The A to Z of the Shakers (Volume 106) (The A to Z Guide Series, 106)

The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, commonly known as the Shakers, followed Mother Ann Lee to the United States in 1774 when life in England became difficult. In the United States, they established several colonies whose governing principals included celibacy and agrarian communal living. Even at its peak, however, Shakerism claimed only about 4,500 members. Today, except for one active community in Sabbathday, Maine, the great Shaker villages are diminished, but the Shakers left an enduring impact on the religion and culture of the United States. The A to Z of the Shakers relates the history of this fascinating group through a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and over 200 cross-referenced dictionary entries on Shaker communities, industries, individual families, and important people. Every definition, biography, and point of history was submitted to the Shakers at Sabbathday Lake for their review before it was included for publication. As such, the voice of the contemporary Shakers is found in the dictionary, and they have given it their unequivocal endorsement. "The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, commonly known as the Shakers, followed Mother Ann Lee to the United States in 1774 when life in England became too difficult. Here they established several colonies whose governing principles included celibacy and agrarian communal living. Even at its peak, however, Shakerism claimed only about 4,500 members. Today, except for one active community in Sabbathday Lake, Maine, the great villages are diminished, but the Shakers made an enduring impact on the religion and culture of the United States." "The A to Z of the Shakers relates the history of this fascinating group through a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and more than 200 cross-referenced dictionary entries on Shaker communities, industries, individual families, and important people. Every definition, biography, and point of history was submitted to the Shakers at Sabbathday Lake for their review before being included for publication. As such, the voice of contemporary Shakers is found in this dictionary, and they have given it their unequivocal endorsement."--BOOK JACKET Contents......Page 12 Editor’s Foreword......Page 14 Endorsement......Page 16 Preface......Page 18 Chronology......Page 20 Introduction......Page 28 The Dictionary......Page 46 Appendix A: List of Those Who Served in the Gospel Ministry......Page 300 Appendix B: Covenant or Constitution of the Church of the United Society in the Town of New Gloucester, 3 December 1832......Page 307 Appendix C: Conditional, Probationary, or Novitiate Covenant......Page 321 Appendix D: Current Rules Governing How the Shakers Live......Page 323 Appendix E: Daily Schedule of a Shaker......Page 334 Appendix F: Format of a Shaker Worship Service......Page 336 Bibliography......Page 338 About the Author......Page 371