Western Sun, Volume 3, Number 42, Vincennes, Knox County, 13 October 1810 — Page 2
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AN ATTEMPT TO D EVE LOPE SHAKERISM. by James Smith, Esqju . C Concluded. J P. S. Since I wrote the preceding, I had an interview with two women, who had been 3 years with the Ankers ; alfo with one of the aforefaid men. From thefe I received fome additional information ref petting the Ih kers. From what is ftated in this pamphlet, it may be feen that all thofe who have left the Ankers agree in their teftimony, and do not contradict each other. Yet, as the fuccefsof fliakerifm depends entirely on frcrecy, their leaders do every thing in the ir power to conceal their principle defigns, not only from the world, but alio from their own common people, therefore, fome of thofe who have left the ftnk-rs have made difcoverics, which the others have not. I lately tonverfed with that girl, already mention, whom the Aiakers concealed from her father, after he left them. She is now about 16 yers of age, and was 3 years with the Ankers, inured to perfect faith and obediance. She fys, that while her father was threatening the Aiakers with the civil law, if thy would not give her up they took her before a civil magiArate, and by their menaces, compelled her to fwear falfcly viz. ' That they had not concealed her, but that they had repeatedly told her to go to her father, and that Aie would not, hut hid heifelf." It can eafily be proved that they took her before a magiArate, -and that file did fwear as above ftated. But this does not corroborate with the ftia.leers railing a riot, and taking her from her brother by violence before this, as before mentioned. She alfo fs, that when the Ankers faw that this ftheme would not anfwer their piupofr, thry fell upon another plan to keep her from her father, which was this : They told her Ae nuiA be married to a young Anker, and MNmar was to perform the ceremony, that Aie muA alfo be beded with this nun, otherwifeit would not be a legal marriage ; Aie replied that this was contraly to what they had taught her, would (he not go to br 11 if Aie did fo ? They faid, that on this extraordinary cafe, it would be right, that they muft ufr every means to fubdue the devil, the world and the flem, and to fupport and increafe the kingdom of God. She alfo faid, that Aie did not like the man "whom they were forcing her to marry, and rather than he compelled to marry a man fhe did not lovr, Aie made her efcape and came to her father. J'alfo latelv converfed with another woinai, who hid been 3 years with the Ankers. She fys, tha they hold it to be right to tell lie j to the men of the worH ; that thry ought. to take every method in the Conpafs of their power, to fubJue the devil and the world, and build up the kingdom of GoJ ; Aie alfo told me tinny other things, but in fubfHnee the fme at already mentioned e t"U by others. - O le of the a f.-, ref iid men, whfe teAImor.y 1 have nrntiond 'alt early, told me fince, tint he nw ronfideraMe number of wo-r,-n i f Mcr Divjd's hidjin::, dunking wine v:rv frcelv. lie then thot that this was
the way his hard labor was going, h therefore left them. I was lately converfing with a Aiaker who denied that their leaders were living in luxury. It is generally granted, that they are learned, cunning, artful men. Can it be fuppofed that they have no defign in forming fuch a wonderful money making machine, without fome way to lay it out or to 'make ufe of it? The Aiakers ridicule the biAiops of the church of England as mercenary creatures, or worldlings, who take fo much for their preaching. If the biAiops of the church of England, by receiving the tenth part of their peoples' labor can raife futh immenfe fums of money, what mull David Durrow raife now, and as Aiakerifm increafes, who receives the whole of the labor of his fubjects ; and not only that, but alfo all that tfecy or their anceAorsever had made ; for they muft bring all with them, to be given up to pope David and his cardinals, with the additional benefit that is, that they have no children to maintain. Since they fettled in the.weftern country, a Aiaker woman has rarely been fern to fuckle a child ; if they beget children, they put them out of the way, or by fome' means prevent propagation ; becaufe this would be an injuiy to their money imking plan. Cm it be fuppofed that all their money is defigned only for the fupport of their riding minifters, who deceitfully live low when they are travelling about making profelytes ? If the leading Ankers do not intend to live fumptuouAy on their money, they muA have fomething worfe in view ; that is, to col. left a fund in order to raife and pay an army of torits whenever an opportunity offers. I believe they have both thefe ends in view and that the leading Aiakers live in luxury in wine and women as far their plan of fecrecy will admit of. The Aiakers pay their fine rather than attend mutters ; they pietend it is aginft their conscience to fight 1 believe it is againft their principles to lift arms or to do any thing in favor of American liberty ; it is evident that elder David is a defpot, that his fuhjefts yield implicit obedience, and when he fays fight, it may alter the cafe. When they fii ft came among us, they put on the appearance of a .very bumble fort of people, they would cifcourfe delightfully with thofe they were endea voting to profclyte to their fcheme, on the beauty of holinefsand perfection ; and would tell them without thefe, none can fee the kingdom of God, that they had done very well lb far ; but muft go farther, thu they could not be freed from fin in the difpenfation they were now in ; but if they would only confefs their fins to them Sc receive their teftimony they ftiould furely be faved from fin, Sc get fully into the kingdom of God. They would exprefs this in fuch terms as to make the profelytes believe that they fijnuld be immediately freed from fin, and they fiiould receive heaven and perfect happinefs as loon as they received their teAimony ; but afterwards, when the profrly trs cnu plained that they were not free from fin according to their expectation, but were in greater bondage ard diftrefs than before ; the Aiakers would tell them that hey are not to receive this Inppinefs and deliverance immediately, that it muft be procured by their own fuffrrinjrs. This they ftate in fuch a way that their deliverance and happinefs are always prnffvetive. They tdl :hsfc who arr fully under their
yoke, that they rouft fuflfcr on till death Their fufferings among the lower clafs, arc chiefly hard labor and Iqvf living. It is a fentiment among the Aiakers, that it is a fure fymptom of a hypocrite to die in peace, or to rejoice in their laft moments, that the true chnllian muft fufFer until the laft, and, die in deep diftrefs. The injury that Aakerifm has done, or may yet do to religion, 1 leave for the minifters of the gofpel to enquire into ; I fprak of it as a political evil, under the pretext of divine worAiip I appeal to my fellow citizens who live near the Aiakers, if they do not know or believe a confiderable part of what I have written to be true. Every one who believes the above ftatements and teftimony, muftfee that Aiakerifm is in every refpect drftructive to mankind, to foul and body, church Sc Hate. Since I publiAied the piece on Aiakerifm in the public newfpaper, I hear that a Aiaker has poffitively and vehemently aflertcd that he will fue me at the civil law. But I fear he dare not do it. I do not think they want Aiakerifm inveftigated ; it cannot bear the, light. If they would only proceed in$ this way, I apprehend the world would then have a clearer difcovery of the dangerous and treafonous nature of Aiakerifm, than by any thing contained in this pamphlet.
SCRAPS. Th ree hundred houf'S were on the 9th of May deftroyed at Gewbaufel, in Hungary, by the explofion of a powder magazine. Eeighty perfons loft their lives, and near two hundred were dug out of the ruins alive, but mutilated and dreadfully bruifed. In the late entertainment given by the city of Paris to their majrfties, the Orchef. tre in the dancing hall contained 300 muficians. ' The prire of Spanifii wool in England, is fifteen Aiillingsper pound. It takes two pounds of wool to make a yard of cloth at thirty eight (billing per yard, right AiiN lings only for profit, and the expence of manufacture. When Bonaparte and the emprefs lately vifited Antwerp, a committee of merchants waited on him with a reprefentation and petition rrfprcting property under fi-nueAra-tion. After reading the reprefentation, it is fud, he replied : I am willing to treat with America, but 1 expect Aie will do fomething for me."
There feerrs to have been a very unequal diAribution of wives among the. Bonaparte family. Jerome Ins had two, Napoleon two and half, and Louis but half a one.
LAST NOTICE.
ALL perfons indebted to the lubferiber by bond, note, or book account are delired to come forward and fettle up their refpective balances bv the 1ft dyof Octo-
ber next, as 1 expert to leave the territory
about that tim ihnfi- hivi
counts are particularly requefted to come forward and at leaft guc their notes as no longer indulgence will be piven. hut fuits
indiicrimiuatrly commenced arjamft all who nrglea thi rmtirr All perfons having demands againlt me will pleafc call and rcceivc their dues. Thomas J ones.
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