by their very unchris- to tell them to endure them with Christian practices. In these so-called tian patience; for God, their loving Christian countries, nine-tenths of all Father, has brought those afflictions to the people (just as much the children bear upon them to prepare them for of God as the other one-tenth) occupy the same position as regards the land as did our Savior. They have no place to lay their heads, and no rights on the earth that this Christian system is bound to respect. the mansions of glory in the unknown future, and in some unknown place? Did Jesus do so? He did teach them that, if they died in their sins, whither he went, thither they could not And most certainly did he come. The same principles are at work right keep himself unspotted from the here, in free America. Land monopo-world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of ly in America, is exceeding that of Eu- the eye, and the pride of life. These rope; single individuals well nigh own- are the fundamental principles of the ing whole townships, and everybody world; and to bear a faithful cross that settles on their domain is more or against these, and to minister justice, less at their mercy. And by the en- in love, is true religion, and the most actment of the Christian Sabbath laws, acceptable worship. There is no place and the most anti-Christian doctor-on all God's earth, where a Shaker laws, are the liberties of the people family can exist in perfect safety, exbeing more and more curtailed. And cept under the infidel government of when the Christian God gets into the the United States. And there liberty constitution of the United States, we will not be made certain, except by can bid farewell to Liberty: her lamp eternal vigilance; by constant warfare hung out to enlighten the world, will against the powers of oppression. be darkened by the powers of Anti-The Gospel, in its purity, will not be Christ, falsely called Christian; and maintained in souls upon this earth, then it will be possible for Mother's prophecy to be fulfilled, and the powers of darkness to take another sip of the blood of the saints. Is there no religion in warring against these powers of darkness? "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." Visit them to reconcile them to their afflictions? except by eternal warfare against the powers of darkness in battles of shaking. Jesus went about doing good; healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, and casting out devils; and after healing them, he told them to "go and sin no more;" showing plainly that their sickness was the result of sin, sin being the violation of law. Was Jesus not a hygienist, then, when he revealed to people the cause of their sickness, removed it, and instructed them what to do to keep their health? That, to me, was practical religion, that the common people could under stand; though practiced on the Sab- timony roll, as thunder from Mount bath and in the temple. There were Zion, and let the lightnings play, and those who watched Jesus, and made the battles of shaking be renewed; (to themselves) very weighty objec- that every heart may be inspired with tions to his healing on their Sabbath. Mother's gift to hate the flesh veheIt is my faith that the spiritual power mently. There are no expressions in manifested by Jesus upon the bodies the English language that are adequate of the people, will be manifested in to express the indignation of the holy far greater perfection in the Church spirit against the body-degrading, the of Christ of the latter day; because it soul-defiling, and the humanity-sinkwill work with the rational under- ing element of fleshly lust. May God standing; in union with hygiene, the be revealed among us, as a consuming science of health. Thus, "religion fire, to burn up the vile, filthy eleand science as one shall agree." It ments of the world! They cannot be has often been said, in this house, reasoned with, any more than you can that Jesus was a Shaker. He com- reason with a slimy serpent; nothing manded his disciples to shake; and would he tell his followers to do what he had not done? I glory in the name, and mean ever to walk worthy of it; and if we, as a people, lose the gift of shaking, we will lose the power of God that saves from sin; and the god of this world, generative lust, will reign, in his pride, to the utter destruction of our spiritual life. but the sword of the spirit and the holy fire of God will ever set the soul free from the bondage of the flesh. "Think not," said Jesus, "that I come to bring peace on earth" to the generative life, with all its relationships; "I come not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother; and a man's foes shall be they of his own household." All the generative relation. "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren and sisters; yea, and his own" (generative) "life also; he cannot be my disciple." Could anything be plainer, or the line of demarkation clearer, than In my experience, I have seen those standing in the assembly of the saints, those who had never confessed their sins, talk of love; love to God, love to Christ, love to his people; that had no testimony against the flesh; and had it not in their hearts, but were bold to express with their tongues, to those whom they thought they could allure, to introduce generation into is the testimony of Jesus? Nothing the Shaker Church, and among the but the testimony of our blessed saints of God, the virgin followers of Mother Ann; which is more powerful, the Lamb. Is it not "the abomination inasmuch as it enables men and womof desolation?"-the man of sin in the en, on this earth, to live together, as temple of God? And shall we all be brethren and sisters, in perfect purity, dumb dogs that cannot bark, much in a spiritual Community. Who, aftless, bite? Nay, never. Let the tes-er having fought the battles of the Lord, and gained the victory, are als, what a contrast we sometimes obblessed with the peace of God; that serve, in the effect produced upon our peace and love, which the world can- feelings and emotions. When we assonot give, neither can it take away. Mt. Lebanon, N. Y. ASSOCIATION. ELIZABETH A. SEARS. I THINK all who have arrived at the age of maturity, have realized the power and influence which our association with others has upon us. Not that we are always sure to imbibe the opinions or ideas of those with whom we converse, but let those whom we love, and delight to associate with, advocate that which our natural inclinations would lead us to desire, how soon we see the silent workings of their persuasion bearing upon our feelings, and leading us little by little, to embrace the same, or similar sentiments. We read that, "As it is natural for sparks to fly upward, or water to run downward, so the heart of man is perverse, and inclineth to evil." Therefore I consider it much easier to lead the minds of others to seek ease and vain pleasure, than to inspire them with fortitude to pursue the rugged path of virtue and self-denial, which is unavoidably attended with crosses and trials. Then if we wish to do the greatest amount of good, and leave an example worthy of imitation, we should have our conversation of that high and elevated character, which will inspire all around us with respect and confidence for those noble principles which we are endeavoring to vindicate, both by word and work, in our daily lives. In conversing with different individu ciate with the refined and educated, who are adorned with true Christian grace, and stern integrity of purpose, we admire their cultivated bearing, and seem to be fascinated by their goodness and maguanimity; we long to dwell ever in the sunshine of such brightness, and drink forever from the celestial springs of pure unalloyed enjoyment, produced by the communion of kindred souls, and the expansion of mind into all that is lovely, pure and divine. But if, on the contrary, circumstances oblige us to associate with the ignorant, selfish and unregenerate, we are .disinterested and dissatisfiel, perhaps despondent; for we feel that our better feelings are not appreciated, and we can derive no satisfaction from such communion. Again we meet with those who, with flattering smiles and winning words, insinuate that they possess unbounded love and friendship for while their hearts are busy to deceive and captivate the unguarded mind, by by jesting remarks, that they do not belight and trifling conversation, implying lieve in so much gravity, and sober reflection as many others do. us, en Thus it seems necessary in all cases to be guided and governed by an lightened conscience, being ever watchful and careful that no false allurement may so absorb our love and interest, as to turn us aside from the high path of duty and safety. Considering the many advantages derived from good society, and the injurious effects produced by the opposite, let us choose our associates from the ranks of the pure and good, thus improving our own condition and endeavoring to benefit others by our ef forts to enliven the hours of social conversation, with a cheerful, loving spirit. Mt. Lebanon, N. Y. CAUSE AND EFFECT. CHANCY Dibble. A SPARK of Deity, divine, The conscience speaks in accents true, To all who work in wisdom's cause. By years of toil in virtues field Watervliet, N. Y. THE value of any institution is to be measured by the truth it manifests, and the good it does. G. B. A. WEST GLOUCESTER, Nov. 1889. KIND ELDER :-We send you many thanks for taking us along with you ou that delightful journey. We can go again and again as often as we read the graphic account from your diary in the Nov., MANIFESTO. How kind you were to let us hear from those good Brethren and Sisters whom you visited, that we love so well. The Nov., MANIFESTO is very interesting to us. The music "Beautiful Shore" awakens memories of loved ones who have gone on before, and are now enjoying the grandeur and beauty of that heavenly home, while our homes. here are so vividly described that we cannot but feel how good it is to be joined to all that is so lovely, pure and true. And now I must own that the little lesson for the Bible Class is what has drawn me out to write you this letter. It will be very interesting to read the answers to the questious and I hope a goodly number of pupils will respond, and by so doing be a credit and honor to their kind teachers. It seems to me good Elder Heury, while reading over these questious, that I would like to give you my ideas in regard to them although they may diverge greatly from the opinious of others. 1st Aus.-The two verses of Psalms, used as a prayer that to me are the sweetest and strongest are the 10th and 11th verses of the 84th Psalm. "For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand, &c." 2nd. Is there a more noble act of self-sacrifice recorded in the Old Testament than that made by Jephthah's 4th.-The Book of Daniel is to me the most interesting book of the Old Testament, notwithstanding Robert Elsmere tells us it is a fraud. In the last chapter is the sweetest prophecy of all, "Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand, three hundred and five, and thirty days." Has that time come? and is Daniel now standing in his lot, at the end of the days? and Sisters crowns the whole with joy unspeakable. Home comforts are not the least of the many blessings bestowed upon us by our Heavenly Father and Mother. Yours in love to our gospel relation everywhere. AURELIA G. MACE. THE BELIEVERS OF INDIANA LOUIS BASTING. The Great Reriral at Busro at the Community of Shakers. The Indian war. The Peace principles of the Believers. The kindness of Col. Boyd. The work of Gen. Wm. H. Harrison in favor of the Shakers. THE great revival which in the first decade of the present century swept 5th.-Matt. 11th chapter, commencover the western country, extended to the extreme frontiers of the settleing at the 28th verse. "Come unto me ments. It struck in at Busro, on the all ye that labor and are heavy laden Wabash river, and an energetic atand I will give you rest," and so on. “And ye shall find rest unto your souls," tempt was made to found a Communiwith the conditions. What promise ty of Believers there. could be more comforting to the weary? 6th.-Proverbs 13th chapter, 6th and 7th verses, are two very wise Proverbs. 7th. The 45th Psalm is most joy"My heart is inditing a good mat ous. ter &c." In New Gloucester we have had an abundant crop of winter apples, very fair and free from defects. Many of these have been sold at a good price, but enough are stored, with other fruits and vegetables for future use. Thus we are prepared to enter the cold season, happy in the anticipation of all temporal needs supplied, while the loving companionship of good Brethren This revival had been plainly foretold by Mother Ann Lee; and as soon as tidings of its occurrence reached the Believers at Mt. Lebanon, they sent a number of Brethren and Sisters to act as missionaries, leaders and organizers to the regions of its activity. Issachar Bates, Archibald Meacham, and others, were allotted to the work at Busro. Upon their arrival there in the spring of 1811, they found 200 people there professing faith, and shortly afterwards 140 more came in. It was a great task to organize such a company into gospel order in the wilderness. Houses had to be built; crops had |