that country, was first instigated by the principal leaders of a class of people who had styled themselves Christians, in contradistinction to all others who professed that name, under different denominations. Some of these had been distinguished leaders in the late revival; but instead of advancing forward into that increasing work, to which the spirit of the revival had so powerfully directed them, they had set themselves to building up tabernacles on that illuminated ground, which had been so eminently distinguished by the light of the revival. Having devised a plan, embracing a universal system of religion, which was to blend all denominations into one, and in which they doubtless expected to hold a preeminent rank, they had assumed the christian name, as an appropriate title to their profession.

But when they perceived by the spirit of the present testimony, that instead of ruling in earthly tabernacles, on a mount of eminence, and wielding the banners of a universal religion, they must descend into the valley of humiliation, and humble themselves on a level with the people over whom they had before presided, confess their sins in the presence of those whom they had considered as greatly their inferiors, and take up a final cross against "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life," and thus renounce forever these most darling pleasures of nature, they flinched from the dreadful undertaking, and chose rather to forego the answer of their former prayers for Christ's Kingdom to come, than to enjoy its blessings at such a killing sacrifice.

Hence, after rejecting so great light, they became the foremost in opposition, and exerted all their influence to prejudice the minds of their hearers, and excite them to acts of violence. In this they were but too successful, especially with those who were determined to have the pleasures of a carnal nature at the risk of their eternal salvation; and hence arose those scenes of opposition and persecution which followed. These scenes began by opposing, molesting and disturbing the believers, in their testimony and worship, by various kinds of mockery, railing and cursing, by threatening, pushing, collaring, and other acts of personal abuse and insult.

From these things they proceeded to more extensive acts of violence and injury, both of a public and private nature; such as besetting their houses in the night, breaking their windows, assaulting their persons with clubs and stones, beating and abusing their bodies, throwing down their fences in the night, and turning in cattle to destroy their grain, cutting and mangling their fruit trees, cropping and disfiguring their horses, and what seemed still more malicious, burning their place of worship, and also their barns and stables, which contained their stores of hay and grain.

These violent and lawless abuses being found insufficient to ex

terminate the society, or to suppress their testimony, more deliberate and more extensive measures were adopted. Legal prosecutions were instituted upon the most frivolous pretences; petitions were drawn up, subscribed and laid before the legislature; and finally, to insure success to their measures, subcription papers, accompanied by malicious reports, and enforced by inflammatory speeches, were industriously circulated through the country, with a view to raise forces sufficient to expel the believers from the country, and thereby effectually to suppress the hated religion and its galling testimony. The minds of the inhabitants being thus instigated and prepared, it required no legal authority to raise forces sufficient, in their opinion, to accomplish their object.

Accordingly, on the 27th of August, 1810, a body of five hundred armed men, led on by officers in military array, appeared before the principal dwelling of the Society in Union Village. This formidable force was preceded and followed by a large concourse of spectators, of all descriptions of people, estimated at nearly 2000 in number,* whose object was to witness the mighty conflict, expected to take place, between a body of 500 armed men, and a few harmless and defenceless Shakers. Among this great concourse were many who were friendly to the Society, and whose only wish was to prevent mischief and preserve peace; but the far greatest majority were either entire strangers or decided enemies, who came to support the military in case of necessity. Many of these were armed in mob array, some with guns and swords, some with bayonets fixed on poles or sticks of various lengths, and others with staves, hatchets, knives and clubs. These formed a motly multitude of every description, from ragged boys to hoary headed men, exhibiting altogether a hideous and grotesque appearance.

But notwithstanding all these threatening and warlike appearances, no confusion appeared among the believers through the day; but they remained calm, peaceable and undismayed, and attended to their usual occupations with as much regularity as the confused circumstances of the day would permit.

This motly multitude having collected, and the troops having taken their station near the meeting-house, a deputation of 12 men came forward, headed by a presbyterian preacher; and after making a number of unreasonable and inconsistent demands, (demands with which the leaders of the Society had neither power nor authority to comply,) they proceeded to state, as the principal requisition of this extraordinary concourse of armed men, that the Society should relinquish their principles and practice, their public testimony, mode of worship and manner of living, or quit the coun

*Some supposed the number to exceed 2000, exclusive of the military force.

Matthew G. Wallace, who acted as chief speaker, and appeared to be the organ of this mighty army.

H

try. These extraordinary demands were accompanied with threats of violence in case of refusal.

The answer of the Society was calm and mild, but plain and positive: That they esteemed their faith in the gospel dearer than their lives, and were therefore determined to maintain it, whatever they might suffer as the consequence; and as to quitting the country, they were upon their own possessions, which they had purchased with their own money, and for which they were indebted to no man; that they held no man's property, and therefore had a just right to the peaceable enjoyment of their own possessions, in a free country, and were entitled to those liberties granted by the laws of their country, including the liberty of conscience.

It cannot reasonably be supposed that such an extraordinary assemblage of men, in hostile array, could have been mustered on such an occasion, had they all been personally acquainted with the believers. But many of them, having probably never seen a Shaker, had been influenced by false reports, inflammatory speeches and publications of evil minded men; some of the most malicious and influential of whom were professed preachers of the gospel; and the more ignorant part being called out by their officers, to crush a growing society of people, whom they verily supposed were more inhuman than the savages of the wilderness, and whose religion they had been taught to believe was far more dangerous than popery or mahometanism, they readily complied with the call. And unfortunately for the honor of civilized society, there are generally many found in it, who are always ready to assist in any riotous proceedings, whenever occasion offers.

But many who came armed, were astonishingly disappointed when they found that they had no occasion for arms, as they found no enemy to combat. The calm, peaceable and harmless deportment of the believers, together with the expostulations of a few respectable individuals who were friendly to the Society; and the freedom shown, and liberty given to examine the youth and children, reported to be held in bondage; the orderly and flourishing appearance of their school; the marks of contentment visible in the countenances of the children, and the decent and orderly appearance of every thing around them, all conspired to change the sentiments and feelings of these vindictive warriors to such a degree, that they all withdrew without committing any abuse, or occasioning any contention, except among themselves.*

The enemies of truth being thus defeated in this bold and formidable enterprize, renewed their exertions to inflame the public mind, and effect the destruction of the Society. But in consequence of an increasing acquaintance of the inhabitants with the people of

We have given only the outlines of these transactions; our limits will not permit us to be more particular.

this Society, by which their lives and manners became more generally known, together with some signal instances of the interposition of Divine Providence in their favor, the malicious efforts of their enemies became, by degrees, less successful. For there are but few, in the present day, who are willing to persecute an honest people for their religion, when once their real sentiments are well known; and, unhappily, those few are generally found among the most bigoted professors of some false religion: for true religion never produced any persecutors. But, unfortunately, there are many inconsiderate mortals to be found in every civilized country, who, having no principle of their own, readily become the dupes of designing bigots, and by them are often urged to acts of violence which would put even savages to shame.

These persecutions in the western states, produced inquiry and personal examination, which generally led to a knowledge of the truth: consequently the testimony of truth prevailed, and believers were multiplied. People of all classes, and various denominations, the high and the low, the rich and the poor flocked together, and seemed equally anxious to hear the testimony and become partakers of the way of life and salvation. In various places the preachers and their people, with equal zeal, embraced the testimony and took up their crosses; and among the great numbers who set out to walk in the narrow way, were many respectable characters of different denominations.

The testimony has mostly prevailed in the states of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, where Societies have been established. There are at present, five Societies in these three states. But many from other states have embraced the testimony, moved in, and become members of these Societies. There are two Societies in the state of Ohio; one at Union Village, in the county of Warren, about four miles west from the village of Lebanon, and 30 north by east from Cincinnati. This is the oldest and largest Society in the western states, and contains nearly 600 members. The other is at Watervliet, on Beaver Creek, in the county of. Montgomery, about 22 miles north from Union Village, and 6 southeast from Dayton, which contains about 100 members.

There are also two in Kentucky; one at Pleasant Hill, in Mercer county, about 7 miles easterly from Harodsburg, and 21 southwesterly from Lexington, which contains between 4 and 500 members. The other is at South Union, Jasper Springs, in Logan county, about 15 miles northeasterly from Russellville, and contains between 3 and 400 members. The fifth and last is at West Union, Knox county, in the state of Indiana. It is situated on Busseron Creek, near its confluence with the Wabash, about 16 miles above Vincennes, and contains upwards of 200 members. There are also numbers in various parts of the United States, who

have embraced the faith of the Society, but whose circumstances have not, as yet, admitted of their being gathered into a regular body.

The number of believers contained in all the Societies, both in the eastern and western states, exceeds 4000. Two thirds, at least, of this number have been added since the commencement of the present century; and the number is gradually increasing.* Most of the Societies contain a number of large families; and each family is accommodated with one or more large and convenient dwelling-houses, and with shops and out-houses, for the convenience of carrying on the various branches of business pursued by the family. There is also, in each Society, a house for public worship, and an office or offices for the transaction of public busi

ness.

The principal employments of the people are agriculture, horticulture, and the various branches of domestic manufacture; of course the principal articles of consumption among them, are mostly of their own produce and manufacture; and their various mechanical branches furnish a variety of articles for market.

Temperance and chastity, plainness and simplicity, neatness, industry and good economy, are among those virtuous principles which actuate the people of the United Society, in all their temporal concerns, and which tend greatly to promote the health and prosperity of the Society, and insure the blessings of Divine Providence upon all their labors. And it is found by many years experience, that this manner of life is more conducive to the general health of the body, than any other with which we are acquainted; and this experience has also proved, that fewer deaths have occur red in the Society, since its establishment, in proportion to the

*

We are far from feeling a disposition to proclaim our numbers to the world; but the inquiries which are continually made by strangers, to ascertain our numbers, and the local situation of the different Societies in our communion, have induced us to give a statement of these particulars. We are, as yet, but a small people, and few in number, compared with the vast multitudes enrolled in the catalogues of other denominations; but when we consider the testimony of Jesus Christ, that, "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto "life, and few there be that find it," we cannot but feel a sense of thankfulness for that mercy of God, which has called us to be numbered with the chosen few; and to us it is a matter of more importance to increase in the principles of peace and righteousness, than to increase in numbers. Yet we feel a firm reliance upon the promises of God, by the mouth of his prophets: "I will multiply them and they "shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be "small. A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong "nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time." See Isa, Ix. 22, and Jer. xxx. 19.