Sinister: Shaking Quakerism

[MWaggner at xxx.com]

In a message dated 99-07-02 13:13:55 EDT, you write:

> wouldn't tha tbe the Shakers?  they existed somewhere in pennsylvania, or
>  illinois or something. they made lots of quilts and chairs and stuff.  they
>  recruited people, but then peopel kept leaving until there was like only 
one
>  really old lady left in the sect.  or something.     can anyone validate
>  thi

The Shakers in the US were led by Ann Lee, who was born in Manchester in the 
1700's.  The sect was originally called the Shaking Quakers, or "The United 
Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing," and they were persecuted 
in England.  Ann moved to the US in the 1770's and started a Shaker colony 
outside Albany, NY, claiming to be Christ reincarnated.  She was beaten and 
imprisoned here too.  The Shakers were communistic and celibate, and did 
quite well for awhile -- in the early 1800's they had about 20 colonies here. 
 By the 1960's there were only two communities left, one in New Hampshire and 
one in Maine, and then yes, there was that one last (or maybe two?) woman 
left living in one of them... very sweet and sad.

The Shakers believed in simplicity and utilitarianism... the houses and 
furnishings they made are beautiful -- really nice simple lines and beautiful 
wood.  Wonderful split wood round boxes.  Actually, at least one of the 
communes has now been turned into an artists' retreat where artists of 
various sorts go to get away and create  -- and there is a new interest in 
Shaker lifestyle -- probably without the celibacy.

Ok, yeah, I've always liked Shakers.... sorry.  "tis a gift to be simple...." 
 Celibacy is a different matter altogether, albeit pretty simple.

Oh and... about the Rolling Stone review of the Gentle Waves -- I think the 
reviewer  was remembering another review.  Someone way back in a review of 
TBWTAS someplace said that the lyrics to "It Could Have Been a Brilliant 
Career" were mean, or they showed Stuart was mean... someone with a better 
memory or better with archives (sorry Honey) might remember where that review 
was from.

--michele
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