■ •^i.n, 
 
 ^ PRINCETON, N. J. *^ 
 
 BX 9793 .E8 W44 1893 
 White, Anna, 1831-1910, 
 Affectionately inscribed to 
 the memory of Elder 
 
 ^\i "T''^\.'%? r-*^ryr.."^:5\*^V'^^l??r' * ^^?*Ar:^s? >3. Wa.- 
 
^^^JjLU^ il^ OtX^L-444 
 
AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED 
 
 TO -THE MEMORY OF 
 
 Elder Frederic W. Evans, 
 
 Loving and Devoted Gospel Friends. 
 
 High up on the mountain transfigured he stood, 
 Who gave his great soul for humanity's good, 
 And sealed his grand work against sin's mighty flood, 
 While his soul saw the truth marching on. 
 
 PITTSFIELD, MASS. 
 PRESS OK THE EAGLE PUBLISHING CO. 
 
 1893. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 *• Light is sown for the righteous." 
 
 An adulterous generation could not perceive that they 
 who do the will of the Heavenly Parents constitute the 
 soul's nearest kindred, any more than they can compre- 
 hend that he who hates or oppresses is a murderer. 
 
 In presenting this collection of heart tokens, which were 
 originally intended only for the sacred area of our home, 
 the public are taken into confidence as friends. 
 
 ~ We are inspired with the hope that the book will not 
 only display sheaves and fruit of rich harvest sown beside 
 all waters, but that it will set forth the character of our 
 noble chieftain who from youth was a most ardent, persis- 
 tent truth disseminator, also, that it will especially shed 
 some gleams on the inner spiritual life which is the growth 
 of the command " that ye love one another," a growth so 
 nurtured that the promise of "an hundred fold" is fulfilled 
 now in this life, and the certainty of realizing an enduring 
 relationship is demonstrated. We who have attained this 
 bond by one faith and baptism, know how to dwell to- 
 gether in unity and to concentrate forces when 
 
 *' From love's shining circle the gems drop away." 
 The natural selfish mind would plead, Why wish to in- 
 crease the numbers, at the risk of admitting adverse ele- 
 ments ? Why not enjoy a little heaven while Hfe lasts ? The 
 feast has long been prepared ; the many denominations 
 have been invited but were engaged in schemes for worldly 
 possessions and prayed to be excused, or were ensnared 
 
4 Introduction. 
 
 in the meshes of generation and therefore ''could not 
 come " 
 
 Yet our prophetic vision can see the day of the deliver- 
 ance of the nations, and we hear the call to preach the 
 higher law unto the ends of the earth. We would go into 
 the highways of advanced thought, and into the hedges of 
 wise conservatism to find the poor in spirit, who are pil- 
 grims and strangers in the land of their inheritance, who 
 will not "follow the multitude to do evil," to them we 
 would convey the invitation of the Spirit and the Bride. 
 
 We would visit the widow and the fatherless, those types 
 of the helpless who are robbed of the care and protection 
 that insures individual development. To slaves and 
 captives of every degree, we would proclaim " glad tidings 
 of great joy," that they might lift up their eyes to the hills 
 from whence help cometh, and with the rapturous song of 
 the homeward bound, 
 
 ** Fly as a bird to her mountain. " 
 
 That mountain may not be the heights of Zion ; but 
 every movement onward and upward, in any direction, is 
 toward the subUme altitudes of God's redeeming truth. 
 
 Elder Frederic belonged to that devoted far-seeing band 
 — the original Land Reformers — whose simple and just 
 system would have saved the Republic from its present 
 complicated and degraded condition. His loss to them 
 seemed great, but he kept their banner waving, and none 
 of his compeers who Hved to be old men did more or better 
 work for the race. 
 
OBITUARY. 
 
 As published in the Berkshire Comity Eag/e, Fittsfield, Mass. 
 
 ELDER EVANS' LIFE. 
 
 A Biographical Sketch of a Remarkable Career. 
 
 Passed to spirit life, March d, 1893, Elder F. W. Evans 
 of Mount Lebanon, Columbia County, N. Y., in the 85th 
 year of his age, without sickness and without pain. 
 
 -The North Family at Mount Lebanon, where Elder 
 Frederic had remained for 63 years, may never produce a 
 more remarkable or notable character. He presided as 
 elder of said family for 57 years and until last November. 
 Some years ago by invitation of a friend, he wrote his auto- 
 biography for the Atlantic Monthly. This article was 
 afterwards republished with a compilation of other articles 
 relating to Shakerism, in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1888. in a 
 book of 270 pages, under the title of "The Autobiography 
 of a Shaker." From this book we quote the following : 
 
 "I see great importance in a principle —very little in an individual. 
 Not of myself should I write of myself, but in the hope that others may 
 be advantaged thereby, I acquiesce in the foregoing suggestion. I 
 have always lived much in the future, yet my present life has been a 
 practical success ; while my work has ever been before me, my reward 
 has always been with me. I am satisfied with the continued realiza- 
 tions of the prophetical spirit within — of the abstract principles that 
 have been my inner life. 
 
 '* My father's family were of the middle class in England. They were 
 long lived, my grandmother reaching the advanced age of 104 years, 
 
6 Obituary. 
 
 and my grandfather approaching lOo. My father, George Evans, was 
 the youngest of 12 children and died comparatively young. He was 
 sent into the English army ; was under Sir Ralph Abercrombie in the 
 Egyptian expedition, co-operating with the fleet under Nelson, and 
 held a commission in the service. My mother was of a class a little 
 above, so that the marriage caused a perpetual breach between the two 
 families. Her name was Sarah White. T was born in Leominster, 
 Worcestershire, England, on the 9th of June, 1808. The first fact 
 that I can remember may be of some interest to the student in anthro- 
 pology. When I came of age, and on my return to England in 1830, I 
 was relating to an aunt on my father's side, whom I had never before 
 seen, that I had always stored up m my memory one thing which I could 
 not account for ; I could remember nothing before or after it to give it 
 a meaning, and none of my mother's rela'ives knew anything about it. 
 I saw the inside of a coach, and was handed out of it from a woman's 
 arms into those of some other person. My aunt was utterly astonished 
 and stated that my mother was coming down from London to Birming- 
 ham, when I was not more than six months old, that something hap- 
 pened to the horses which frightened the party badly, and that I was 
 handed out (just as I had seen and remembered) by my mother into 
 the arms of another person. 
 
 '' When I was four years of age, my mother died and I was thrown 
 among her relatives, who sent me to school at Stourbridge, where there 
 were some 200 scholars ; and the position the master assigned me was 
 that of the poorest scholar in the school, which effected my release 
 from the school room, to my great satisfaction and peace of mind ; for 
 if there was one thing more than another that I hated, it was school 
 books and an English school master with his flogging proclivities. I 
 was then about eight years old." 
 
 He then gives an interesting account of how he was cast 
 among his uncles and aunts ; of the farm hfe at Chadwick 
 Hall and how he rebelled at being educated; of his father 
 and brother visiting him and his choice to go with them to 
 America, when 12 years old. He describes his brother 
 George H. Evans, the great land reformer and associate of 
 Horace Greeley, and his home at Binghampton, N. Y., 
 
Obituary. 7 
 
 where an aunt of his made the remarkable prophecy that of 
 all the young people belonging to the three families of his 
 father and his uncles, Frederic, though then a black sheep 
 among them, *' would yet occupy the most desirable posi- 
 tion in life," which came to pass. He goes on to say : 
 
 "I now took a sudden turn in respect to books and learning. I saw 
 that knowledge was not only power, but that it was also respect aad 
 consideration. I made up my mind that I would learn to read and 
 love to read. My first dose was the * Life of Nelson,' then I set my- 
 self to reading the Bible through by course ; and I did it. And here I 
 made a discovery (or i-ather my friends did), that my memory was so 
 retentive that whatever I read was, as it were, pictured on my brain. 
 I had only to look at the picture to see it in all its minutest particulars 
 without any effort. And (as Lincoln would say) this reminds me of 
 what a woman I met on a Hudson river boat said : that in coming from 
 California, she was nearly drowned, but before consciousness was gone, 
 all the sins of her life were present to her view ; not one, however small, 
 was missing. 
 
 "I next went to Ithaca and put myself to school to an Episcopal 
 minister, who proved a real friend. One of his first lessons was to 
 teach me how to think. He had only a dozen scholars and we were all 
 well attended to. I became with him a great favorite, and the times of 
 intermission were largely devoted to my special instruction and benefit. 
 At parting, he advised me "always so to live that I could respect myself, " 
 and that has ever since been my life motto. Next, I apprenticed my- 
 self at Sherburne Four Corners, N, Y., to learn the hatting business. 
 There, I had access to a library of valuable books, and I took to read- 
 ing • Rollius, Ancient History,' 'Plutarch's Lives of Great Men,' the 
 'Tattler' and the 'Spectator,' and Zimmerman, Shakespeare, Watts, 
 Young, Thomson, Socrates and Plato. I also took up theology and 
 asked myself, why was I a Christian, and not a Mahometan, or a fol- 
 lower of Confucius? for I had read the Koran and the Bibles of all 
 peoples that I could obtain. I read Locke * On the Human Under- 
 standing,' and ' The Being of a God.' This laid in me the foundation 
 of materialism. For I came to the conclusion that matter was eternal, 
 had never been created, Thomas Paine's ' Crisis ' and ' Rights of 
 Man,' together with Volney and Voltaire, were also among my friends. 
 
8 Obituary. 
 
 " I became a settled and j&rm materialist — a believer in matter, as I 
 then understood it, the object of my external senses j for I did not then 
 know that I had any other senses. This continued to be my condition 
 until I met with the Shakers, some five years afterwards. I possessed 
 this one great advantage, that what I did believe was true, however 
 much there might be true that I did not believe." 
 
 In the following chapters, Elder Frederic tells of his 
 conversion to the socialistic theories of Robert Owen and 
 to communism, and of his visit to a community of this kind 
 at Massilon, Ohio. On this journey to the West, he trav- 
 elled mostly on foot in preference to any other way, walk- 
 ing sometimes 40 miles a day. In 1829 he returned to 
 England, where he remained about a year. He then came 
 back to New York and assisted his brother George H. 
 Evans and others in perfecting plans for a new community, 
 and was deputed to travel for information and to find a 
 suitable location in which to start. 
 
 "At this time we had in New York," he says, "a Hall 
 of Science, and Robert Dale Owen and Fanny Wright were 
 among its great lights." 
 
 In the year 1830, he called to see the United Society of 
 Believers at Mount Lebanon, and was directed to the 
 North House, as the proper place for inquirers. Here he 
 was agreeably surprised and impressed by the air of candor 
 and openness and the' quiet self repose with which he was 
 met. After a week's inquiry he pronounced the Shakers a 
 society of infidels, and declared that it was the first time he 
 had found religionists who were also rationalists, ready to 
 render a reason for the faith and hope that were in them. 
 He further says : 
 
 * * The Shakers prayed for me and I was met in my own path by 
 spiritual manifestations during several weeks, until my reason was as 
 entirely convinced by the evidence I received of the existence of a spirit 
 
Obituary. 9 
 
 world, as I am by evidence presented to my outer senses, of the exist- 
 ence of our material earth. 
 
 •'After three months absence, I returned to New York, to face for 
 the first time my astounded materialistic friends, to whom a more 
 incomprehensible change could not have happened than my apparent 
 defection from their ranks. As soon as my arrival in the city was 
 known, there was a gathering at my brother's office. The room was well 
 filled ; many older than myself, to whom I had looked as my superiors 
 in knowledge and experience, were present. At first there was a little 
 disposition shown by a few to be querulous and bantering, while the 
 greater part took it as a serious matter to be righted by solid argument. 
 
 *' I called the attention of the company, and inquired whether any of 
 them wished to give me any information concerning materialism — its 
 principles? All said, 'No! yon do not need it.' I then inquired if 
 any one present was acquainted with Shakerism ? and again the answer 
 was ' No !' Then, gentlemen, I rejoined, it is for you to listen and for 
 me to speak. And I did speak ; and gave them as simple an account 
 of my experience thus far as I was able. 
 
 ' ' I also had a separate interview with Robert Dale Owen at the 
 Hall of Science. At its close he remarked : ' I will come up to New 
 Lebanon and stay two months, and if I find things as they novv appear 
 I will become a Shaker. ' I still await his arrival. In course of time 
 all of them became Spiritualists. Who sowed the seed ? 
 
 " I joined myself to the order and became a Shaker. I have now 
 (1868) had 38 years' experience and feci satisfied with the goodness of 
 God and his people to me. I have gained a degree of victory over self 
 which causes my peace to flow as a river, and which fills me with sym- 
 pathy for all seekers after truth and righteousness, whoever and wher- 
 ever they may be." 
 
 In the transition of Elder Frederic, ends tlie career of 
 a prophetic, inspirational, spiritual man of God — a man, as 
 a dear friend lately expressed it, who always found the seed 
 that grows the broad leafed and glowing tasseled flower. In 
 his public capacity as a minister of the gospel of Christ in 
 His second appearing he was equalled by none. Twice he 
 has been on a missionary trip to England, in 1871 and 
 
10 Obituary. 
 
 again in 1887, the last time visiting Scotland also. Upon 
 both occasions he was accompanied by our friend and 
 brother, James M. Peebles, M. D., the " Spiritual Pilgrim" 
 for whom he entertained the warmest sympathy and love. 
 
 Physically, Elder Frederic was strong and vigorous, and 
 remarkably well preserved for one so advanced in age. 
 This condition may be measurably attributed to his hygi- 
 enic manner of living, having been a vegetarian for about 
 60 years, and to his regular and systematic habits. 
 
 With a nature susceptible to the weal or woe of mankind, 
 a heart full of love, compassion and charity, and a soul 
 redeemed from the lusts of the flesh and of the mind and 
 made clean and white, he could the more readily perceive 
 how to reach the hearts of the people and make them feel 
 the truth for which he pleaded. His plain, straightforward 
 arguments could not well be disputed, and if they were, 
 discussion of some length was sure to follow. Tenacity for 
 the right, as he saw it, was a prominent feature in his char- 
 acter, and so clearly was it defined to him that he would 
 fain have every one believe as he believed. Happily his 
 faith was founded on the truth, based upon the rock of 
 divine revelation. Many a time-worn, weary traveller has 
 stopped amid the fevered heat and rush and wrangling of 
 the surging crowd, to drink of the cup and to eat of the tes- 
 timony of truth, of which he was an exponent, till it became 
 their life, even as it was his. It was his meat to do the 
 will of his Heavenly Father, and his drink to feel the love 
 of his Heavenly Mother. This was his treasure, and for it 
 he sacrificed worldly honor, fame and renown. 
 
 His many friends in the outside world will miss the noble 
 form, the kindly face and the proffered hand of the grand 
 old man. As a reformer among reformers, he saw afar off 
 
Obituary. 11 
 
 the danger signal and promptly gave the alarm. He led 
 the opposition to the Sunday closing of the world's fair and 
 was emphatic upon the separation of church and state, and 
 not less so in demanding equity as the only solution of the 
 labor problem. The leading topics of the day in the world 
 of social and political thought constantly occupied his mind 
 and moved his pen. A few days before passing out, he 
 made these remarks: "We are living in a world of ideas. 
 Napoleon said in his day the next war would be a war of 
 ideas ; how much more does it apply lo this, our day ! " 
 
 To the Society of Believers, he was a watchman on the 
 tower of Zion, one of her main standard bearers and a 
 mouth piece from which issued words of eternal truth. To 
 his own home and family he was strongly attached and the 
 attachment, was mutual. We loved him as our father; he 
 loved us as his children. We saw in him a life hid with 
 Christ in God, a life made manifest by good deeds, a life 
 ever green, even as the groves about our home which he 
 planted, trimmed and cultivated with his own hands. 
 
 And now "the silver cord is loosed and the golden bowl 
 is broken at the cistern and the pitcher broken at the foun- 
 tain." The spirit will not only return to God, who gave it, 
 but also to his own, and his own will receive him and know 
 him ; for is he not now, as always, a ministering angel, sent 
 to us who shall be the heirs of salvation. 
 
 The spirit of prophecy was upon him to the end. At 
 times during his last hours, he sung parts of the following 
 verses, which he wrote and published in "7//<? Shaker^^ 
 when he was editing that publication about twenty years 
 ago under the unpretentious title : 
 
12 Obituary; 
 
 UNBORN POETRY. 
 
 ( There is a river that makes glad the city of our God. ) 
 Passing over the river is not to die 
 With outstretched limbs in state to lie, 
 For as a man thinketh so is he, 
 In time or in eternity. 
 
 To die is a change that none forego. 
 
 The peasant, the king, the friend and foe. 
 
 Go hastening on in weal and woe. 
 
 To the land of ghosts which none may know. 
 
 Know as we know the things of earth, 
 In manhood, youth, and back to birth, 
 Mystery of mysteries from the beginning ! 
 Why do we live ? love ? Why keep on sinning ? 
 Where did we come from? Whither go we. 
 Men, women, and children, bond and free? 
 
 To die is not to pass over the river, 
 For still we live, live on forever. 
 But there is a river that's never dry, 
 That none may pass over until they die. 
 Die to the life that reproduces 
 The race of man without abuses. 
 
 The end has come, the summer has ended, 
 The harvester death, with life is blended. 
 Life — eternal life, from the throne of God, 
 The Lamb was the first, the first who trod 
 The banks of that river — the river of God. 
 
 A. W. 
 
FUNERAL SERVICES OF 
 
 Elder FREDERIC W.EVANS, 
 
 Who passed into spirit life on the morning of March 6th, 
 
 1893. Held Thursday, March 9th, at i p. m., in 
 
 the Meeting House at Mount Lebanon, in the 
 
 presence of a goodly assemblage of 
 
 Believers and Friends. 
 
 Elder Daniel Offord opened the meeting by saying : 
 
 •'It is with mingled feelings of pleasure and regret that 
 we have met here this afternoon. The occasion is not one 
 of deep grief. We mourn not as the world mourn, neither 
 do we sorrow as those without hope, nor array ourselves in 
 the habiliments of woe, to express the impenetrable gloom 
 of the mystery of Providence. 
 
 " We have a cheerful faith in immortality, hence the 
 copious flow of tears, and the comfortless wail of woe are 
 absent from our midst ; we deem death but a pleasant tran- 
 sition from an imperfect to a more glorious state. 
 
 "When one whose days have been wisely spent and 
 whose life is full of good fruit has lived to a ripe old age, 
 he lays the worn-out casket by, and passes over the thresh- 
 old into the glorious expanse of continued existence, un- 
 trammelled and free, and we deem it a change for the better 
 that shall bring to the spirit greater unfoldment and unal- 
 loyed happiness. This is certainly true of our good father 
 who has recently passed within the veil. We have 
 assembled to do honor to his blessed memory, and as 
 brethren and sisters of the household of faith, bound to- 
 
14 Funeral Services. 
 
 gether by the bonds of spiritual union, let us exercise free- 
 dom of spirit and fullness of expression in our meeting." 
 
 At the close of these introductory remarks, the opening 
 hymn, by Elder Abraham Perkins, was sung with much 
 feeling. 
 
 KINGDOM OF GLORY. 
 
 To the clime, the bright home of my fathers 
 
 My soul is attractively drawn, 
 I would dwell in the midst of those arbors, 
 
 Where angels harmoniously roam. 
 Away on those evergreen shores 
 
 Whose banks are enchantingly dressed. 
 With beautiful Paradise flowers, 
 
 O there let my spirit rest. 
 
 Away, not so far in that region. 
 
 In vision I view it at hand ; 
 And fain would I pluck those bright flowers 
 
 That bloom in that beautiful land. 
 A glimpse of the angels before me 
 
 Gives courage, — they beckon me on, 
 Hark ! list to their clarion voices, 
 
 Triumphing in victory's song. 
 
 They tell me that no voice of slander, 
 
 No hardness of feeling is there, 
 No tempest, no war cloud, no danger, 
 
 But heaven, all peaceful and fair. 
 They teach me the beauty of order, 
 
 The power of heaven's first law, 
 That all who aspire for that Kingdom, 
 
 From carnal affections withdraw. 
 
 That if we would have an alliance 
 
 With them in the bright world above,. 
 Our lives must be peaceful and pure. 
 
 Our element, union and love. 
 Pray ope heaven's portals still wider. 
 
 New life to the spirit impart, 
 That we may a closer communion 
 
 Enjoy with the pure in heart. 
 
Funeral Services. 15 
 
 Elder Daniel Offord then spoke as follows : 
 
 "Considering the object of our gathering, which is to 
 pay the last tribute of respect to our beloved father, it 
 would be well to state a few facts concerning his life — his- 
 tory and work. 
 
 "Elder Frederic was of English birth and parentage, and 
 he was endowed with the distinguishing characteristics and 
 traits of an Englishman. Indomitable will, perseverance, 
 persistency and a determination to carry out what he be- 
 lieved to be his duty to God and humanity, gave him great 
 force of character and made effective his efforts for good- 
 
 " He came to America when he was but twelve years of 
 age, and through the influence and labors of an older 
 brother — George H. Evans — was brought in contact with 
 many of the leading minds of the time, radical reformers 
 who were giving their services in various ways for the 
 amelioration of wrong conditions, and the uplifting of 
 humanity to higher planes of life. He became early embued 
 with the ccmmunistic spirit and was siill a young man when 
 in 1830 he visited the Shakers. Being materialistic in his 
 views, it required a demonstration of religion practically 
 worked out to convince him of its virtue or truth. He 
 found a people who were living to do good, who were 
 upright and pure in their lives, and honest in all their deal- 
 ings with mankind ; a real brotherhood and sisterhood 
 which, to his co-laborers had been but a dream. Not dog- 
 mas and creeds, but good works and the spirit of increase 
 and progress recommended the Order of Believers to him, 
 and he embraced the faith and life with ardor and sincerity 
 of purpose. He has always been a staunch and faithful 
 member of the society, and has promulgated its principles 
 with zeal and earnestness, through public speaking and 
 
16 Funeral Services. 
 
 writing, and through his ministrations in home life. He 
 was eminently practical and took great delight in horticul- 
 ture and many industries. 
 
 "Elder Frederic has been perhaps, the best known to 
 the public of any member of our Order. His .correspond- 
 ence has been extensive and his radical thoughts and ideas 
 have had a wide circulation. Prominent editors and their 
 patrons gave respectful notice to his utterances, even 
 though they were too far in advance of the present time. 
 He received papers from all parts of the world, and often 
 found his articles copied in their columns. So his truthful 
 messages have found their way to many homes and hearts, 
 and in the midst of the great Babylon of sin and confusion 
 many will rise up and call him blessed, declaring that the 
 world is to-day made better for the influence of so noble 
 and strong a character. 
 
 " Having great faith in spirit communion which was 
 gained through personal experience, he often remarked 
 that he was conscious of speaking to more souls out of than 
 in the body; he declared that many came to hear the truth 
 and became enlightened and were thus released from con- 
 ditions of darkness and bondage. 
 
 " Though the inclement weather has deterred many val- 
 ued friends from attending the funeral, whose presence 
 would have augmented our numbers, and whose kindly 
 feeling would have been greatly appreciated, ' yet without 
 doubt there are many unseen spirits here who are as inter- 
 ested as we are, and who have come to listen and to learn. 
 It will be an occasion of profit to us all. If our hearts are 
 open to receive the truth and we are susceptible to good 
 influences and ministrations, we shall be inspired with new 
 courage, and be lifted into new Hfe. 
 
Funeral Services. 17 
 
 " It was Elder Frederic's firm faith that the gospel would 
 increase, and it was a great source of pleasure to him to re- 
 count the many changes for the better that had taken place 
 among Believers. The last time we attended meeting here 
 he spoke with great force and clearness, and referred to the 
 unhygienic practices held to in years gone by; he was 
 thankful for the progress that had been made and he hoped 
 we were prepared for the new cycle of progress which 
 would bring a greater cross, and give the power for self- 
 denial and thus redeem from old habits and ways. 
 
 "Elder Frederic was a prophet in his time and many of 
 his prophecies have been fulfilled. He knew that certain 
 causes must produce certain effects, and it was his far- 
 reaching vision that helped him to thwart evil and to avert 
 danger and loss. His soul's interest centered in the eter- 
 nal good and welfare of the people of his choice, and his 
 large heart and lovmg sympathy embraced the great 
 brotherhood of man. 
 
 I trust we shall be benefitted by all that will be said and 
 sung this afternoon, and that we shall feel the inspiration of 
 the hour." 
 
 The following hymn, written expressly for the occasion 
 by Sister Martha J. Anderson, and set to music by Sister 
 Lucy S. Bowers, was then sung. 
 
 LOVE'S TRIBUTE. 
 
 The praise of heroes strong and brave 
 
 By ancient bards was sung. 
 Their valor and renown were heard 
 
 Extolled by every tongue. 
 Their brows were wreathed with chaplets fair, 
 
 With living laurels twined, 
 And in the temples of the great 
 
 Their memory was enshrined. 
 
18 Funeral Services. 
 
 Chorus — Now lofty strains our harps employ 
 While we love's tribute bring, 
 The true and good alone are great, 
 Their praises we will sing. 
 
 A noble champion of the truth 
 
 Has laid his armor by. 
 His glorious deeds will time outlast, 
 
 While earthly fame will die. 
 A pioneer with courage firm 
 
 He stood, where many failed, 
 And in the strength of righteousness 
 
 O'er error's host prevailed. — Cho. 
 
 His life in daily sacrifice 
 
 To Zion's cause he gave. 
 And sought through love and charity 
 
 Souls to uplift and save. 
 Oh, yet the ransomed will arise 
 
 And bring their gifts the best. 
 With glad thanksgiving in their hearts 
 
 To him whose name is blest. — Cho. 
 
 Oh, glory crowned, we see thee now 
 
 From mortal fetters free, 
 Rejoicing in immortal truth 
 
 And perfect liberty. 
 Among the groves of evergreen 
 
 With spirits wise and true, 
 May sweet communion fill thy soul 
 
 And all thy powers renew. — Cho. 
 
 After the singing, Eldress Anna White rose and said : 
 
 " My feet are wearied, and my hands are tired 
 
 My soul oppressed ; 
 And with desire have I long desired 
 
 Rest — only rest." 
 
 "These lines from the beautiful poem of Father Ryan, 
 the poet priest of the South, may not be inappropriately 
 
Funeral Services. 19 
 
 quoted in referring \.o our father — Elder Frederic. His 
 feet had at last become weary, they failed to carry him 
 whithersoever he would go in the performance of the duties 
 of life. His hands had become tired, they refused to move 
 in consonance with his ever active brain, and he was forced 
 to lay aside the pen and to rehnquish manual labor. The 
 weight of the body, therefore, embarrassed and fettered his 
 soul. He v/anted rest from that burden — not the kind of 
 rest which is but the indulgence of indolence. Nay. His 
 soul was too much engaged and his heart too much 
 absorbed in the work for the redemption of humanity, for 
 such ease. A more enthusiastic and indefatigable worker 
 the Order has never produced. 
 
 " How often have the walls of this house been made to 
 echo with the sound of his voice, and the hearts of the peo- 
 ple to quail before the living testimony that flamed like 
 fire in his utterances. He held in his hand the sickle of 
 truth which he wielded fearlessly. He knew it was the only 
 means presented to human agencies by Divine Providence, 
 by which to reap the natural man and woman from the 
 earthly order. 
 
 "Out of his mouth went a sharp sword." 
 
 " A sword separates and slays. In proportion as he used 
 the sword of the testimony and found death to his gener- 
 ative nature, resurrection life came to his spirit, and he 
 sought to impress the same truth upon others with forcible 
 arguments, and when speaking under inspiration his coun- 
 tenance was as the sun shining in its strength." 
 
 " Being an acquaintance of forty-four years and one 
 closely connected with Elder Frederic in an official capacity 
 for twenty-eight years, I can testify that he was a pure, 
 
20 Funeral Services. 
 
 noble, upright man of God. I wish with all my heart there 
 were more like him. 
 
 *' It is noticeable that few, as in the days of yore, seek 
 ' the straight gate and narrow way.' Why is this ? There 
 must be a cause. We read of a time, and times, and a 
 half time before the dispensation of the fullness of times, 
 before the ushering in of the Millenium. When war will 
 cease to the ends of the earth and men love each other as 
 brothers the world over, and peace reign, and evils arising 
 from the marriage relation cease to be, because of a return 
 to law and order. 
 
 "Each order has its appropriate duty to fulfill, its work to 
 accomplish, the natural order in natural things, and the 
 spiritual order in spiritual things, and the culmination in 
 each order will be to bring forth the new earth to the one, 
 and the new heavens to the other, then will the ' waste 
 places be filled, and the wilderness bud and blossom as the 
 rose.' Even now, many are beginning to realize that the 
 life of a people is of greater importance than their creed. 
 Honesty, integrity and purity of character will be our tests 
 and form our credentials in the world beyond. This is the 
 kind of character I wish to form, and experience has taught 
 that it is the best way for the time that now is and for eter- 
 nity—show me a better way and I will walk in it. 
 
 " I feel thankful to meet with gospel relation and with 
 friends not of our Order. Their presence shows their love 
 and respect for our venerable father. We are glad to feel 
 that we have true hearted friends in the world who are in 
 sympathy with us, and in some degree in unison with the 
 principles we have espoused. 
 
 " It is with feelings of regret that I part from the visible 
 presence of our dear father. There is an inevitable sad- 
 
Funeral Services. 21 
 
 ness attendant upon such occasions. Joy and sorrow are 
 interblended, they walk hand in hand with us through 
 life. Each brings its gift for good. Elder Frederic's love 
 will abide with us and be a continual blessing. He 
 beheved in spirit communication and I have no doubt 
 there are many spirit intelligences present who are visible 
 to the clairvoyant. These spiritual gifts will, I trust, be 
 always treasured among us and we be profited by them. 
 Just here, I might relate a beautiful vision beheld by Sister 
 Jane Cutler only a few days before Elder Frederic passed 
 out. (See vision below.) 
 
 " The assurance of the truth of eternal life is a source of 
 consolation to me. That the spirit lives, moves, and has 
 its being in another form and another state of existence 
 is evidenced in various ways and through diversity of man- 
 ifestations, the greatest of which is that revealed to the 
 inner consciousness of the soul. 
 
 VISION. 
 
 " I closed my eyes, and without previous meditation 
 upon any particular subject, there came suddenly before 
 my inner vision a large cross of indescribable beauty, its 
 color was not golden like that of the ghttering stars, it was 
 a formation of peculiar and glorious light, which seemed 
 like a combination of pulsating, living intelligences. 
 
 "The surface of this cross was covered completely with 
 white roses, perfect in form and appearance and Uiiiform 
 in size. They were not artificial flowers, neither were they 
 natural flowers, but their petals were of exquisite texture, 
 comparable to nothing in this material world. 
 
 '' I wondered, and guessed in my mind as to the mean- 
 ing of this vision, saying to myself, it cannot be for me ; 
 
22 Funeral Services. 
 
 a moment later this response came to me : It is for Elder 
 Frederic. 
 
 *• While I was watching and admiring, one of the roses 
 left its place on the cross and moved a short distance away 
 and held itself suspended, quivering in the air, but was 
 immediately replaced by another of equal purity and love- 
 liness; soon this was followed by another, until all that 
 comprised the first covering had moved away while the 
 beauty of the whole still remained unmarred. 
 
 " These blossoms, as they succeeded one another in reg- 
 ular order, formed themselves into a circle, having the 
 cross for a center — only a moment and they began to 
 develope into spirit forms and every one seemed to te 
 agitated with intense desire to communicate something. 
 
 " The impression that came to me was, that the roses 
 were symbolic expressions of souls for whom Elder Fred- 
 eric had toiled in times past, to whom he had shown the 
 glorious cross of Christ, by which he had taught them to 
 live, and on which he had encouraged them to sacrifice the 
 life of nature for the sake of the life divine, many of whom 
 were now triumphing with him in righteousness and truth. 
 
 " The whole, I reahzed to be, emblematical of his life 
 and life labor, the power and effects of which he himself 
 believed extended far beyond the confines of this earthly 
 sphere." 
 
 Elder Calvin G. Reed followed; he said: 
 
 '' It is with great pleasure that I speak to-day in praise 
 of an old friend. There are but few in this assembly who 
 were here when Elder Frederic united with this Com- 
 munity. I had one year advantage of him. I joined in 
 1829 and he in 1830; he was then twenty-two years of age 
 and has continued faithful to the principles he then 
 
Funeral Services. 23 
 
 espoused, because he espoused them understandingly, and 
 has for sixty years ministered the truths of the everlasting 
 gospel of salvation as revealed to him through the Order. 
 Jesus was not a teacher of man-made creeds, but spoke as 
 he was moved by the Divine Spirit. I am a witness that 
 there is a ministration of the spirit to those who give them- 
 selves in sincere labor for the life that perishes not. 
 
 *' Saint Paul was an honest man even before his conver- 
 sion. When on his way to Damascus he carried out the 
 principles he deemed right. He met something new how- 
 ever ; those with him, having ears heard not, but they saw 
 a great light. Paul saw the hght and he also heard a voice 
 which spoke to his soul and changed him from a persecu- 
 tor to a disciple of Jesus Christ, and a minister of Christ's 
 Gospel. 
 
 " Some may ask the reason of our belief in immortality. 
 We know we shall live again, first, by communication 
 received from intelligences already separated from the 
 body, next, by reason of our intuitions. The spiritualistic 
 manifestations which, during the past forty years, have 
 attracted so much attention in the world, began among our 
 people, and it was foretold to us that these manifestations 
 would leave us to go out to the most distant parts of the 
 earth, and after doing their work in the outside world, 
 would return to us, that in the meantime we would decrease 
 in numbers until a little child could count the members, 
 after which souls would flock to our doors to learn the way 
 of salvation. 
 
 " We are assured that the truths of Shakerism are spread- 
 ing, and men are receiving from the spirit world inspiration 
 that is causing them to lead purer lives. I am confident 
 that many of the brethren and sisters who have left us, are 
 
24 Funeral Services. 
 
 now here with us in spirit. All who follow the truth and 
 live the life will receive that illumination which will join 
 them to the spirit spheres." 
 
 Elder George Wilcox next addressed the company. 
 Though still suffering from traces of recent illness and the 
 fatigue of his journey from Enfield, Ct., he spoke with 
 marked impressiveness and effect ; he said : 
 
 "In behalf of the societies of Enfield and Hancock, I 
 am here to pay the last tribute of love and respect to the 
 memory of our father and friend. Many other brethren 
 and sisters from these societies would have been present 
 if the roads had been passable, as all preparations were 
 made for the journey, but the knowledge that travel was 
 dangerous compelled them to forego the privilege much to 
 the disappointment of all. I felt, however, ready to brave 
 any danger that I might with you render an offering of 
 blessing, of appreciation and undying love to this great, 
 grand and good old man. Upon a similar occasion, that 
 of attending the funeral of Elder Daniel Boler, Elder Fred- 
 eric took for his text ' Pay what you owe.' We should 
 certainly pay what we owe, and if we cannot pay all that 
 we owe, we should pay what we can. We of Enfield owe 
 a large debt of gratitude to Elder Frederic and his associ- 
 ates for their many services to the Enfield Society. We, 
 in our turn, must be true to the trust reposed in us, true to 
 each other, true to the cause, and thus in a measure, can- 
 cel the debt. 
 
 " Elder Frederic was a born leader and a natural orator. 
 He was not versed in rhetoric or elocution, but I have 
 known him to hold audiences spell-bound for hours with 
 the power of his eloquence. In a very recent letter to me 
 he wrote : ' All history shows that orators come up spon- 
 
Funeral Services. 25 
 
 taneously, they are not products, they come when needed ; 
 the occasion developes them. Patrick Henry was brought 
 out suddenly, a surprise to himself and to every one else.' 
 When we find a people who want the gospel, which is 'the 
 power of God unto salvation,' any one who is in possession 
 of it, will be able to administer it. 
 
 " For twenty years I have been studying to know and 
 appreciate my friends while they are yet with me, and the 
 application of this study has brought satisfaction and peace 
 to my soul. The tendency of human beings is to eulogize 
 their relatives and friends after they have passed over ; that 
 is right, but does it not denote greater righteousness to do 
 so before they pass over ? instead of feeding upon their 
 sins and transgressions. This is a great wrong, and 
 especially so when indulged in by those who profess to be 
 disciples of Jesus and Ann. 
 
 " In the same letter, just referred to, Elder Frederic 
 writes in answer to my commendation of the great good he 
 had accomplished : ' Respecting the good I may have 
 done in my day and time, I am not the proper judge. If 
 measured by my desire, my intention, it would be quite a 
 treasure. Measured by facts, I am glad of all the success 
 that has been achieved. I think the whole Order of 
 Believers may thank God and take courage. While error 
 dies amidst her worshippers, truth lives among her most 
 bitter and cruel persecutors. She never dies.' " 
 
 The gift of love from gospel kindred having been fit- 
 tingly received, the choir sang : 
 
26 Funeral Services. 
 
 THE ANGELS ARE COMING. 
 There is joy for the faithful in Zion, 
 
 They who wilUngly toil for the Lord, 
 For I hear a sweet song of rejoicing, 
 
 They shall reap a righteous reward. 
 Let it roll through the arches of heaven, 
 
 Let it rise on the crest of the sea : 
 The angels, the angels are coming, 
 
 They are coming for you and for me. 
 
 Elder Timothy Rayson was the next speaker. 
 
 " I appreciate the beautiful sentiment of the song we 
 have just sung. Truly 'there is joy for the faithful' when 
 they have doffed the mortal for the immortal. The noble 
 spirit who has just passed out was one of God's messen- 
 gers of truth. He was fearless and bold in declaring the 
 words of eternal Hfe. Endowed with the power of thought 
 and the gift of utterance, his public ministration was 
 effective. If I possessed the same talent I would deem it 
 a great blessing. I became acquainted with Elder Fred- 
 eric more than forty years ago. When I was a youth he 
 came to Philadelphia in company with others on a mission, 
 and gathered my father and part of his family to Believer's 
 faith ; others united at the same time, and they formed a 
 band of earnest, truth loving souls. 
 
 '• I have always found our departed brother to be a just 
 and upright man; true, he had faults and eccentricities, 
 but who has not? None have passed entirely beyond 
 human frailties. 
 
 " For twelve years I was closely connected with him in 
 official capacity, and can testify to the goodness of his 
 heart, and his abounding charity towards others. Though 
 stern and uncompromising when principle was at stake, 
 and firm in his adherence to right, yet he had a tender and 
 
Funeral Services. 27 
 
 loving nature, and his love was reciprocated by those who 
 knew him best. We did not always see eye to eye or agree 
 on all points; yet I was made better by association with 
 him, and under his ministrations I learned that to be hum- 
 ble and teachable in spirit was the wisest and best way. I 
 am glad of this opportunity my dear brethren and sisters to 
 unite with you who are paying a tribute of respect to our 
 worthy father. The gospel standard is left for us to bear 
 aloft, and the pure testimony is ours to proclaim ; let us 
 not shrink from the battles of life, nor grow cold or indif- 
 ferent,but take up the burdens that are laid down by others 
 with hope and courage, and carry forward with zeal and 
 earnestness the cause of human redemption." 
 
 The reading of an original article entitled " Blessings on 
 his Memory," by Sister Martha J. Anderson, followed. 
 
 " Let us be grateful without idolatry, without worship of 
 any sort, to the memory of those divinely illumined men, 
 who have from time to time advanced the human species 
 in knowledge, wisdom and goodness. Let us reverence 
 and love all who have acted and suffered in the great cause 
 of Beneficence. 
 
 " A glorious spirit has passed from our midst, with char- 
 acter well rounded, and with fullness of years ; a bright 
 luminary, whose light will be missed from the galaxy of 
 lesser stars. More than sixty years of righteous living, 
 leaves an influence that will long remain to bless. 
 
 "As the Phonograph takes on waxen cylinders the impress 
 of sound-waves to be repeated with exactness whenever 
 the instrument is set in motion, so are our thoughts, feel- 
 ings and actions, — which are the expressions of our inner- 
 self — enstamped on our surroundings, and are silently but 
 surely reflected, on all who come in the aura of our sphere. 
 
28 Funeral Services. 
 
 Sensitives upon entering apartments, feel the states of per- 
 sons who have previously occupied them and have truth- 
 fully described their conditions of body and mind. 
 
 " It was said that in the time of the great spiritual mani- 
 festations among * Believers/ mediums saw and read the 
 history of individuals written on the walls of the dwellings, 
 having been engraved there by the subtle element of mag- 
 netism, so is our good father's individuality impressed on 
 many things and in many places. His soul purposes are 
 inwrought in all his labors of love, and we trace — without 
 the gift of clairvoyance — the golden lines inscribed on the 
 pages of a long and useful life. In the home where the 
 greater part of his earthly years have been spent, we mark 
 the thorough work of his hands, the intellectual impress of 
 his mind, and the loving guidance of his heart. 
 
 "While we do homage to the great and good of the past, 
 let us not forget to honor and reverence our ' latest bene- 
 factors, the exposers of intolerance, the overthrovvers of 
 the cruel substitutions of force for argument, and the 
 furtherers of the love of reason, and rational religion.' " 
 
 Elder Frederic had a large and comprehensive organiza- 
 tion, finely proportioned and of delicate structure. He 
 was refined in sensibility, and possessed a lofty tone of 
 mind ; he had great force of character and persistence in 
 putting into execution every thing he considered worthy of 
 attention, and this marked proclivity was manifest in every 
 act of his life. 
 
 When in England in the year 1871 his phrenological 
 character was thus truly delineated. 
 
 " The coronal brain is full in development and remark- 
 ably harmonious. Your power of adaptation to various 
 forms of human life is great. You have much enthusiasm, 
 
Funeral Services. 29 
 
 faith and anticipation ; are seldom or never discouraged ; 
 do not look on the dark side of things nor borrow trouble. 
 You are fearless and untrammelled by suspicions or fore- 
 bodings. Your friendship, sympathies and charity are 
 large, and your mind is eminently progressive and desirous 
 of extending good to all. 
 
 " You appreciate the sublime, the grand, the sacred ; you 
 see the finger of God everywhere, and the whole temple is 
 a temple in which to worship Him in every act of life. 
 
 *' The perceptive powers are well balanced with the 
 reflective and inspirational faculties. You are enthusiastic 
 without being fanatical, and practical without being mate- 
 rialistic. Your powers of reflection are subservient to uses, 
 and you have few theories that are not derived from prac- 
 tical experience. Your mind is adapted for writing and 
 speaking, as well as the body is for work, and you are nec- 
 essarily interested in human progress.'^ 
 
 Was not the latter the watchword of the great reformer's 
 life ? How earnest his desire was that Believers should 
 move upward and onward into the cycle of increase, when 
 old things were to be done away and all things to become 
 new. 
 
 He was a grand old prophet, whose prescience forecast 
 the future with clearness; and while we draw aside the 
 filmy veil of mortal imperfections, and reahze that the 
 divine was more than the human, we see the noble, the 
 upright and true man glorified in the benignity of immortal 
 love and truth. 
 
 His name is honored and his memory is tenderly cher- 
 ished by those who know and love him best ; and though 
 he has crossed the threshold of mortafity, his power for 
 good will not be diminished, for he has joined the mighty 
 
30 Funeral Services. 
 
 host of spiritual workers, whose interest in the affairs of 
 earth is heightened by their enlarged view of the great 
 wrongs that need rectifying, and who often return to impress 
 and enlighten those who have the good of humanity at 
 heart, and are seeking to elevate souls to higher planes of 
 existence. Are not the words of the beloved Master true. 
 " If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me." 
 
 Oh what a glorious destiny 
 
 Awaits the human soul, 
 
 Beyond a brief mortality 
 
 Where higher powers control. 
 
 And step by step, a starry way 
 
 Will mark its progress on, 
 
 Rejoicing in unclouded day 
 
 When perfect victory's won. 
 
 The company of singers then joined in singing the hymn 
 "Christ Angels," composed some years ago by Elder Fred- 
 eric, and which is here appended : 
 
 CHRIST ANGELS. 
 
 My heart is in the Spirit world, 
 
 My soul is roaming there, 
 
 I dwell amid the denizens 
 
 Of that bright land so fair. 
 
 Like seasons in this earthly sphere 
 
 The cycles come and go, 
 
 Their ceaseless eons none may see. 
 
 They are not counted so. 
 
 Years follow years, the centuries pass, 
 
 And thus earth-ages roll, 
 
 Unnumbered figures may not tell 
 
 The history of the soul ; 
 
 Its days are deeds, its years are shown 
 
 By changes in it wrought, 
 
 It lives when God's own Spirit rules 
 
 The secret springs of thought. 
 
Funeral Services. 31 
 
 Then O my soul immortal, 
 
 Thou cans't never, never die, 
 
 While truth to feed thee shall exist, 
 
 And love to vivify. 
 
 The angels in the inner sphere 
 
 In age eternal — all — 
 
 In God they live, in God they move, 
 
 God is their all in all. 
 
 They sing to us in accents sweet, 
 
 The music of their sphere, 
 
 * * Arise, and stand upon your feet. 
 
 We come, our home is here. 
 
 No more shall war with direful curse 
 
 Stain earth with human gore. 
 
 Contending armies fight for right, 
 
 The reign of sin is o'er." 
 
 New earth and heavens are coming up, 
 
 The old fast fade away. 
 
 The night of antichrist is o'er. 
 
 All hail the coming day I 
 
 Blest gospel kindred firm and strong, 
 
 Cheer up, your zeal renew, 
 
 Leave all the errors of the past, 
 
 Christ angels are with you. 
 
 The following poem by Sister Annie R. Stephens, was 
 then read by Brother Paul Tyner: 
 
 IN HONOR OF OUR FATHER. 
 
 The legend of mortality, wondrous story ! 
 
 Mysterious Death hath claimed a royal soul, 
 And changed the mortal to immortal glory. 
 
 And oped the portal to the starry goal. 
 
 Why doubt? the vernal May-time bringeth 
 
 Unto the arid wastes new bud and bloom. 
 Blest emblem ! hark, the deathless spirit singeth 
 
 Of hope an life beyond the narrow tomb. 
 
32 Funeral Services. 
 
 Beneath the weight of eighty long years bending 
 We watched thee as thou passed from outer sight, 
 
 And knew the spirit heavenward was trending, 
 So soon to walk the harvest fields of light. 
 
 Tho' passed within the veil, we still shall cherish 
 Thy deeds so loyal, spotless, grand and true ; 
 
 Thro' time thy memory, — never can it perish 
 While bright stars traverse the celestial blue. 
 
 Adown the years our eyes are backward glancing, 
 The light, the shadow and the gloom we scan, 
 
 Thy work of truth, the cause of man advancing, 
 Thy prayer, to live by God's imperial plan. 
 
 O martyr soul ! so dauntless, strong and fearless, 
 
 Firm as an ocean rock, wise, loyal, true ; 
 Thou'st waited, watched, while days grew sad and cheerless, 
 
 And hoped the dark and starless night-time through. 
 
 Thy Spartan spirit knew no fear, no trial. 
 
 In constant protest against every wrong ; 
 Sublime thy courage through all self-denial, 
 
 And great thy soul, so eloquent and strong. 
 
 Oh well we know thy life was full in beauty ; 
 
 The gold of love, the pearls of trust we find ; 
 And jewels rare — integrity in duty. 
 
 These our treasures thou hast left behind. 
 
 We thought to bring the bitterness of weeping. 
 
 But tune our requiems iojoy, instead. 
 For nothing but the weary dust lies sleeping, 
 
 The soul, it lives again — it is not dead. 
 
 Our eyes now pierce the deep and misty spaces, 
 We see thee upward mount on waves of light, 
 
 We look beyond where angels veil their faces, 
 Lo ! thou art there arrayed in garments white. 
 
Funeral Services. 33 
 
 We listen, while like mighty billows swelling 
 And breaking in a high, white crested foam, 
 
 We hear a chorus, — 'tis the grand upwelling 
 As angels bear thee, conquering hero, home. 
 
 And we will join the glad, triumphant chorus. 
 Still to our hearts and love thou'lt ever cling. 
 
 And while thy peace and blessing still are o'er us 
 May angels waft our soul's thank-offering. 
 
 The following original sonnet was then read by Cora C. 
 Vinneo, 
 
 PRAISE TO THE HERO. 
 
 Rest noble hero, all life's battles won, 
 
 Thy stalwart spirit never waned nor quailed, 
 
 Though hosts of sin with threatening arms assailed. 
 But like the fearless chief of Marathon, 
 Fought bravely where the struggle had begun, 
 
 And in the strength of righteousness prevailed. 
 
 Thy faith stood by thee like a vestal veiled 
 To tell which path to tread and which to shun ; 
 
 Thy hope was like the oracle of God, 
 Foretelling wisdom when our eyes were blind. 
 
 Thy soul hath known the way the prophets trod, 
 In meekness lofty, and in love refined. 
 
 And as we say the long and last farewell. 
 
 We know -^ prince has left our Israel. 
 
 Mark M. Pomeroy, of New York, President of the 
 Atlantic Pacific Tunnel, was then called upon and made an 
 exceedingly sympathetic and impressive address, in the 
 course of which he said : 
 
 " Aly friends-: I have come here from the city of New 
 York that I might prove by my presence, the love and 
 respect I had, and have, for one of your great teachers — 
 that I might prove to you, possibly, by my presence, how 
 much I appreciated and do appreciate the good which has 
 
34 Funeral Services. 
 
 come from him in his life and work. And my good wife 
 came with me because she too felt that this much was due 
 from us to a man whose life was so well expended in efforts 
 for others. It was she who suggested and went out and 
 had made the emblem, so appropriate, of a ripened sheaf 
 which we brought with us and have laid on his coffin — 
 emblematic of the one who has passed on to the land of 
 the leal. He passed on ripe to the better world, leaving 
 seeds which you who remain will sow and cultivate, until 
 time again brings forth from them many golden thoughts 
 and deeds — golden grain from the sowing. 
 
 " This is the first time I have ever atten^led the funeral 
 ceremonies incident to your Order, and it is very pleasant 
 to me because of the absence of gloom and sombreness. 
 I do not like the black and sombre trappings common to 
 funerals. I like the light. And you will permit me to say 
 that our friend, your father, has passed on to the light. 
 
 ^' Some years ago, I was attracted to the spiritualistic 
 philosophy. I had been brought up differently; but I 
 began the study of spiritualism and rose up from that study 
 convinced that God and man are one — that all of us, the 
 little boys on those back benches equally with the gray- 
 haired men, are parts of the Universal God — the immanent 
 Deity. I have passed beyond the lines of blind belief into 
 the region of absolute knowledge that there is no such thing 
 us death — except in the process of release from the mate- 
 rial body — that hfe is continuous and is constantly up- 
 building here the character of the life hereafter. 
 
 "A few days since there came into my office, in New 
 York, a man past three score and ten years of age — a man 
 who for many years had been more than prominent in the 
 poHtics of this state and who had held high pubHc office. 
 
Funeral Services. 36 
 
 He said to me : 'I am tired of life ; my property has gone, 
 my position is gone and I am a has-been. My good wife 
 and I are living on the little salary of a place given to me 
 by a friend out of charity, and where I don't know whether 
 I am wanted or not.' 
 
 ''I said, 'What does wealth amount to?' He replied 
 that it was everything to him. But I reminded him that in 
 the life to come a bank account would be nothing, while it 
 was only what good he had done to humanity that would 
 give him place and rank. To this he repHed that he 
 beUeved that when he died, that would be the end of him. 
 I tried to convince him that there is such a thing as a 
 future existence ; but he refused to beheve it. Dark, 
 indeed, is the Ufe of such a man. 
 
 " Another man, who came into the office recently, said : 
 ' I understand you are a spirituahst ? How can you believe 
 in such an absurdity ?' 
 
 " ' What is an absurdity ?' I asked. 
 
 " ' Why that men live after death and can come back and 
 communicate with you.' 
 
 " I told him of the evidence which convinced me of 
 these facts, but I could nut make him believe the truth. It 
 was like singing a symphony of Beethoven's to that stove 
 pipe. 
 
 "These were two men whom I knew, and who were with- 
 out the light of behef in a future life. The third man was 
 Elder Frederic W. Evans, Father Frederic as you affection- 
 ately call him — a man the antithesis, the exact opposite of 
 the two men I have mentioned ; a man who believed that 
 life here is only a preparation for the Hfe beyond, and that 
 man's duty to himself here was to develope the greatest 
 amount of spirituaUty possible in himself. Coming out 
 
36 Funeral Services. 
 
 from the poverty and darkness of materialism into the light, 
 he proved that he was indeed a son of God, as we are all 
 sons of God if we will only not blind ourselves to the truth. 
 It was his big, loving heart that said to every one, ' bring 
 your all to God; come with me in this direction, leaving 
 the material things to those who need them longer !' And 
 upon those who heard him, when once turned in the right 
 direction, he impressed the spiritual philosophy, the real 
 philosophy of life. 
 
 " Eldress Anna has spoken of the fewness of your num- 
 bers. Allow me to say that has nothing to do with it and 
 is no reason for discouragement. When Lord Baltimore 
 came to this country, he planted in the city bearing his 
 name, the seed of the first Seckel pear tree. That 
 sweet and delicious fruit which is now gathered every 
 year in all parts of the country, from almost countless trees, 
 all sprung from the tree of Lord Baltimore's planting. So 
 while many have done well as teachers, this man, who for 
 years has been your friend, your teacher, your father, as 
 you love to call him, was filled with the love and the 
 strength which those who are good, love to give to the 
 good, and from the seeds he planted, will spring up like 
 trees, other teachers of the truths he taught. 
 
 " In the olden times, when a warrior was brought home 
 on the shoulders of his companions, it was said : ' A great 
 warrior has fallen !' I say that a great warrior has risen ! 
 He has risen, as all who follow his teachings will rise, war- 
 riors and conquerors. 
 
 " So, I am proud to be with you to-day, proud to testify 
 to the worth of a man, who, while he was in the world, was 
 not of the world. It was my pleasure to read of Elder 
 Frederic before I met him, and many a thought of his. 
 
Funeral Services. 37 
 
 printed on paper I have taken up and studied and tried to 
 send it further on. In many of those thoughts are great 
 truths that will be eternally handed down. I met him for 
 the last time about three months ago, and still later, received 
 a letter from him — probably one of the last he wrote, in 
 which, after references to some matters of business, he con- 
 veyed to me sensible and affectionate counsel, character*- 
 istic of him. Monday afternoon, I received a telegram 
 from Elder Daniel stating that Elder Frederic had passed 
 away and the funeral would be held to-day. Going to my 
 home in the upper part of the city, at the close of the day's 
 business, I went into my library, where I sometimes receive 
 communications from those who have passed into the spirit 
 spheres, and there I received a communication from one of 
 my spirit friends, who shortly said : ' I step aside a moment 
 to make room for one who desires to send a message.' 
 
 " ' His name ?' I asked. 
 
 " * Dr. Maxwell,' was the reply. 
 
 " Very well, said I. Dr. Maxwell, I remembered as the 
 name of one who was well known as ' the Quaker Spirit- 
 uaHst' and who by voice and pen had been long an 
 exponent of the spiritual philosophy. He came, and 
 through the means of communication, said : ' I bring you 
 a message from Elder Frederic Evans.' 
 
 ' Yes, I thank Elder Frederic,' said I, ' for honoring me 
 with a message to his people. What does he wish to say ?' 
 
 ' He wished you to say to Eldress Anna and Elder Dan- 
 iel that he is well and happy and is already investigating his 
 whereabouts to see what work he can do, and as soon as 
 the conditions are favorable he will communicate more to 
 them. He wishes you to say further, that he finds Ufe in 
 the spirit world all and more than he anticipated, and asks 
 
38 Funeral Services. 
 
 you to give his love to all his dear friends at the North 
 Family and to all in Mount Lebanon. Knowing your pur- 
 pose to be present at the funeral, we charge you with this 
 message.' 
 
 " And so I deliver to you, this message from beyond the 
 tomb of one who was a good father to all of you. All who, 
 like him, have helped humanity, will rise like him into 
 fuller, happier life. He has left his worn out house for you 
 to put aside, but, in putting it aside, you will not, you can- 
 not if you would, put aside the living memory of your 
 teacher, your father and your hero. I thank you for your 
 kind attention." 
 
 The close of friend Pomeroy's remarks was followed by 
 the singing of a short hymn by all the company. 
 
 Brother James Little was the next speaker. Among 
 other things, he said : " I first heard Elder Frederic speak 
 from the spot I now occupy on this floor. Though he has 
 passed from the material form, he is not dead. He is with 
 us yet. I love to hear the testimony given this day of the 
 worth of that great, grand old man. He was ever an 
 aggressive warrior in the strife with sin; never on the defen- 
 sive, but always fearless and foremost in the attack. Take 
 him in the prime of his manhood, or take him in the sere 
 and yellow leaf of his Hfe, and you always found him wield- 
 ing a Damascus blade, cutting evil keen and deep. Cor- 
 ruption in high places trembled at his blows. He was an 
 enemy to sham and hypocrisy, and above all, he hated cant. 
 This was bred in the bone and came out in the flesh. As 
 has been said, he was a typical Englishman and had all the 
 characteristic bull-dog tenacity of the English. When he 
 got his grip on wrong or error, he never let go. The ruling 
 passion was strong in death. Only a week ago, when I 
 
Funeral Services. 39 
 
 visited him, he said : 'James, I had a vision in the night. 
 The room was filled with radiance and the linking of Church 
 and State in this country was made so manifest to me that 
 I could see clearly how it will all end.' 
 
 " I said to him ' Why did you not go to your desk and 
 write down all that was shown to you while it was fresh in 
 your mind ?' ' I could not,' he answered, ' I wanted to and 
 tried to — the spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak.' 
 
 '• The battle is now on and it is for us to do all that we 
 can to prevent the link from being welded. Let us take to 
 heart the lesson of the French Revolution with its reign of 
 terror, which, as has been shown, sprung from the union 
 of Church and State in France. 
 
 " Elder Frederic leaves us a home which he did much to 
 build up and beautify. Let us keep it intact and in its 
 integrity, pure and unsuUied. He was always a friend of 
 the poor and unfortunate and we should remember that 
 the poor and afflicted are always with us." 
 
 Brother James closed his remarks with appropriate quo- 
 tations from Longfellow's " Village Blacksmith," and his 
 " Hymn of Life." 
 
 Brother Paul Tyner followed in a brief address. He 
 said, in the course of his remarks : 
 
 '' Though my personal acquaintance with our departed 
 father was only of a few months duration, the ties of affec- 
 tion and respect knitted me closely to him and I feel that 
 I have lost in hiu) one who was indeed a guide, counsellor 
 and friend — a wise and tender gospel father. We cannot 
 help feeling the sadness of bereavement in the loss of his 
 visible presence. But we know that he is not dead. We 
 know that the form of clay resting yonder, is only the 
 reflection of the real man — the poor, broken, fading shadow 
 
40 Funeral Services. 
 
 of his immortal spirit. He has doffed his earthly, toil-worn 
 garment only to don the celestial robe, woven during a long 
 lifetime of pure and righteous thinking and acting — the 
 robe in which it is most fitting he should appear in the 
 presence of the King, his Father, to which he has been 
 summoned. 
 
 " One of the profoundest of modern philosophers has 
 defined a hero to be ''one who sacrifices the 7vorld and its 
 enjoyments to an idea!* Surely all will agree that our 
 revered and beloved father fulfilled this definition of a hero, 
 although his name did not fill the mouths of the populace, 
 and his renown was not that which gives a glamor to civic 
 or mihtary greatness. He gave his life unreservedly and 
 absolutely to an idea — to the idea which Shakerism em- 
 bodies in its grand and rugged purity, the divine idea of 
 mankind's redemption through the purification of the rela- 
 tions between men and women. Seeing the sin of the age, 
 the root of all the evils that afflict humanity in our modern 
 social system, to be unchastity, he accepted with all his 
 heart the revelation of the Spirit of Christ — the spirit of 
 truth — through Ann Lee, that the salvation of the race 
 must be worked out by its purification from sensualism and 
 a return to chastity ; by the utter abandonment of all 
 fleshly lusts that war against tlie spirit, shackUng it to 
 earthly iUusion, and blinding it to the sublime realities of 
 life. 
 
 " In taking up his cross and following Christ in the 
 regeneration, he made a declaration of his soul's independ- 
 ence from the tyranny of the world, and he pledged his 
 life, his fortune and his sacred honor to maintain that 
 independence. How well he kept his pledge is told in the 
 story of his half-a-century and more of untiring and active 
 
Funeral Services. 41 
 
 effort in Zion's cause. He gave us the sublime example 
 of a life in which all the powers, gifts and talents of a sin- 
 gularly original and strong individuality were consecrated 
 to the service of God, in the service of the society which 
 he verily believed held a divine commission for the doing 
 of God's work on earth. 
 
 " In one of the last talks I had with dear Elder Frederic, 
 when the shadow of the Angel of Death was already upon 
 him, he said : ' I was a radical reformer before I became 
 a Shaker and I am a radical reformer still. The world will 
 not easily understand how I could consistently be a priest 
 and a patriarch, and yet champion the cause of true democ- 
 racy — of the masses who toil against the classes who plun- 
 der them of the product of their toil ; an advocate of 
 popular suffrage and popular education, of the rights of 
 men and. women to the land in usufruct, of the political, 
 economic and social equaHty of the sexes ; nor how I 
 could be the foe of so called Sabbatarianism and of the anti- 
 christian churches which have ever been the ally of the rich 
 and powerful in the oppression of the poor, and which are 
 now menacing the very existence of the republic by the 
 efforts made to consummate a union of Church and State, 
 of which the closing of the World's Fair on Sunday is but 
 the first link. But I believe,' he went on, ' that I have 
 been entirely consistent and that this will be perceived 
 clearly when the relation of Shakerism to secular reforms 
 is better understood.' 
 
 " We are aware that, when Elder Frederic came into our 
 Order, his intellectual point of view was materialistic — a 
 negation of the existence of God and spirit and of any Hfe 
 beyond the material one. But the radical reformer became 
 a rational religionist, as he tells us in his ** Autobiography' 
 
42 Funeral Services. 
 
 — becoming convinced by arguments presented, not to his 
 intellect, but to his spiritual senses. Just what this evi- 
 dence was he has not told us. It was probably of a nature 
 not readily translatable into words and to be comprehended 
 only by the spiritually awakened. Was there ever a say- 
 ing so full of wisdom and so true as that of Pascal ? ' The 
 things of men must be understood, in order to be loved; 
 the things of God must be loved in order to be understood!' 
 Beginning with a love for truth, for purity and uprightness, 
 the comprehension of these things must have come to 
 Elder Frederic sooner or later. The divine purpose ordered 
 and directed him in the way by which it came quickly. 
 
 " Elder Frederic was himself an illustration of the appli- 
 cation of Pascal's saying to persons, as well as to things. 
 One had to love the brave and rugged old father to under- 
 stand him. It was necessary to love and to know him to 
 perceive that his faults were on the surface, while his vir- 
 tues had their roots deep in his royal heart. Goethe has 
 said that ' true love should include even the faults of 
 the beloved one.' If we could not love our good father's 
 faults, we certainly could forgive them. If in our 
 weakness, we could not at times help being grieved, pained 
 or annoyed by some of the things he said or did, or by his 
 manner — or lack of manner, in saying or doing' — how triv- 
 ial these crosses would seem to us when reflection would 
 cause us to do justice to the real man and remember his 
 better side ! After all, with Elder Frederic, as with every 
 other truly great character that ever lived, his faults were 
 just the faults, the shading and the Hues and angles, which 
 the Almighty in His wisdom deemed necessary (quite as 
 necessary as the virtues, the lights and curves and bright 
 colors,) in the make-up of the distinct individuahty of the 
 
Funeral Services. 43 
 
 man. Our system has been accused of a tendency to 
 destroy individuality ; but Elder Frederic affords a striking 
 proof that Shakerism is capable of conserving, developing 
 and directing individuality into channels of greatest utility. 
 His individuality, taken all in all, was that best adapted 
 for the work he was given to do. His faults were the faults 
 inseparable from the mighty nature cons'nous of his mis- 
 sion, convinced of its transcendant importance and pos- 
 sessed in every fibre with a holy and consuming zeal. He 
 bent all things else to this zeal, determined to do his whole 
 duty to God and his fellow-men, relaxing no effort in his 
 Master's service while an atom of strength remained. If 
 the hero is not a hero to his valet, it is not because the 
 hero is less a hero, but because the valet is a valet. Recent 
 writers who have sought to belittle the character of Jesus 
 of Nazareth, cite his faults to prove that he was not a per- 
 fect man. And of course he was not perfect in that sense, 
 any more than Elder Frederic was. Let us be very glad 
 that he was not, for if he lacked a single one of these faults 
 he would not have been what he was. He would not have 
 been at once the most powerful and the gentlest, the most 
 lovable and the most charming manifestation of the divine 
 in man and of man in the divine, that the world has ever 
 known." 
 
 Here followed a poem by Sister Cecelia Devere, entitled 
 
 BE YE COMFORTED. 
 
 The battle days are over, and the armor laid aside, 
 
 We have crowned thee\vith green laurels and we look to thee with pride. 
 
 Thou hast been our trusted leader, thro' each tempest-like affray, 
 
 We have followed in thy footsteps when we scarce could see the way. 
 
 Thou hast been to us a beacon, a star of glad surprise, 
 
 For thy hope was like the shining of the fair millennial skies, 
 
44 Funeral Services. 
 
 When the mirk of earth's combustion shall no longer shed its gloom ; 
 
 When the rising sun of righteousness shall bring the earth to bloom. 
 
 Thou hast been a standard bearer up the mountain's rugged steep ; 
 
 Thou hast crossed the yawning chasm where the raging torrents leap ; 
 
 Thou hast lighted signal watch-fires with a flame that cannot fade ; 
 
 Thou hast left thy banner floating o'er the pathway thou hast made. 
 
 And thy voice hath been a clarion's of no uncertain sound 
 
 That awoke the sleeping echoes on the dull enchanted ground. 
 
 For thy soul hath been a prophet's and thy eye hath been a seer's, 
 
 And the gift of revelation was the halo of thy years. 
 
 What thy mind hath comprehended was beyond the present time, 
 
 'Twas the future of our Zion in a cycle more sublime. 
 
 It was said to ancient people who advancing truths bemoaned 
 
 '* Were there any of the prophets that your father's never stoned? 
 
 "Were there any of the messengers who came as he had willed 
 
 "But were met by persecution and tortured, torn and killed?" 
 
 But the mantle of the martyrs was thro' the ages borne, 
 
 And the multitude with passion sought him by whom 'twas worn. 
 
 And when a life was sacrificed, it stronger, holier grew. 
 
 Till earth could find no weapon to pierce its glory through. 
 
 It was heavy as the armor when it glittered through the fight. 
 
 But it came to be the raiment of the saints that walk in white. 
 
 In this vesture thou hast gathered the blessing from above, 
 
 For snow-white truth is interlined with azure of pure love. 
 
 So we bring to thee our offering of love profound and true. 
 
 With the flowers of consolation thy pathway we would strew, 
 
 For our sympathies are fountains from gratitude's deep well. 
 
 And our tide waves of affection around thy spirit swell. 
 
 Thro' this transit, loyal feelings like angels will be near. 
 
 And our prayers will go before thee to thy soul's awaiting sphere. 
 
 We will claim thy ministration, we will hold and draw thee nigh, 
 
 For there is no separation in the love that cannot die. 
 
 One who has recently joined the Order briefly eulogized 
 Elder Frederic's intellectual clearness and comprehensive 
 grasp of the questions of the day, but said that she had 
 been most impressed by his beautiful humihty. 
 
Funeral Services. 45 
 
 Sister Eliza Rayson, speaking with much emotion, as- 
 sured the company that she knew Elder Frederic was re- 
 joicing in spirit, in his freedom from the clog of the body. 
 "I feel his presence here," she continued; "he is not 
 alone, but has come with Elder Giles and many other good 
 spirits." 
 
 Sister Catharine Allen's offering emphasized the fact 
 that " Elder Frederic was not only a great man but z. good 
 man. We cannot all attain to the measure of his greatness, 
 perhaps, but every one who will seek the same deep bap- 
 tism of a pure heart may attain to the same goodness and 
 the same purity of Hfe. All of us may seek for the Christ 
 in our hearts, as he did, and find in the Christ Spirit a 
 fountain of strength and of truth." 
 
 The following letter from J. M. Peebles, M. D., the well 
 known spiritualistic speaker and writer, called the " Spirit- 
 ual Pilgrim " who accompanied Elder Frederic on his trips 
 to Europe in 187 1 and in 1887, and who for years has been 
 a close and valued friend, was then read by Eldress Anna 
 White : 
 
 San Antonio, Texas, March 3, 1893. 
 
 Anna White, Mt. Lebanon, N. Y. 
 
 My Dear Friend and Sister: — Your letter dropped in upon me this 
 day like a thunder-clap. Its news both saddened and quite surprised 
 me. I had supposed that our dear Elder was in his usual good health, 
 though becoming gradually weaker and riper for the harvest of immor- 
 tality. I drop everything in the line of business, saying to myself: 
 Let the dead bury the dead — let the sick in San Antonio care for the 
 sick. I must write to you, and through you, to the brothers and 
 sisters of the North Family and others also. Truly a master man in 
 Israel is about falling ; a cedar in our spiritual Lebanon is tottering 
 from its foundation. The new birth, called death, is waiting to re- 
 ceive a noble, grand and lion-hearted hero ; — one who has fought for 
 
46 Funeral Services. 
 
 the truth, fought valiantly, and whose face bears the scars of many a 
 moral battlefield. A portion of your letter touched me keenly. 
 
 When you say that this great prophet-soul seems at times mystified, 
 and thinks that "you would unravel the mystery, define what is to be 
 his future and make arrangements for him accordingly." 
 
 It so reminds me of the last tour we made to England. He 
 would so often mislay or misplace his papers. Then he would say, 
 ' ' Brother James, you must come and arrange these papers ; you must 
 come and get them into some shape." He would tell me that one or some 
 other one he had lost or misplaced, and of course I would immediately 
 assist him in overhauling his correspondence and papers and aid him in 
 properly adjusting them. I can see that his mind is failing with his 
 body — the dear, saintly old man and fellow-worker. How many thous- 
 and reminiscences flash upon my mind when I mention his name ! 
 How vividly I remember the first time I met him in New York, upon 
 the public platform ; and how I listened to his earnest, eloquent and 
 thundering tones, of reform, and progress, and spirituality, and Shaker 
 theology ! 
 
 It made upon my mind an undying impression. Yea, he said to me 
 repeatedly that if he passed over the river first, (and he probably 
 should, ) he wanted me to be present at his funeral ; wanted me to give 
 an address, as I had traveled with him so much — especially in England 
 and Scotland and also Ireland. He also wished me to write his bi- 
 ography. This he told me several times ; but he may have changed his 
 mind within the last two or three years. Of this I know nothing. 
 
 But now to the point. Should he drop suddenly away, could I, can 
 I, leave my patients in the city and my patients at the sanitarium and 
 come to Mt. Lebanon to deliver a funeral address, summarising the 
 principal movements of his life, or can I not ? . 
 
 I will think of this very seriously to-day, this evening, and drop you 
 a line from my own hand to-morrow or next day. In the meantime I 
 will certainly prepare something for the occasion of his translation from 
 this earth-land of trial and suffering to the better land of immortality. 
 My heart is too full to write more just at present through my 
 amanuensis. 
 
 Give my love to Elder Daniel and the sisters and brothers all, and 
 especially to Elder Frederic. Very sincerely yours, 
 
 James M. Peebles. 
 
Funeral Services. 47 
 
 Sister Ann Offord while offering her tribute was suddenly 
 controlled by the spirit of Elder Frederic, who, manifesting 
 through her mediumship spoke for several moments with 
 characteristic power and vigor. He urged his hearers to 
 be firm in maintaining the gospel in its purity, and not to 
 be led aside by fallacies and delusions of the flesh, how- 
 ever alluring they might seem. He also very touchingly 
 gave thanks and love to all who attended upon him at the 
 last, saying he knew that he had been a great care and 
 burden and expressing his heartfelt gratitude to every one 
 who had done him a service, however small. 
 
 Sister Catherine Van Houten said she had known Elder 
 Frederic fifty years, and remembered his baptism in the 
 gift of preaching, which occurred in this meeting house. 
 Much of his success and his growth in goodness and in 
 usefulness, should be attributed to the fact that he was 
 always ready to humble himself and accept the ministra- 
 tions of the spirit. 
 
 Eldress Rosetta Hendrickson, of VVatervliet, in returning 
 thanks lor the gift of love sent by the meeting to gospel 
 kindred at Watervliet, and especially to the beloved Minis- 
 try, took occasion to pay a tribute of praise to Elder 
 Frederic's pure and noble character and to acknowledge 
 the widespread influence* of his life and work. She had no 
 doubt that his efforts in Zion's cause would be redoubled, 
 now that he is out of the body, and that he would be a 
 minister to Believer's, not only at Mount Lebanon, but that 
 he would visit among all the societies. 
 
 Sister Minerva Reynolds and Margaret Gibson also spoke 
 briefly, voicing their convictions of Elder Frederic's purity 
 and elevation of character. Most touching was the testi- 
 mony of Sister Agnes Lee who, with her natural sister 
 
48 Funeral Services. 
 
 Janet, had been gathered by Elder Frederic during his last 
 visit to Scotland. She never could be too thankful, she 
 said for the ministration of truth and of salvation which she 
 had received through Elder Frederic , and in his presence 
 had always experienced a blessed and beautiful influence 
 which she knew to be the outbreathing of his pure and 
 noble character. In leaving her native land, her home and 
 frieiids, she felt no misgivings, for she intuitively knew that 
 he was worthy of her perfect trust and confidence. 
 
 In closing the meeting, which had lasted more than three 
 hours. Elder Daniel Offord said : 
 
 " Elder Frederic's life was built on the firm foundation of 
 the principles of Mother Ann Lee's gospel. He was care- 
 ful that there should be no infringement of the law of 
 chastity and true virgin celebacy. Any one coming into 
 our Order under false pretenses, with an intention to sub- 
 vert the purity of our faith and life, was always met with a 
 testimony that was as a consuming fire. His spirit was 
 keen against all worldliness and the lusts of the flesh. 
 
 " He was a close scriptural student, and was apt in the 
 application of texts from sacred writings, often to the con- 
 founding of those who argued with him on religious points. 
 Believing that true science and religion harmonized, and 
 that the natural and spiritual belonged together in the 
 home life, he taught physiology and hygiene, and after many 
 years of eftbrt succeeded in abolishing a meat diet from 
 our family table. 
 
 " In ' the increase of the kingdom of righteousness to 
 order and establish it, there shall be no end ;' but this 
 increase I believe will be on the lines laid down by our 
 worthy father, the pioneer reformer, who has proved to us 
 by his long life, freedom from disease, and sound mind, 
 
Funeral Services. 49 
 
 that purity, self denial, and obedience to the laws of life 
 ensure good results. 
 
 " Elder Frederic believed in progress through successive 
 cycles, and that Believers would pass through seven cycles 
 of increase ; we were on the eve of a new opening, and 
 must be preparing ourselves to move forward with the 
 unfolding light and knowledge of the present. The spirit- 
 ual should be paramount to the temporal; with the increase 
 of earthly cares and burdens, we have grown lax in our 
 spiritual ministrations, and have in a measure failed to 
 reach that blessing which we can only possess, as did the 
 good patriarch of old, by continued wrestling with the 
 angel of God. When the divine influence is uppermost in 
 our Zion homes, and the righteousness of the kingdom of 
 Christ be made manifest, then there will be souls prepared 
 by the Spirit, who will come for something more than the 
 ' loaves and the fishes.' * They who hunger and thirst for 
 righteousness ' will find the bread and waters of life and 
 salvation, and consecrate all to this glorious cause. 
 
 ** I know there are many of my brethren and sisters who 
 share in these sentiments. 
 
 " There are now necessary duties to be attended to, and 
 as our religion is practical, it is best expressed in the right 
 performance of every act of life. 
 
 " I thank all who have attended our services and all who 
 have contributed to the meeting, in honoring the memory 
 of our worthy father. To the friends present who are not 
 of our Order, we also extend our sincere thanks, your 
 attendance and quiet attention we take as a mark of sin- 
 cere respect, which we appreciate." 
 
 Brother Levi Shaw, our good deacon, spoke briefly, say- 
 ing : " I thank the brethren and sisters in behalf of Elder 
 
50 Funeral Services. 
 
 Frederic. I have had a long acquaintance with the 
 deceased, for more than half a century, and have always 
 known him to be a loving brother, a trusted leader, and a 
 faithful minister of the testimony of truth. His labors of 
 love will bring him the reward and blessing that follow as 
 a sure recompense for well doing." 
 
 The closing song, entitled " My Home Above " by sis- 
 ter Lucy S. Bowers, was then sung. 
 
 I see the glory of the heavenly world, 
 
 Beautiful home above, 
 Mansions shining in the golden light 
 
 Of eternal truth and love. 
 
 Cho. — Yet a little while and I'll be there, 
 Yet a little while and I'll be there, 
 Will you go with me ? will you go with me ? 
 There is room enough for all to share. 
 
 I hear the echo of an angel voice 
 
 Calling me, Oh what cheer ! 
 Sorrow vanishes and hope grows bright 
 
 As the meeting time draws near. 
 
 Cho. — Yet a little while — 
 
 THE BURIAL. 
 
 Perhaps a short account of the closing of Elder Fred- 
 eric's notable career will be interesting. 
 
 A more characteristic day of his life and ministration 
 could not have been chosen for the funeral. His hfe had 
 been fraught with intense mental and physical activity, and 
 he had a spirit and force, that in one more ambitious of 
 distinction, might have wrought mighty deeds, but he 
 "turned the battle to the gate," conquered his own spirit 
 and in the strength of truth was ever on the alert to strive 
 
Funeral Services. 51 
 
 against error in spite of every obstacle, and with iconoclas- 
 tic weapons to overthrow false systems and theologies. 
 
 He carried the same spirit in his temporal labors ; no 
 day was too stormy to thwart the accomplishment of some 
 plan of business, and he often came in from his work drip- 
 ping wet, announcing that it was just the right kind of 
 weather in which to set out trees and plants or to mend 
 roads. The day, and all the incidents therewith connected, 
 could not have been more appropriate. 
 
 Preparations were made in the Meeting House for a 
 large assembly, and fires kept burning three days before- 
 hand to insure the comfort of all. 
 
 The roads over the mountain and in every other direc- 
 tion were all but impassable on account of the enormous 
 snow drifts, yet, regardless of these conditions, notice was 
 given and we determined to do our best. 
 
 Wednesday was beautiful, at midnight the stars shown 
 brightly, but before morning the heavens began to weep, 
 nor did they cease until afternoon of the next day. In the 
 forenoon we drove up to the grove on the hill, saw that 
 everything was in order there, and then shoveled a path 
 from our home to the place of meeting ; but the rain came 
 so freely and the thaw progressed so rapidly that it became 
 useless for the sisters to attempt to go out on foot. 
 
 We had loaned our large sleigh to the Canaan family, 
 who afterward found it impossible to attend, and our 
 troubles were multiplied by the breakage of our light 
 sleigh ; however, after considerable labor and contrivance 
 the sisters were all carried safely to their destination, while 
 the brethren put on their high rubber boots and walked. 
 
 All were assembled — including a few of our neighbors, 
 and ready to open the services at i o'clock. The meeting 
 
62 Funeral Services. 
 
 proper lasted three hours and a quarter, after which prepar- 
 ations were made for the interment. 
 
 On account of the weather and the dangers of the way, 
 only those who could be of special service went to the 
 grave. Then followed a scene never to be forgotten. The 
 water came down the roadway, leading to the cemetery, in 
 a deluge and with force sufficient to run a large sized saw- 
 mill. The snow from the hills above had slidden down 
 over the burying ground, covering the track to a depth of 
 from two to three feet. Undaunted, we pressed on until 
 we came to a place where the sleigh, in which the remains 
 were carried, nearly capsized; by main strength of all hands 
 united it was supported and helped along. 
 
 After one more struggle through snow and slush into 
 which we sunk above our boot tops, we arrived at the 
 grave. Here we were required to shovel out a space in order 
 to bring the sleigh to a proper level. To add to our toil 
 we found the grave full and running over with water ; this 
 necessitated a return to the house for pails with which to 
 dip it out. 
 
 In a short time the last duty was finished. Getting 
 home at 6 o'clock, we were glad to take a little rest. Our 
 minds were exercised with serious thoughts and reflections, 
 and thus came to a close a day, filled to the last hour with 
 new and memorable experiences. 
 
 Daniel Offord. 
 
TRIBUTES OF LOVE. 
 
HOME OFFERINGS. 
 
 GUIDING STARS. 
 
 AMELIA J. CALVER. 
 
 "There is no death, the stars go down 
 
 To rise upon some fairer shore, 
 And bright in heaven's jewelled crown, 
 
 They shine forevermore. " 
 
 For a time we have been gazing upon a beautiful star of 
 the first magnitude, as it slowly but surely descended 
 toward the western horizon. 
 
 Though it had been radiant at its zenith, it seemed none 
 the less so now, as the thought passed over us, that too 
 soon must its light be hidden from our view. Many eyes 
 have been turned toward it from far and near as it lingered 
 above the golden rim. But ere we are fully aware, we look 
 and it is gone, and the night seems dark. We turn away 
 with saddened hearts, to seek the rest which weary watch- 
 ing claims, wondering what the dawn will bring. 
 
 The scene changes. When the first ray of light foretells 
 the* coming day, we awake refreshed, and lo ! what meets 
 our eager sight. Our star ! our beautiful star is the first 
 harbinger of dawn. As it chmbs and leaves below the 
 Orient hills, it is still grander than when its Occidental 
 journey closed, and we are no more sad. A new day is 
 dawning, for the morning star of hope, of promise, bears to 
 us the joyful news, and gives us renewed vigor for the nec- 
 essary toil of the new day. 
 
66 Home Offerings. 
 
 This is the open vision which for a week has been before 
 me, and the prophetic testimonies of our memorial services* 
 so fully corroborated the same, that I deem it wrong to 
 slight the impression of the beautiful panorama of the 
 heavens which has passed before me. Be mine this hope : 
 that if the brave, strong spirit of our father in Israel, tram- 
 meled by the fetters of earth life, could still be so fearless, 
 so true while here, how much more can he do now that his 
 spirit is freed from earthly shackles. If our minds are so 
 spiritually sensitive that we can feel the vivifying vibrations 
 from the land of souls, we shall still be blessed with the 
 ministrations of those who have been to us as guiding stars 
 all along the journey of hfe, for their light has not dimin- 
 ished, nor their power for good lessened. 
 
 FROM SISTER EMMA J. NEAL. 
 
 We cannot allow a name, which seems to us the 
 synonym of invincible courage, to pass into history without 
 adding our testimony to the many already given. 
 
 Every leader in human society has immediate followers. 
 Some find strength and growth in the atmosphere of their 
 personahty, while others are recipients of their out-flowing 
 thought and influence, through channels of communication 
 that also bring blessing and ministration to mind and soul. 
 
 My earliest recollections of our good father date from 
 the early age of ten years. I had looked forward with 
 anticipation to the time when I might attend public ser- 
 vice. It was my Sabbath lesson to take note of, and repeat 
 as much of Elder Frederic's sermon as my little brain could 
 retain. I always listened with eagerness and attention and 
 comprehended quite well the truths he uttered. 
 
 I now recall the many times I queried whether he was 
 not to us a Moses^ called of God to lead the people from 
 
Home Offerings. 57 
 
 Egyptian bondage into the new light and Hfe of a more 
 glorious dispensation. His clear, ringing voice echoed 
 through the arch of the church as he proclaimed the law of 
 righteousness, and insisted on its application in every 
 domain of life. At first, only marked points in his dis- 
 courses impressed me, but as I grew older and increased 
 my interest I could memorize the sermon in full. 
 
 The seed thus early sown, ripened into the knowledge of 
 wisdom and the understanding of the principles of the 
 divine life. Elder Frederic's logic appealed to my reason, 
 and his progressive theology seemed to me a sound basis 
 for a non-partisan church. 
 
 Coming into the Order of Believers without sectarian 
 bias or prejudice, his intellect was unclouded, and he 
 believed only on the evidence that appealed to his 
 faculties, and he was able to present clearly to others the 
 truth he received. He was the first to place before the 
 world the distinction between the two orders — the natural 
 and the spiritual — the *' New Heavens" and the "New 
 Earth," wherein should dwell the righteousness pertaining 
 to each, in harmony with God's law. 
 
 His ideas of cycles of progress, the Christs of the ages, 
 or the prophets and saviors of mankind, and his conclusive 
 arguments concerning the governmental issues of the day 
 have left an impress for good. He was a man preemi- 
 nently able to teach by reason, though he often said that 
 ''religious controversy was the gates of hell," and that "true 
 love was better than logic." 
 
 His style of oratory was unaffected and easy, his words 
 plain and full of meaning, but his sentences were often too 
 laconic to be explicit and his speech was never redundant. 
 
58 Home Offerings. 
 
 It has been said that good pupils excel their teacher, and 
 knowing his qualifications we have sanguine hopes in the 
 future. Already we have indications that some will follow 
 on the same Hues of advancement to greater achievements 
 — continuing through right development, and perceiving 
 cause and effect, will help our societies to outgrow many 
 cherished errors which time-honored custom has established 
 as essential principles. 
 
 TO OUR FATHER. 
 Elder Frederic W. Evans. 
 
 Published in 1890. 
 One of the Immortal Names that were not Born to Die. 
 
 CECELIA DEVERE. 
 
 Honor in life to whom is due honor ; 
 
 Oh gladly do we bring the pearls of praise, 
 
 And flowers of gratitude profusely strew 
 
 Upon the pathway of thy autumn days. 
 
 Why should we wait until the earthly end, 
 
 To blindly reach across the jasper wall, 
 
 The wealth, the blessing that should now descend, 
 
 The benedictions that should on thee fall ? 
 
 Affection's tokens fill each rolling year. 
 
 They come like planets fair to gem thy dome, 
 
 The true, the just thy uprightness revere ; 
 
 But more than fame to thety is love of home. 
 
 From east and west, from islands of the sea, 
 
 From lands afar beyond the belt of waves, 
 
 Come messages of love and thanks to thee, 
 
 For nobly sending forth the word that saves. 
 
 True to thy call to preach unto the world. 
 
 That place of bondage and of spirit needs, 
 
 To show the serpent in the roses curled. 
 
Home Offerings. 59 
 
 And hurl swift thunderbolts against the creeds. 
 
 No fear, no tie, no favor could deter 
 
 Thy valiant spirit from the conflict strong, 
 
 Unflinchingly it faced the powers that were, 
 
 And bravely used its sword on ancient wrong. 
 
 Integrity and zeal perhaps are stern ; 
 
 They are thine armor, warm the heart below ; 
 
 Up through thine eyes we see its home fires burn, 
 
 And in thy kindliness we feel their glow. 
 
 The earth demands such saviors as thou art ; 
 
 Myrrh and frankincense will not banish sin, 
 
 'Tis fire from heaven that will cleanse the heart. 
 
 And consecration, life anew begin. 
 
 'Twas work, 'twas battle that thy ardor taught 
 
 'Twas deep repentance where God's mercies flow, 
 
 'Twas Babylon's confusions brought to naught 
 
 Ambition, pride and selfishness laid low. 
 
 'Twas angel purity, pellucid, bright, 
 
 The world of life revealed, not man-construed, 
 
 The dawning of the day, not sunset light. 
 
 The large unfathomed faith that still renewed. 
 
 The hope that on the present laid its balm. 
 
 Healed the dull wound and soothed the rankling pain, 
 
 To grief's wild tempest gave the magic calm, 
 
 And soaring, breathed a full triumphal strain, 
 
 That hope, no storm-glooms could obscure or dim, 
 
 It cleft the darkness with its sabre rays. 
 
 And gave the future's broken, distant rim 
 
 A coronet of jewels all ablaze. 
 
 Dear Father, how we prize that glorious hope. 
 
 That chieftain-spirit, that the hights would scale, 
 
 That never stooped in fallacies to grope, 
 
 And never knew the coward's watch -word, ' fail !' 
 
 Swift as the eagle's glance o'er cloud or fen. 
 
 Thine eyes discerned the work that was of God, 
 
 And knew the structure that was reared by men, 
 
 And smote it wiih the angel's gifted rod. 
 
 Whate'er of Christ or holiness the claim, 
 
60 Home Offerings. 
 
 Lofty in whiteness or in whiteness low. 
 
 Thy test of purity was still the same, 
 
 For loathsome leprosy, is white as snow. 
 
 The test was in thy soul, the work it did 
 
 Gave doctrines by the dual-Christ revealed, 
 
 Henceforth in thee were treasures shown and hid, 
 
 Because thy call by sacrifice was sealed. 
 
 What is the mountain's crest above the storm, 
 
 And what the sea-ward river's constant tide, 
 
 Or mellow autumn sun diffused and warm, 
 
 Compared with lives by travail glorified ? 
 
 Think not our love has placed thy worth too high. 
 
 For thou art Zion's, none can swell the claim, 
 
 And long as truth is blazoned in the sky, 
 
 Bright in her galaxy shall glow thy name 
 
 With those of saints who suffered. Earth may pass, 
 
 And heaven be brought together like a scroll. 
 
 Yet shall they shine above the sea of glass. 
 
 Within the deathless regions of the soul. 
 
 COMMENDATION. 
 
 ERNEST PICK. 
 
 Eldress Antoinette Doolittle in her last interview with 
 the North Family, said : " Though Elder Frederic seems 
 to some individuals to be rather firm and radical in opinion, 
 yet he is a man of God ; having been many years closely 
 associated with him I can testify to this truth, he is a noble 
 and upright man of God." 
 
 Christian love requires us to give honor and due com- 
 mendation to our friends and benefactors while they are 
 
Home Offerings. 61 
 
 yet alive, and not postpone it 'till their ears are deaf and 
 their hearts cease to beat. 
 
 It was Elder Frederic's good fortune to be the recipient 
 of many kindly feelings of appreciation ; on the other hand 
 he received an ample share of criticism, he had many a 
 sting and thrust from his opposers and enemies, but he 
 remained unshaken, and endured it all calmly and bravely. 
 
 His name was known the world over, from Maine to 
 California, from Russia to England. In New Zealand and 
 Africa, on the PhiHpine Islands, in Japan and on the Isles 
 of the Pacific he counted friends ; contributions from his 
 pen reached far and wide, and the grand and perfect ideals 
 emanating from his well developed mind, diffused new 
 hght among many people. 
 
 To those who loved the truth he was Hke a magnet. He 
 attracted by a powerful kind of argument that convicted 
 and convinced, and won souls to Christ by enlightening 
 their understandings, and by causing them to feel the 
 power of true love. 
 
 He was a pioneer in the work of true reformation, begin- 
 ning by reforming his own character. He also had a 
 prophetic spirit, saw great changes for the future, for the 
 good of our own society and for the world at large. 
 
 His influence will outlast his name and memory. He lived 
 to do good, and many will call him blessed. Through 
 obedience to his testimony, new life will be infused into 
 the body of Believers whom he was pleased to call his peo- 
 ple, among whom he was a chosen leader, and in whom his 
 life interest centered. May peace, love and blessing be his 
 crown of joy, and may we be able to take up the burden 
 he has so nobly carried, and progress even to greater 
 degrees of truth and righteousness. 
 
62 Home Offerings. 
 
 FAITH'S FRUITAGE. 
 
 MARGARET GIBSON. 
 
 Oh that our faith like thine may bear 
 
 A fruitage full when days are done, 
 When tired feet and wearied hands 
 
 Have reached reward ; the work well done. 
 The "peace on earth " had come to thee, 
 
 No clarion sound of war's alarm, 
 A home where loving ministry 
 
 In service kind lent life a charm. 
 
 A sweet assurance filled thy heart, 
 
 That home, and love were mingled here ; 
 A selfless soul could not impart 
 
 Aught but its love for kindred dear. 
 " Brethren and sisters, ye are mine 
 
 Who do God's will in hope and fear. 
 Who keep the gospel armor on, 
 
 And tread the path of duty here. 
 
 '• The narrow way will brighter grow ; 
 
 The ways of sin will hideous seem ; 
 The pomp and pleasure, grief and woe. 
 
 The carnal mind, the world's mad dream 
 Of pride, ambition, greed of gain 
 
 All laid aside for Christ's dear sake. 
 Thro' days of toil, self-sacrifice, 
 
 A paradise on earth to make." 
 
 Withdrawn from earthly home and love 
 
 To gain a greater hold on truth. 
 Baptized of Christ — the snow white dove — 
 
 Brings to thy life immortal youth. 
 A greater glory thou wilt reach, 
 
 Thy light will yet more searching be. 
 While powers of heaven combine to teach 
 
 Earth's children, perfect liberty. 
 
Home Offerings. 63 
 
 To Zion will their footsteps tend, 
 
 From worldly ties and fetters free 
 And sin that leads to death's sad end 
 
 And robs the soul of purity. 
 And they who built this ark of peace 
 
 The glad thanksgiving song will hear, 
 While grateful hearts and loving hands 
 
 Uplifted, bring their tributes dear. 
 
Tokens of Friendship. 
 
Treasures from the Land of Canaan. 
 
 Beloved Elder Frederic : 
 
 Feeling a strong desire to write a few lines to you I embrace this, the 
 first opportunity. 
 
 To begin with, be so kind as to accept my heart-felt love and 
 blessing for the fatherly care and interest which you have so kindly 
 manifested in my behalf for many years. You only, dear Elder, have 
 been the one to whom I have looked for safe guidance, and I have never 
 stumbled when obedient to your wise counsels. 
 
 Now that you are released from the cares and burdens that have been 
 yours to bear for over half a century, I sincerely desire that the even- 
 tide of your life may be filled with abundant peace and quietness. 
 
 Through all the years of my acquaintance with you I have admired 
 the great strength of character that you have always exhibited. You 
 may be compared to a sturdy oak grown in an open field, whose tough 
 fibre has withstood the adverse winds and storms of many years ; like 
 it you have developed a firmness and toughness of mental fibre that 
 made you unyielding amid wild winds of nature, that at times prevailed 
 so fiercely. Or I could with equal propriety, compare you to a light- 
 house, built on a rock-bound coast, a guide to the storm-tossed mariner. 
 You have stood upon the rocky shores of time and braved the wild pas- 
 sions of human nature that often rise Hke tempests ; the waves have 
 dashed and beaten around you and threatened to engulf and destroy, 
 but you have remained unmoved and unbroken, and clearly pointed out 
 the way in which souls should travel in order to reach a haven of safety, 
 of peace and rest. 
 
 Great has been your work, and a glorious reward awaits you. It will 
 only be after you have passed to spirit life that we shall come to a full 
 realization of the good you have accomplished. We shall reap where 
 you have sown. You have been instrumental in bringing many souls to 
 the gospel of light, love and purity, and caused them to be filled witj^ 
 thankfulness. I am certain that there is nothing worth living for in the 
 world, but in the gospel of Mother there is no end to the increase of 
 wisdom and knowledge. 
 
68 Home Offerings. 
 
 It is through your counsels and instructions that I have attained to 
 the degree of faith and spiritual travel which I now experience. 
 
 The principles of vegetarianism which you have so nobly upheld in 
 the midst of much opposition, are being accepted by a large number of 
 people ; this must be a matter of great pleasure and satisfaction to 
 your spirit. Being myself a lover of vegetarianism I can see how it may 
 benefit Believers in their progress toward the heavenly life. I would 
 be glad to see a Shaker Community established somewhere in a 
 warmer climate, where there are not such severe atmospheric changes 
 as those to which we are subject, on a strict vegetarian basis, where 
 there would be no necessity for the raising of animals, to appropriate as 
 food or to sell, as a means of profit. 
 
 We call ourselves vegetarians ; we are only so in part, for we use 
 milk, cream, butter, eggs, etc. Still, withal we have made wonderful 
 progress, but we do not come up to our highest light when we raise 
 animals for others to kill and eat, by so doing we are helping to con- 
 tinue a gross barbaric custom. And I would be glad to see this 
 community actuated by the principle of procuring a living entirely from 
 the land, having no need of hired men, nor any use for animals except 
 the horse, possibly the ox ; then would the law, " thou shalt not kill," 
 be obeyed and nothing "hurt or harm in all God's holy mountain." 
 This would stand as a powerful protest against the ungodly practices of 
 an unregenerate people. 
 
 The spirit of Christ calls for a separation from the life of the world, 
 its habits, its follies and pleasures. The raising and keeping of animals, 
 and the hireling system are in every way wrong. If our Order had 
 risen above these things we might have escaped the accident that 
 occurred recently that brought so much pain and regiet to our hearts. 
 
 I am sorry when I think of the rutway in which Believers move. 
 How long, O Lord shall thy people uphold the wicked practices of the 
 world? 
 
 Now Elder Frederic I hope I have not wearied you ; it seemed pleas- 
 ant to me to address you upon subjects in which you have always been 
 so much interested, and I could not withhold. 
 
 Beloved Father, now that you have come to the evening of life and 
 arc released from the many cares and burdens that so long have rested 
 upon your shoulders, I hope you will bestow a fulness of blessing upon 
 your successor — Elder Daniel, for he is one that has grown up from a 
 
Home Offerings. 09 
 
 youth under your direct care, instruction and discipline; he is well 
 fitted and prepared to wear the mantle which you have so nobly laid 
 aside. 
 
 What a bright example you will be to the brethren, especially to 
 those who are young in the faith. You will be able to show them the 
 way of life by precept and example and tell them of what the Lord has 
 done for you, and thus continue to be a blessing to the family in which 
 you reside, and to the whole household of faith during your remaining 
 days on earth. 
 
 We who live in Canaan, are striving to keep pace with the increasing 
 work of the gospel as far as we are able to comprehend it. 
 
 So you must rejoice beloved father in the great good you have done, 
 and that the " lines have fallen to you in such pleasant places." 
 Kindly your brother, 
 
 George W. Clark. 
 
 FROM ANGELINE BROWN. 
 
 ••Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that 
 man is peace. " 
 
 One more of Zion's saintly patriarchs has doffed the 
 mortal for the immortal. 
 
 His noble heroic spirit will never cease to move forward 
 on its divinely inspired mission, nor to work for the cause 
 of redemption, to teach the hearts of humanity the way of 
 righteousness, and now as it is unfettered by earthly 
 encumbrances, he will the more easily perform greater good. 
 
 Dear father, is it possible that we shall never see thy 
 venerable form again, nor hear breathed from thy lips sweet 
 words of wisdom and encouragement in soul-inspiring 
 prophecies of the peace, and prosperity that ultimately will 
 crown the increase of the work of God on earth ? 
 
 How many times, when weary in body and spirit you 
 have sought a little rest in the happy land of Canaan, and 
 still in resting, was ever active, imparting the hope of the 
 
70 Home Offerings. 
 
 spirit ; you was to us in truth a tower of strength ; it was 
 comforting to feel your fatherly care and to know that you 
 had an interest in our prosperity. 
 
 Elder Frederic held for us a great and constant blessing, 
 and by his ministrations we have been helped through 
 many difficulties. But should we sorrow for our loss, when 
 we realize his gain ? Should we repine when we know his 
 felicity is augmented ? 
 
 A sheaf fully ripened for the garners of the Lord hath 
 the harvest angel gathered home. Crowned with the hon- 
 ors of the truly great, our loved father has entered the 
 resurrection heavens, bearing palms of victory, rejoicing in 
 conquests won. 
 
 He bore the heat and burden of the day for many, many 
 long years, and when released from labor and care, it was 
 not to him a time of sorrowing that there were none to 
 assume the responsibilities which would devolve upon the 
 individual called to fill his position ; but, through his untir- 
 ing labors, he had educated one, who with the same earnest, 
 unwavering fortitude and steadfastness of purpose, was pre- 
 pared to go forth in defense of the right, clad in the armor 
 of the spirit of truth. 
 
 Thus we are not forsaken, but to us the promise is ful- 
 filled, " If thou wilt walk in My statutes, and execute My 
 judgments, and keep all my commandments, then will I 
 perform My word with thee, and I will dwell among the 
 children of Israel, and will not forsake My people." 
 
 FROM EMILY OFFORD. 
 
 Another shining luminary has been transferred from the 
 terrestrial to the celestial sphere ; but its radiance is not 
 extinguished ; it brightly beams and will continue to. 
 
Home Offerings. 71 
 
 An indefatigable toiler, having faithfully performed the 
 duties of this life, has gone to take part in new fields of 
 action, for our beloved father still lives; we cannot think of 
 him as dead. 
 
 The amount ot good accomplished by his willing hands, 
 his prolific mind and cheerful, self-sacrificing devoted 
 spirit, has formed for him a monument more glorious and 
 more enduring than was ever raised for any of the sons of 
 fame. 
 
 His broad, philanthropic mind, did not confine its inter- 
 est and labors exclusively to his own prescribed family ; 
 he was ever ready to extend his services and influence 
 wherever opportunity offered or necessity required. 
 
 All reformers and seekers after truth, whether inmates of 
 the Shaker Order or not, shared his deepest sympathy and 
 hearty support. He was really and truly philanthropic. 
 
 His brave, resolute spirit was ever ready to defend the 
 truth and those who maintained it. He could stand alone, 
 if need be, in holding forth right principles. 
 
 We shall miss our beloved Elder Frederic ; his fatherly 
 counsel, his hopeful encouraging word?, his heart searching, 
 soul inspiring testimony in our spiritual meetings, and his 
 clear enunciation of our gospel truths. Yea, all this we 
 shall miss and much more. 
 
 We, at Canaan, will often think of his loving ministra- 
 tions of courage and comfort, for he was ever ready to help 
 us spiritually and materially, and when he found time 
 beside performing his spiritual duties, he would go forth 
 with his pruning knife, assisting in the culture of fruits, 
 always busy with both head and hand, ever anxious to do 
 good to all, at all times and in all places. 
 
72 Home Offerings. 
 
 The lowly as well as the great, were recipients of his 
 favors; but we will not mourn for we know he rejoices. 
 
 He has fulfilled his mission with honor. 
 
 His work is done, and well done, and he leaves this 
 world, crowned with the blessings of his people, and enters 
 the immortal land amid the sweet benediction of angels, 
 into whose society he is borne, to be one with them. 
 
 We pray that his blessing may remain with us, that he 
 may often come to us from his spirit home, with sweet 
 influences and blessed ministrations of resurrecting life and 
 power. 
 
 FROM FLORENCE A. STAPLES. 
 
 He toiled for right, his kindly christian deeds 
 
 Within our fond remembrance shall abide ; 
 A servant of the Lord, whose dauntless soul, 
 
 The furnace of affliction hath well tried. 
 
 The call upon the battle field to him, 
 
 Awakened naught of fear or of dismay ; 
 His weapon was the living power of truth, 
 
 So potent every sinful foe to slay. 
 
 Amid his toils so worthy and so blest, 
 
 He nobly wrought for Zion's great increase ; 
 
 We mark the course wherein pure wisdom led, 
 And find her paths were those of perfect peace. 
 
 Strong in the faith which shielded by its might, 
 And in life's conflicts proved a constant guide, 
 
 He stood a pillar in the temple placed. 
 
 Stayed as the rock beneath the surging tide. 
 
 His mission was the lost to seek and save, 
 To guide the erring, to the blind give sight ; 
 
 To calm the storm upon the sea of life 
 
 With ' ' peace be stilJ, '* through love's all conquering might. 
 
Home Offerings. 73 
 
 A sower of the seed from which shall spring 
 
 A bounteous harvest o'er the fertile plain, 
 Glad hearts returning homeward shall rejoice, 
 
 And bring with them the golden sheaves of grain. 
 
 O blessed one! thy rest is in the Lord, 
 
 Within the many mansions of His car's ; 
 Thy spirit hath the Master gathered home, t 
 
 The merits of a godly life to share. 
 
 The summon's heard, " Come, come my well beloved 
 To fairer climes beyond the scenes of night ;" 
 
 A cloud steals o'er — lo! sunbeams smile again. 
 We see him entering through the gates of light. 
 
 We hear the welcome from the ransomed throng. 
 
 As bursts its music on thy listening ear ; 
 And catch the inspiration of the song, 
 
 That floats adown from out the inner sphere. 
 
 We know thy lifted soul with bliss will find 
 
 A glad reunion with the friends of yore ; 
 Neath arbors of immortal bloom repose. 
 
 Enraptured with a joy unknown before. 
 
 But not unmindful of thy little flock, 
 
 A solace to them still I know thou'lt bear ; 
 In childlike trust we'll watch, and wait, to hold 
 
 Communion with thee, through the gates of prayer. 
 
 And draw thee near, though passed from view the form 
 
 Which earth embraces as her final claim, 
 And cherish still thy counsel and thy love ; 
 
 Embalmed in memories sweet shall live thy name. 
 
 FROM JENNIE VINNEO. 
 
 One generation shall praise thy works to another. 
 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy goodness, and shaU 
 sing of thy righteousness. PsA. CXLV : 4-7. 
 
74 Home Offerings. 
 
 Of whom can this be more truly said than of our father. 
 His has been a noble career. By self-sacrifice and an undi- 
 vided interest in the cause of truth, he has reared for him- 
 self an enduring monument, which will remain unchanged 
 as the years come and go. 
 
 Still he will be with us, an unseen though trusted leader, 
 guiding us into more truth ; we know his zeal for its pro- 
 mulgation will not abate ; new fields are now opened 
 before him. 
 
 His goodness will ever live in our memories. Truly he 
 was a father in need and a father indeed. When making 
 brief visits to our family, as he frequently did, these words 
 would often fall from his saintly lips : " Fear not little 
 flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the 
 kingdom." Spoken in the fullness of fatherly love, they 
 were a source of strength and encouragement. 
 
 One by one the saints of our time are passing from our 
 view; they have done their work, "fought the fight and 
 kept the faith," and have gone to their well-earned reward. 
 
 A VETERAN'S TESTIMONY. 
 
 Elder Abraham Perkins in the ^'jth year of his age. 
 
 * • Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day 
 in Israel ?" 
 
 Elder Frederic VV. Evans was a man suited to the con- 
 ditions of his day. In his creation he was well calculated 
 to deal with conflicting subjects and adjust them amicably. 
 However varied, or however severe the trial in meeting 
 emergencies, he firmly and courageously faced the contest 
 
Home Offerings. 75 
 
 becoming his Christian profession, with an inspiration that 
 was powerful in silencing opposition to principles of truth 
 and right. His resources seemed unlimited. His talents 
 were of a high order, and he was easy of approach ; simple, 
 yet dignified in his address and manners, and ever cheer- 
 fully and humbly bowed to the gift of God, revealed 
 through the divinely Anointed Order of the Church of 
 Christ. He was a remarkable character; a man of God; 
 self-poised and self-sacrificing. 
 
 He was an embassador of Christ, fruitful and uncom- 
 monly gifted. He was not only strong in genuine Christian 
 faith, but powerful in the ministration thereof, and abund- 
 antly able to give a reason of the same, which no earthly 
 power could controvert. Equal to his faith were his sacri- 
 fices and christian life. In his duties he spared not himself; 
 unto the Lord his powers were fully consecrated. His hfe 
 merits praise and is deserving of benediction. 
 
 I have had an acquaintance with Elder Frederic over 
 fifty years ; an acquaintance invariably pleasant, thus pro- 
 ducing a friendship which I believe to be eternal. I loved 
 him and I miss him. His demise is a bereavement to Zion; 
 it removes from our midst one of the most able advocates 
 of millennial principles. Though deprived of his visible 
 presence and labors here, in his glorified state in the church 
 triumphant, he may be more efficient in giving spiritual 
 growth and increase to the church militant, thus advancing 
 upon earth the great and final work of salvation. 
 
 We have no right to mourn for the dispensation. His 
 work here is done, and thoroughly done. It remains for 
 us to emulate his life and example. 
 
 Enfield, N. H. 
 
76 Home Offerings. 
 
 VOICES FROM EAST CANTERBURY, N. H. 
 
 ELDER HENRY C. BLINN, EDITOR OF " THE MANIFESTO." 
 *' There is no death, what seems so is transition." — Longfellow. 
 
 It is in loving remembrance of a dear gospel father, that 
 our mind, at this time, dwells with pleasure on the many 
 hours of sweet communion, or of soul communion, that 
 have been enjoyed in gathering wisdom's treasures. 
 
 Our beloved Elder Frederic still lives in our memory as 
 one of the Sons of God, whose mind was a storehouse of 
 beautiful gifts and whose liberal soul dispensed these 
 precious treasures with a bountiful hand. 
 
 Years of devotional care and consecrated labor had 
 afforded him an inspiration from a sphere beyond that in 
 which the most of us poor mortals dwell. His disciplinary 
 system, so well carried out, through a long series of years, 
 enabled him to maintain a healthy form of government over 
 the mind, and to be what he professed to be, a brother 
 among the Brethren. 
 
 Only a few months have moved into the past since an 
 assemblage of dear friends were saying farewell to beloved 
 Elder Daniel Boler, and at that time Elder Frederic was 
 an interested and prominent speaker. It did not occur to 
 us on that day, that at this early date we should be called 
 to bid farewell to our beloved Elder Frederic as he pre- 
 pared for that anticipated journey, an exploration of "the 
 land of souls." 
 
 Seemingly he has lived in that world and shared in its 
 influences, while he still dwelt among us and enlisted all 
 his energies for the peace and prosperity of every branch of 
 the Community, on the earth or in the heavens. Elder 
 Frederic is not dead, for as Longfellow has written, — 
 
Home Offerings. 77 
 
 " There is no death." Without pain, without sickness, he 
 closed his eyes to the things of this earth and was trans- 
 lated as were some of the fathers, of days long gone by, 
 for God took him. He needed no horses with a chariot of 
 fire nor even a whirlwind to transport him to the sphere 
 beyond — his guide was his Heavenly Father. 
 
 His was a great heart, and a generous heart, in the man- 
 ifestations of the good spirit that would assist the great 
 body of Believers in moving onward and upward to better 
 conditions in this present world, and through this enable 
 them to appreciate more fully the great worth of a spiritual 
 inheritance. 
 
 Elder Frederic has made an indelible impression upon 
 the minds of all who have heard him, or who have studied 
 his writings, that he was a man of faith. Not a shadow of 
 doubt obscured his path, or prevented him from believing 
 that God, in his own good time, would consummate his 
 work among the children of men. He had never a doubt 
 of the triumph of right over wrong, and of the growing 
 spiritual prosperity of the Church of Christ. 
 
 How much we shall miss the dear father, as we visit the 
 places where he has walked on the earth, the dwellings and 
 their rooms, and the farms and the orchards will be made 
 better for his having been in them as an interested worker 
 and an honored brother of the Christian brotherhood. 
 
 FROM SISTER JANE CROCKER. 
 
 As we were kindly informed by letter of the day and 
 hour to be devoted to the Memorial services of revered 
 Elder Frederic who was our friend, brother and father, in 
 genuine sympathy with gospel kindred at Mt. Lebanon, we 
 laid all temporal duties aside, assembled in groups, and 
 
78 Home Offerings. 
 
 conversed in subdued tones, upon the goodness and virtues 
 that characterized his life ; we recalled to grateful memory 
 many pleasant reminiscences of his visits to our home ; his 
 words of wisdom, expressive of anxiety and keen interest 
 in all who were called into the radical work of God to 
 which his soul was committed. Thus we united in recog- 
 nition of a noble Christian leader. 
 
 As by a happy thought-wave, two of our companies 
 selected the appropriate hymns entitled, " The Angels are 
 Coming," and " We shall meet," a pleasant proof of the 
 oneness of faith's household, as we subsequently learned 
 that they were sung in the meeting at Mt. Lebanon. 
 
 We feel Zion's loss, and when we Hft our voices to tes- 
 tify to our own measure of it, we know full well that we 
 but echo the numerous voices of brethren and sisters which 
 swell like the sound of many waters in appreciation of the 
 exalted principles which made bright the life, and shall ever 
 be as a halo around his memory. 
 
 FILIAL APPRECIATION. 
 
 ASENATH C. STICK NEY. 
 
 Our tributes of respect and love are all voluntary, not 
 solicited : for we have shared liberally in the parental care 
 and interest of precious Elder Frederic. 
 
 Yet who is competent to sing 
 
 In measured lines his worth, 
 For bounded are the thoughts which spring 
 
 From minds of finite birth. 
 To us he was a moral might 
 
 Among his fellow men, 
 So brave a hero for the right 
 
Home Offerings. 79 
 
 We fain would see again. 
 He heeded not if o'er his way 
 
 Black billows flung their foam, 
 If he could lift truth's beacon ray 
 
 To guide the wanderer home. -^ 
 
 Such thoughts repeat themselves as often as we think of 
 the dear departed and his noble cotemporaries Elder 
 Daniel Boler and Giles B. Avery, who stand far above 
 mere human praise. We approach their pure spirits with 
 the love and simplicity of our gospel alone, not with adula- 
 tion such as the world would render. 
 
 Whenever their good deeds and gracious counsels occur 
 to our memory, we lose sight of the mortal, while our 
 thoughts enter the deific principles which they obeyed as 
 weir as advocated. We love to dwell on the large hearted 
 benevolence which so moulded them and transformed their 
 characters into the likeness of the Great Teacher, that they 
 became marvels of integrity in an age of deteriorated Chris- 
 tianity, and like him were saviors to many. 
 
 What an excellent lesson we find in Elder Frederic's 
 manifest dependence upon God. When about to engage 
 in any important enterprise he invariably sought aid 
 through supplication. For his missionary work among 
 strangers, he never failed to ask the prayers of those who 
 loved him most — his home friends — nor to invoke Divine 
 assistance that his utterances mioht be clothed with that 
 wisdoin which is from above. 
 
 We, his witnesses, affirm that the grandeur of his Christly 
 humihty impressed us more forcibly than even the elo- 
 quence of his speech, which seemed oftentimes like the 
 message of some mighty angel from on high. May we par- 
 take of the lowliness and zeal of our gospel parents. It 
 
80 Home Offerings. 
 
 seemed impossible for them to be lukewarm or apathetic. 
 They have left us the patrimony of their example, which 
 will enrich us if we accept it loyally, and thus prove our 
 birthright and our gratitude. 
 
 THE LAST LETTER. 
 
 DICTATED BY ELDER FREDERIC TO JESSIE EVANS. 
 
 Mt. Lebanon, N. Y., Feb. 27, 1893. 
 Dear Gospel Sister, Jessie : — 
 
 Although I have not strength to write, I am most anxious to convey 
 to you my heartfelt thanks for your very kind letter of recent date, and 
 for all the love and blessing it contained. So I use the hand of a young 
 brother to write this and to tell you that, although I am free from pain 
 or suffering, and am most comfortable and happy, surrounded as I am 
 with every care and attention that the most tender and thoughtful love 
 of my dear Gospel relations can prompt, I am quite conscious that I 
 am nearing the end of my earthly pilgrimage rapidly, and will soon pass 
 over to the spirit world. During the last few days my strength has 
 failed very much, and my breathing has become exceedingly difficult, 
 while any continued mental application tires and confuses my brain 
 quickly. 
 
 With this, my last letter in all probability, I send to you and to all 
 my gospel kindred at Canterbury, much love and blessing. 
 
 With strong and willing spirit, if weak in body, I am in gospel love, 
 Your brother, 
 
 F. W. Evans. 
 
 ANSWER TO THE FOREGOING. 
 
 East Canterbury, March, 1893. 
 Beloved Eldress A nna : 
 
 I deem it a great kindness that, amid your many cares and burdens, 
 you should be so thoughtful as to send the cherished letter left for me 
 by our precious father Elder Frederic. My heart is filled with grati- 
 tude that I am thus lovingly remembered. 
 
Home Offerings. 81 
 
 I would have considered it a great privilege to have been close by 
 during the last days of illness or decline, and to have received a parting 
 blessing from our sainted father. That he thought of poor, little 
 unworthy me, when failure of mental and physical faculties demanded 
 greater effort to complete needful duties in the line of writing, will ever 
 be a test of genuine love, stimulating me to live daily so that his noble 
 and pure spirit can approve and as my faith ever prompts. 
 
 It has been a loving satisfaction to write to him from time to time ; 
 none will ever know the real significance of the blessing it has been to 
 me, or the good it has wrought. 
 
 During hours of trial, it has upheld and strengthened me and my 
 soul has been supplied with water from the pure fountain of spiritual 
 truth, which welled up in his soul as a never failing spring. I have 
 written a few lines to append to this letter. Language is totally inade- 
 quate to express that which I would convey. As " The • unspeakable 
 gifts " are the deepest and most effective, so I will wisely hide this one 
 away, and foster it with undying love, that it may operate as leaven in 
 the interior life, which I trust may become perfected and rise to the 
 Resurrection Heavens, to which the loved and blessed have passed. 
 
 Jessie Evans. 
 
 TRIBUTE. 
 
 JESSIE EVANS. 
 
 There are many children who have never known the 
 blessing of true fatherly love and care ; how great then the 
 indebtedness of those who have been thus favored, and 
 how necessary it is that they should be so clothed upon with 
 charity and grace that they may be able to minister to 
 those less fortunate in life. 
 
 Through nature, God has bestowed on me this signal 
 blessing in the kind father, who, for a season, so lovingly 
 guided and guarded the little ones entrusted to his keeping. 
 
 In the higher order of grace, the all wise Father vouch- 
 safed even a greater blessing in the " hundred fold relation," 
 
82 Home Offerings. 
 
 wheie tlie natural became as spiritual kindred, broadening 
 the spliere of their affections, and widening the circle of 
 lovinL-: ministries. How many hands of help and comfort 
 hath His bounty supplied in the household of faith. 
 
 Most worthy father, Elder Frederic ! though not of nat- 
 uial kinship, thy paternal love has fed and clothed me with 
 that truth and light with which every word, either spoken 
 or written, has burned. As a child I was attracted to thy 
 kind, fatherly face and genial loving spirit. In youth I 
 looked a little deeper, and caught a glimpse of thy chast- 
 ened life and purified soul; and now the heart of thought- 
 ful womanhood, in the realization of thy great Hfe work, 
 brings to thee grateful tribute; and, though the visible 
 presence has departed, may thy spirit still care for and min- 
 ister to all who loved to claim thee as a father in Christ. 
 
 MY FIRST AND LAST INTERVIEW. 
 
 LOUIS BASTING. 
 
 My acquaintance with Elder Frederic dates from the 
 year 1873. He wrote: 
 
 '* From the expression of your feelings I should consider you a proper 
 candidate for our Order. When a person comes to the end of the 
 world, it is a great blessing to learn that there is a spiritual home, 
 where, by work and prayer, a foundation of the heavens can be laid in 
 the human soul. Repenting of the past and building up for the future, 
 that which God and the angels can approve, is a glorious use of earth- 
 life. And that is just what we are engaged in doing. If you wish to 
 come and cast in your lot with us in this soul labor, you may do so ; 
 and if sincerely desirous of ceasing to do evil and learning to do well, 
 we will make you welcome to a place among us. Come, and ' salute 
 no man by the way. ' " 
 
Home Offerings. 83 
 
 In answer to this invitation I met the writer of it per- 
 sonally the following year. His letters had prepared me to 
 see a strong man, who was working with heart and soul for 
 God and humanity ; and as he greeted me with outstretched 
 hands and a kindly, winning smile, I felt at once drawn 
 towards him. After a lengthy conference, in which he 
 unfolded the plan, scope and purpose, of the kingdom of 
 heaven on earth, he concluded, saying : 
 
 " How much better and nobler it is to live for such an idea than 
 merely for the gross material things of time and sense !" 
 
 My last interview with our departed brother was entirely 
 unpremeditated. I had a call to Mt. Lebanon, N. F., it 
 was then for the first time that I learned of his being low. 
 Upon hearing I was there Elder Frederic sent word that 
 he wanted to see me ; soon I was seated by his side to 
 enjoy an old-time communion. 
 
 Well, as some ruins suggest even in their decay, the 
 solidity which once was theirs, the nobility of mind that 
 conceived the plan, and the skill of hands that carried it 
 out, so was he whose latest sun was slowly setting. The 
 earthly tabernacle was evidently breaking, but the old spirit 
 was still there, mellowed by the passing of 85 winters, hal- 
 lowed by the advancing lights and shadows of the impend- 
 ing change. Often pausing for breath, lost at times in 
 momentary reveries, he would yet speak with vigor and 
 clearness of those things which had been nearest his heart 
 during the greater part of his long life. Gladstone's Home 
 Rule bill, the Salvation Army, the Populist movement, the 
 Rights of Woman, the decay of orthodox dogmas — all were 
 touched upon ; he recognized them all as important factors 
 in that general remodehng of human society which was to 
 culminate in the formation of the "new earth," of whose 
 
84 Home Offerings. 
 
 coming he had been a faithful herald. He spoke like a 
 seer, saying : 
 
 " Then will this gospel have its day ; after Reason has labored, and 
 Logic has argued till it has not left a foot of ground upon which to 
 Btand, then Love will come and do what the human intellect alone can 
 never accomplish." 
 
 So may it be ! After the strife of conflicting earthly 
 interests, the dash of ideas and opinions, the contentions 
 of the schools, and the friction of dialetics and polemics, 
 may Divine Love come and command peace to rest upon 
 the troubled waters of human passions ; may it teach all to 
 respect the rights of all, and, oh ! may it impress upon all, 
 that one great duty which is common to all and is con- 
 tained in the Master's injunction : Thou shall love the 
 Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul and mind, and thy 
 neighbor as thyself. 
 
 Peace to the memory of Elder Frederic ! 
 
LETTERS FROM CHERISHED FRIENDS. 
 
 From Alfred H. Love, President of the Universal Peace 
 Union. 
 
 Philadelphia, 1893. 
 A nna White ^ dear friend : — 
 
 Thy brief but sad messenger came all too unwillingly to my heart. I 
 was not ready to let our endeared friend go beyond our visible reach, 
 for somehow we love to see, to hear and to touch, and yet his transition 
 ought not to cause us grief. We should be guarded in speaking of the 
 passing out of the mortal of the good and great as sad, because of their 
 fitness to pass onward, and their translation to heavenly joys. 
 
 How closely I feel drawn to you in affection, in sympathy and in 
 faith. This great link is not broken, but riveted now the more firmly 
 by spiritual ties that words cannot express. 
 
 I seem to be in that charmed company and to feel dear Frederic's 
 embrace, as he gave it me when with you, and tx3 hear his words of 
 cheer and counsel, as he planted the kiss upon my cheek, the great, 
 tall, vigorous form bending over me and holding me to the last. You 
 have been blessed to have had this saint, so full of Christ, so long with 
 you. Do let my spirit in with yours when you commune with him 
 and our Father who is with us ever. 
 
 With love to you all, from the youngest to the oldest, for I remem- 
 ber your beautiful lives with tcnderest regard, I remain in the bonds of 
 peace, thy friend, Alfred H. Love. 
 
 Boston, Mass. 
 My Dear Friends : — 
 
 Your note apprising me of the transition of Elder Evans, and paper, 
 containing a beautiful tribute to his life and work, are before me. 
 They seem to transport me to your own home, and let me share in your 
 feelings as you lay away all that is mortal of the great and noble man 
 who has so long been the venerated father of your household. 
 
 I would like to be with you on such an occasion. I am sure, when 
 after a long and useful life the wise and good pass on to their rest, that 
 
86 From Cherished Friends. 
 
 the gates stand ajar for a time, and that you who dwell on the high 
 spiritual plane, must see the glory. 
 
 Though well I know how greatly you will miss the benign presence 
 and inspiring words of such a broad-minded and highly gifted leader, 
 yet I picture no sights or sounds of woe among you, I see you looking 
 upward as if you witnessed a translation or transfiguration. 
 
 To-night I received a letter from Governor Ashley, enclosing a copy 
 of Elder Offord's tribute in N. Y. Sun. 
 
 He expresses deep regret that he did not find time to visit you last 
 year while Elder Evans was among you, to converse with him upon the 
 many problems of our day, which are demanding the earnest thought 
 and action of all who have at heart the welfare of the nation and the 
 interests of their fellow man. 
 
 I too, share a great disappointment in the necessary delay of my visit 
 to your home. Never again in this world shall I meet that noble soul 
 whose life has gone forth in blessing to humanity. 
 
 In truest sympathy, I remain your sincere and loving friend, 
 
 Mahalie R. Hodder. 
 
 Albany, N. Y. 
 Dear Friends : 
 
 It has been my endeavor for the past week to drop you a line in 
 regard to your great, irreparable loss. Although we have seen and 
 known it was coming and could not much longer be delayed, yet the 
 dear, kindly old man seemed so full of vitality and energy that one 
 could almost expect the impossible. 
 
 My sympathy is with you ally for a great man has fallen this day in 
 Israel. He is however, free, free from this body and happy with the 
 «aints in the home above. 
 
 Sincerely your friend, 
 
 Catharine Blake. 
 
 Wyncote, Pa. 
 Dear Sister Anna : — I read last evening in the newpaper an obituary 
 notice of your good Elder Frederic W. Evans ; a grief came over my 
 own soul for his loss, and immediately I want to express to thee and 
 thine my interested sympathy. 
 
From Cherished Friends. 87 
 
 Though the spirits of the so-called departed may never leave us, yet 
 the personal presence of those we habitually look to for daily aud hourly 
 strength, makes "the gone is gone, the dead is dead," expressive to 
 every feeling, and it is human to sorrow. 
 
 Lovingly thy sister, 
 
 Rachel C. Baker. 
 
 Ballston Spa, N. Y. 
 My Dear Brethren and Sisters : — 
 
 Having received news of the transition of our beloved Elder Frederic, 
 I wish to tender my heartfelt sympathy to the many dear ones who are 
 bereft of the visible presence of him who has long been a loved and 
 venerated father, an able counsellor, and who has stood as a tower of 
 strength to his people, 
 
 I will miss the pleasant smile and welcome greeting which he always 
 accorded me when visiting his beautiful home. 
 
 Throughout his long life he has been a great reformer, and has 
 exerted an influence upon others which is only possessed by those who 
 live the truths they teach. 
 
 With his high gifts was combined that expansiveness of soul which 
 reached forth with a Saviour's love to the whole human race, and his 
 energy in manifesting this love seemed without limit, yet with all those 
 traits which gave to him such force of character, where would we find 
 one more tender, forgiving or affectionate ? 
 
 As I look upon his likeness that hangs upon the wall, so perfectly 
 reflecting the benignity and peace of his spirit, I call to mind the many 
 pleasant seasons I have spent in conversation with him, wherein I have 
 derived much lasting good. His manner was always genial, his teach- 
 ings exalting, and his words impressive. 
 
 He will of course be greatly missed, but after his long life of useful- 
 ness and unselfish devotion to the interests of others, he was ready to 
 receive the " Welcome Summons," and as he enriches his spirit through 
 experiences in the life beyond, doubtless he will often be with you and 
 make his presence felt in the home where his life-labors have been so 
 much appreciated by many loving hearts. 
 
 Sophia Wayne. 
 •• The Ballston Shakeress." 
 
88 From Cherished Friends. 
 
 Indianapolis, Ind. 
 Dear Friends : — 
 
 I received the news ot the " passing " of our beloved Elder Frederic, 
 and wish I could in some way express my sympathy for you in the 
 great loss you sustain. You do not need to be comforted for you feel 
 his spirit ever with you, and while you mourn the daily sweetness and 
 counsel of his life, you are not crushed by the sadness as other less 
 well ordered household would be at the death of a father. 
 
 There are those among you well fitted to carry on the beautiful work 
 Elder Frederic so long led, and I trust to hear all happy things from 
 you notwithstanding your bereavement. God bless you all I daily ask , 
 and it needs not my petition to insure that ; your lives claim the bene- 
 diction. 
 
 My love to you all, and believe me entirely with you in heart and 
 soul for the beautiful, the good and the true. 
 
 Yours, 
 
 Adele Allstom. 
 
 BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE. 
 
 The death of Elder Frederic W. Evans, at the age 
 of eighty-five years, is reported at Mount Lebanon 
 To many readers, no doubt, this will seem a small mat" 
 ter for comment, because potentates and congressmen, 
 millionaires and ministers are dying every day, and they 
 receive but the common recognition of a common obituary, 
 in which their good deeds, if they have done any, are re- 
 corded and amplified, and the evil that they do is interred 
 with their bones. Elder Evans was the practical head of 
 the Shaker Community. He differed from most of us in 
 that he lived up to his ideals. To be sure, those ideals 
 were .capable of attainment, while many of ours are not. 
 The character of his life was earnestness. He felt a deep 
 pity for the state of some men and embraced the whole of 
 
From Cherished Friends. 89 
 
 his race in such affection that his first concern, when he 
 had come to thinking years, was how to better it. He soon 
 discovered that it is not possible in the time of one man's 
 hfe to force material progress upon the world. Govern- 
 ments can be changed and are changed for the better in 
 every generation, but a general elevation of the race can 
 only come when the mass of individuals desire it. That 
 will be when education is wider and sounder, when confi- 
 dence is larger, when consciences are finer, when people 
 are persuaded into leading kinder, quieter, healtliier lives. 
 
 But, while the hopelessness of seeing the millenium was 
 early forced upon Frederic Evans, it begot no cankering 
 pessimism in his nature. He reconciled himself to delay 
 and kept on hoping and believing. He continued active 
 in deed and cheerful in word. He did what few can do 
 after passing middle life ; he kept his mind fresh. There 
 never was a more unworldly man in one sense, but in the 
 sense that he wanted to make this actual, material earth 
 and the people upon it better than it is he was in the best 
 sense worldly. It was natural that he should become a 
 Shaker. The Shakers are a small, spiritual, cheerful, hon- 
 orable company that seem as strangely out of tone with our 
 blaring nineteenth century as an antique harpsichord in a 
 modern orchestra, but they are a delightful people to meet 
 and know. Carlyle, with his hate of shams and affecta- 
 tions, would have enjoyed some days with them. They 
 have set a standard of life, and to that they hold themselves. 
 It is not a difficult standard. It only requires that they 
 shall work for what they eat and wear, that they shall be 
 morally and physically clean, that they shall be self helpful 
 and that they shall be honest. They are co-laborers, and 
 the perfection of farming is seen in their New York and 
 
90 From Cherished Friends. 
 
 New England villages. Fashions, politics, arts, whims, all 
 things that disturb what they call " the world " do not make 
 a ripple in their settlements. Perhaps quiescence implies 
 a measure of stagnation, but to many stagnation is better 
 than storm. 
 
 In their religions the Shakers are good Bible Christians, 
 plus spiritism, but they enforce practical morality upon 
 themselves more rigidly than most people of other sects. 
 There is a poetic symbolism in their lives and ceremonies 
 that is not generally understood and is sometimes derided. 
 The wonderful cleanliness of person, dress, houses, barns 
 and all belongings is but a type of the moral purity they 
 aspire to. The strange dance or march that is a part of 
 their Sunday service is a physical expression of the shaking 
 out of evil from the soul. The pursuit and burial of the 
 devil on one of the Berkshire hills, that is one of their tra- 
 ditions, exemplified the conquest of sin. Their lives are 
 as free as is compatible with mutual service and if the rule 
 of celibacy proves galHng they are at liberty to leave the 
 community at any time. There are few rules and little 
 government. It is a part of the expression of their gentle- 
 ness that they will not shed blood, and meat is therefore 
 not included in their diet. When one sees their rosy com- 
 plexions, their sturdy frames and finds them direct and 
 clear in thought and speech he may well wonder if flesh is 
 a necessity to the race. Thoreau noticed that the ox man- 
 ufactured to himself pretty big bones and stout sinews out 
 of grass. Nor are they meager livers. Those alone who 
 have dined with a Shaker " family " know of the surprising 
 variety and toothsomeness of viands made from fruits, veg- 
 etables and grains. 
 
From Cherished Friends. 91 
 
 To this odd and honest people Elder Evans allied him- 
 self, because by so doing he could live nearest to what he 
 believed to be the right life for all men. He wanted to do 
 away with poverty ; he wanted all to have an equal chance 
 to use the land ; he wanted to eradicate the term "strug- 
 gle for existence ;" he wanted to prove the blessings of a 
 Christian and practical co-operation. The scope of his 
 work may seem small, but no life, be it that of a little child, 
 rs insignificant when it is an expression of high cliaracter. 
 Most of us are so afraid of Mrs. Grundy that we hardly 
 dare to avoid small vices if they are in fashion. Elder 
 Evans preached but little to the world upon religion, but 
 he had much to say on goodness and helpfulness, and those 
 things without which rehgion is an empty name, a phrase, 
 a cant. He preached most conclusively by example. 
 Unable greatly to help the world by his advice, he helped 
 such of his fellow men as would accept it by his work. 
 His reward was not in money, nor honors ; it was in the 
 approbation of his conscience. 
 
 "THE SPIRITUAL PILGRIM." 
 
 AS PUBLISHED IN THE " BANNER OF LIGHT." 
 
 A cedar shaken by the wintry winds of over fourscore 
 years has fallen at Mount Lebanon — A master in Israel; a 
 cross bearing, lion-hearted hero, reformer and prophet, has 
 gone down as does the sun to lighten other portions of the 
 sidereal heavens. At the end of a long, varied and toilsome 
 journey, the saintly, fatherly elder, Frederic W. Evans, 
 dropped his staff, put off his sandals, laid his burden down, 
 and, crossing the crystal river, went up on the beautiful 
 
92 From Cherished Friends. 
 
 highlands of Immortality. Afire with the gospel of progress, 
 aflame with the missionary spirit, he literally died with the 
 harness on. And why did I say died ? He is not dead. 
 He never was so thoroughly alive as now. He has risen 
 in his spiritual body. His noble Roman presence is still 
 with us a power unto salvation ; and his burning testimony 
 in behalf of Truth and Purity is and ever will be a living 
 inspiration in the Zion of the Second Coming. 
 
 It was while I was lecturing in New York upon Spirit- 
 ualism, fully twenty-five years ago, that I first met Elder 
 Frederic. The Shakers were holding a pubHc meeting in 
 the city. I stepped into the hall just as they were singing, 
 
 '* God is infinitely able 
 
 To sustain the weak and feeble." 
 
 The music was so unique, so thrilling and yet so touching 
 and tender ; their clothing was so queer, yet sensible ; 
 their faces was so clean, calm and almost shining with 
 spirituality, that I was smitten and warmed with a most 
 heavenly baptismal influence ; it was a divine touch of the 
 new heaven and the new earth. Soon I was a visitor at 
 Mount Lebanon, and in spirit I have never left it. 
 
 Knowing Elder Frederic intimately at home, on ocean 
 steamers and in foreign lands, and loving him, too, as 
 friend, father and spiritual counsellor, it is only justice that 
 I say, I never knew a man so rigidly true to his convictions. 
 Careless of his reputation and popularity, he was exceed- 
 ingly careful of his conscience and his character. He knew 
 no fear. Seemingly stern at times, his heart was as tender 
 as a child's. He vigorously practiced the principles that 
 he taught. When upon the platform he wielded a two- 
 edged sword. He hated sin. He was ever a terror to 
 licentious, land-grabbing, tobacco-pickled, pork-fed sinners. 
 
From Cherished Friends. 93 
 
 For over fifty years he had abstained from all animal food. 
 He was a more thoroughgoing hygienist than Pythagoras, 
 or his friend, A. Bronson Alcott. 
 
 While on one of our missionary tours to England we 
 were invited to breakfast with Mr. Herbert, a member of 
 Parliament. Others — parliamentary and literary gentlemen 
 — were among the guests. When called to the breakfast 
 table Elder Frederic took from his hand-grip a great piece 
 of coarse graham bread and laid it upon his plate. One of 
 the gentlemen remarked : " I see you've brought your 
 breakfast with you." "Yea," was the meek reply ; " I did 
 not suppose you'd have much that was fit to eat. Your 
 wines, meats, teas, coffees, are all trash. You stuff your- 
 selves with them, get sick, pay doctors' bills, and then don't 
 live out half your days. You ought to be ashamed of 
 yourselves." These sentences fell upon the guests like so 
 many thunder claps, arousing criticism and discussion. 
 Immediately, almost, the Elder was the hero of the table — 
 preaching hygiene, Shakerism, Spiritualism, women's rights 
 and community of property. Our breakfast session lasted 
 two hours. 
 
 Originally a rank, hardheaded MateriaHst, a co-worker 
 with Robert Owen and others of that school, he was con- 
 verted to Spiritualism through his own mediumship. He 
 always contended that he could not do full justice to the 
 spirits and the spiritual manifestations that convinced him 
 of a future life. Suffice it to say that he heard sounds and 
 felt the touch of unseen presences when alone in his room. 
 His bed was shaken by night, and he felt frequently what 
 seemed like the fluttering of angel wings. These physical 
 manifestations continued with him till he was fully con- 
 
94 From Cherished Friends. 
 
 vinced of the truth of spirit-communion — a truth that he 
 esteemed above all price. 
 
 I have listened by the hour to his recitals of spiritual 
 manifestations occurring in the Shaker famiHes long before 
 the Fox sisters' manifestations near Rochester, N. Y. He 
 contended that Spiritualism bore much the same relation 
 to Shakerism that John the Baptist bore to Christ. Each 
 was proper and true in its time and place. 
 
 In the departure of Elder Frederic to the higher life the 
 Society of Believers has lost a most vigilant watchman 
 upon the walls of Zion. But their — our — loss is his gain. 
 He fought a good fight, finished his course, kept the faith, 
 and has received a crown. J. M, Peebles, M. D, 
 
 Sanitarium^ San Antonio^ Texas. 
 
 FROM JAMES BURNS. 
 
 editor of '* medium and DAYBFEAK," LONDON, ENGLAND. 
 
 * ' Elder F, W. Evans passed out from time to immortality, March 6, 
 in the 85th year of his age; peacefully, painlessly, beautifully. — Sin- 
 cerely thy friend. Anna White. 
 
 Mount Lebanon, March 7. 
 
 Thus the post-card. Daily we had been expecting the 
 Elder's portrait, with some account of his life, for the 
 Medium. His last writing was to the effect that he thought 
 of giving his autobiography more fully, as some thought he 
 had rather hidden it under his more prominent treatment 
 of the Apocalypse, in a work which he pubUshed many 
 years ago. We replied that we thought his own personal 
 work, views and experiences would be extremely instruct- 
 ive, interesting and stimulating. But he has been taken 
 away to another realm to unfold his life there. Who can 
 
From Cherished Friends. 95 
 
 regret that he has entered upon his eternal inheritance ? 
 It is to be hoped some of his friends may be able to give 
 such a statement as he had in view. We shall be glad of 
 the portrait and particulars for this paper. 
 
 FROM HAMPTON C. BULL, 
 
 An old-time friend and townsman, now eighty years of age, 
 who has long been Justice of the Peace in New Lebanon. 
 Friendly hearts are beating, care worn and distressed, 
 Round the worthy brother gone now to his rest ; 
 Every one regretting that the household chain 
 Deemed heretofore so perfect, is broken now in twain. 
 Each one now in fancy loves to linger there, 
 Restless, sadly leaning o'er the old arm chair. 
 Ideally listening for the voice that's silent now ; 
 Looking for the sunlight on that once glad brow ; 
 Kneeling 'neath the shadow death's dark angel flings, 
 E're beside earth's children droops his sable wings : — 
 Vain ! Oh vain ! Hearts grow weary, warm tears flow 
 As we dreaming wander to the " long ago." 
 Nervous, bending earthward 'ueath the heart's stern strife, 
 Sighing in our anguish — Such alas, is life. 
 
 * * * * ♦ * 
 
 May not there be rejoicing mid the hosts above 
 
 O'er those redeemed, made perfect, thro' God's saving love? 
 
 Undying spirits bending beside the Father's throne 
 
 Now hymn eternal praises to His name alone. 
 
 The soul no suffering knows, nor grief, nor want, nor care, 
 
 Lo ! all is joy and gladness, peace and sunlight there. 
 
 End then your weary weeping, fond hearts still your woe, 
 
 Be joyful, from earth's sorrow he was called to go. 
 
 For while ye are mourning, o'er earthly ties thus riven, 
 
 Noble angel bands welcome him in Heaven. 
 
 Oh I earth is full of sorrow, trial pain and strife. 
 
 None but would exchange it for Eternal Life. 
 
 New Lebanon Springs, N. Y. 
 
96 From Cherished Friends. 
 
 FROM DR. M. L. HOLBROOK, 
 
 Editor of " The Journal of Hygiene^'' and ''Herald of 
 
 Health^' New York. 
 
 Elder Evans, so long the honored head of the Shaker 
 Community at Mount Lebanon, N. Y., has passed on to 
 his heavenly home. We cannot say he is dead, for such 
 spirits never die. For many years it has been our privilege 
 to know him intimately as a frequent inmate of our home. 
 For the last three or four years we have noticed that he 
 was gradually nearing the border land. His age was eighty- 
 five. The work he has done for Shaker societies has been 
 very great, and not less for the whole world. Sympathizing 
 with every effort for the good of the race, his voice and his 
 pen have never been idle when there was reason for their 
 use in any cause. A reader of this journal from its first 
 inception,he was thoroughly imbued with the laws of health 
 and their importance, and not only practiced them himself, 
 but caused his society and other societies to adopt all the 
 best means of healthful living. His reward was uninter- 
 rupted good health to an advanced age. It may also be 
 stated that he and his society were vegetarians. He 
 adopted this system nearly sixty years ago, and has faith- 
 fully adhered to it ever since, and preached it whenever 
 opportunity offered. We extend our sympathies to the 
 society of which he has been such a faithful and efficient 
 leader in their loss. 
 
 "HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE." 
 
 All that can be said or written of the grand old Shaker 
 fife that has just passed away in the death of Elder Fred- 
 eric W. Evans of Mount Lebanon, gives but a small index 
 
From Cherished Friends. 97 
 
 to one of the greatest and most remarkable characters of 
 the century in this country. As a radical and advanced 
 thinker he was known the world over. He was oak and 
 rock in the great conflict of humanity. As a sympathizer 
 with the wearied individual mind, and a comforter of the 
 burdened soul, he was the refreshing dews and flowers of 
 heaven. Those who could claim him as a friend found 
 their lives enriched. I think I am his youngest personal 
 friend outside his family, and I can say truthfully that no 
 human calculation can measure what he has done to my 
 life. My character will bear the marks of his influence so 
 long as it exists. He taught me to be indefatigable in my 
 search for truth, and when I found the seed to nourish it 
 into broad leaf and glowing tasseled flower. He impressed 
 upon me what was justice, what was right, what was toler- 
 erance, in a way always to be remembered. To know him 
 was to love him. I held him in estimation above all others 
 and when every friend failed I could look to him for advice 
 and help. His character was one to inspire reverence in 
 all who came in contact with it. Last June when I carried 
 his blessing away to the city with me I left him with a 
 pruning knife in his aged hand. I thought to myself, "good 
 old man you will carry on your battle of ideas a long time 
 yet." It seemed to me that such remarkable physical vigor 
 must possess the virtue of endurance. But having passed 
 on life's highway the stone that marks the highest point, 
 and the great heart being weary for a moment, he " used 
 his burden for a pillow and fell into that dreamless sleep 
 that kisses down his eyelids still." 
 
 " 0, World ! O, Earth why strive ye ? 
 
 Join the low chant they sing — 
 O Grave, where is thy victory ! 
 
 O Death, where is thy sling !" 
 
98 From Cherished Friends. 
 
 He was the foe to superstitions, '^ the friend of all heroic 
 souls," the defender of the weak and the champion of the 
 oppressed. It was only the other day I was accidentally 
 brought into the presence of a family in distress in the great 
 metropolis where a large share of the world's sin and sick- 
 ness is festering. They were worrying over debts — that 
 nightmare of ruined lives and ruined reputations. I quieted 
 their fears by telling them they could not be hurt if they 
 owned nothing. " The law of imprisonment for debt," said 
 I, "has long ago been abolished in this state. And do you 
 know that you can thank a white-haired old Shaker for your 
 release from that responsibility to-day." 
 
 This of course is only one of the many progressive pur- 
 poses with which he was connected as all the world knows. 
 He fought the wrong of church and state. He endeavored 
 to establish societies based upon equality and labor for all. 
 He contended for the equal rights for women with his intel- 
 lectual sword ever unsheathed. And a woman who has 
 struggled in her bondage in competition with man under 
 the present social system which is an outrage against her, 
 will honor his memory until her brain becomes incapable 
 of action. If the tears of one woman, who saw in him her 
 possible emancipation, shed, not as a regret for what he 
 welcomed as a blessed day of deliverance from earthly 
 strife after the candle had burned close to the socket and 
 thrown its beams across the ocean's slope as his good deeds 
 will forever shine in this sin-darkened world — but regretful 
 that henceforth she must find her way over the steeps alone 
 without his help. If her tears could turn into blossoms for 
 his grave, "he would sleep to-night beneath a wilderness 
 of flowers." Words are but a poor tribute to his worth and 
 I, like my Shaker friends and his children, cannot feel that 
 
From Cherished Friends. 99 
 
 he has quite gore from me. The unseen world lies very 
 near — it holds that which has stirred the depths within us. 
 Every heart is filled with the memory of a pure and noble 
 soul, which through a self-sacrificing life had been sustained 
 by the faith which fills that form with breath and substance. 
 I rejoice that his principles can be perpetuated by those 
 he has served so well. 
 
 His grave is in the little Shaker church-yard. It is a 
 quiet memorial and tells you simply that the man who Hes 
 there took upon him faithfully the office of guide and 
 instructor to his fellow men. But there is another memo- 
 rial of the Shaker father which bears further record. It is 
 men and women rescued from self despair, strengthened 
 with divine hopes who can look back, when their time 
 comes to follow him home, on years of purity and helpful 
 labor. The man who has left such a memorial behind him 
 must have been one whose heart beat with true compassion 
 and whose lips were moved by fervent faith. 
 
 Martha A. Shipman, New York city. 
 
GLEANINGS. 
 
GLEANINGS. 
 
 EDUCATION THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE. 
 
 ." Go to the ant thou sluggard," and be instructed in the 
 virtue of industrial organization. Why go to the ant ? 
 Rather let the brethren go to the sisterhood ; not alone to 
 learn industry, but also to learn order ; to have a place for 
 everything, and everything in its place. Let them go into 
 the apartments of the sisters, and see the system of things. 
 Lamps, tables, chairs, books and all the little niceties that 
 make up the work-table — everything in order and in its 
 place. And much of the order that there is existing in 
 brethren's rooms is the result of sisters' thought, care and 
 labor. Go into the kitchen and observe the extreme clean- 
 liness attained ; food is cooked, not spoiled. Let brethren 
 note all this, and they will learn the secret why the sisters 
 are more spiritual than their brethren, and why they are 
 more sure pillars in the household of faith. The Elder 
 sisters keep the gift — hold the fort : it is woman's day : the 
 Divine Mother of all sentient beings, who has been hidden 
 from carnal eyes, from ages and aeons, is being revealed. 
 Because human beings are less carnal — more spiritual — 
 humanity progresses. 
 
 On the other hand, the brethren intervene between 
 woman and the rough, crude elements, human and mate- 
 rial, and shield them, so that they can work in safety and 
 peace ; even as woman intervenes between the uncouth, 
 rough element in the brethren and the angel element in the 
 spiritual world. God's house is a house of order : organ- 
 
104 Gleanings. 
 
 ization is operating throughout creation. The ant exhibits 
 the law. What can be more perfect than the govern- 
 mental arrangement of the ant-hill or bee-hive ? 
 
 In human affairs perhaps the military organization ex- 
 ceeds all others in perfection. Is it not singular that such 
 should be the case ? Is destruction rather than construc- 
 tion the ruling power ? It appears to be so, thus far in 
 human history. What is history but a record of the master 
 minds of the race contending with each other for place and 
 power over the ignorant masses, who are kept in ignorance 
 that they may thus become helpless tools in their hands ? 
 
 Education, the key of knowledge, must be assumed as 
 the first duty of government. All children are born equal 
 in ignorance and helplessness: Let them be as equally 
 educated out of that ignorance. Keep all children in pub- 
 lic industrial, self-supporting schools until twenty-one years 
 of age : first, as learners ; then, as teachers. Let there be 
 no place found for unrepublican class-schools — high schools, 
 academies, colleges, in the great American RepubHc — 
 unless you want it to become a great military despotism, 
 ending in monarchy. F. W. Evans. 
 
 Mt. Lebanon, N. Y. 
 
 THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 
 
 Is not American republicanism destined to break in 
 pieces all other forms of government on the face of the 
 earth, and itself become universal? Is it not the new earth 
 — the kingdom of right — that the spirit of prophecy pre. 
 dieted would be set up by the God of heaven, and which 
 would stand forever ? 
 
Gleanings. 105 
 
 •'Babylon the great" is Christendom. The Catholic 
 Church is the "mother" of the Protestant Churches; they 
 are *' harlots " because they are improperly joined to the 
 civil governments, and are exact " images " of the mother 
 Church — "the Beast" — in that respect. Rome is 
 "infallible;" is not each of the Protestant Churches just 
 as infallible ? They say that there can be only "one true 
 Church," and which of them fails to claim to be that one 
 Church ? See in how many " essentials " all the Churches 
 — mother and daughters — are fully in accord. 
 
 1. In every one the union of the civil and ecclesiastical 
 exists — the Pope, the Czar of Russia, the Queen of Eng- 
 land, the Emperor of Germany, the Emperor of Austria, 
 the King of Spain, &c., are heads of Church and State 
 Governments. 
 
 2. They all stand upon war — force — the sword and 
 sceptre. 
 
 3. These Church and State sovereigns all claim the land 
 as their rightful property. The law is " The King that can 
 do no wrong." Abihty to govern is hereditary in monarchs, 
 nobles, and nabobs. 
 
 4. In theology, a trinity of male Gods, the sacrificial 
 death of one of them as atonement for Adam's sin, which 
 is entailed upon his posterity. 
 
 5. An eternal heaven and hell, into one of which the 
 souls of all enter at death (which ends probation,) there to 
 remain until a resurrection of all human bodies, that will 
 occur at the judgment day — a physical resurrection. 
 
 6. No probation after death ; no hope for the heathen 
 or for the non-elect. 
 
 7. Generation and Christianity are united, these are 
 "essentials" with their variations, in all Churches, except 
 
106 Gleanings. 
 
 the American Church— the Shaker Church — which is infi- 
 del to the theology of Babylon and loyal to the American 
 civil Government. That Government was founded by 
 skeptics, who repudiated the Old World Church and State 
 theologies, and formed a Constitution forbidding all legis- 
 lation upon the subject of religion. 
 
 A purely secular Government, that will become a perfect 
 dual republic, by abolishing sex slavery, chattel slavery, 
 wages slavery, poverty and war, and educational tyranny. 
 
 It will establish industrial, self-supporting public schools, 
 to which all children born will be sent, and will receive a 
 republican education — purely secular and purely American. 
 All class monopoly schools and colleges will be supplanted 
 as un-American and un-republican, as they also are unchris- 
 tian. F. W. Evans. 
 
 Mt. Lebanon, N. Y. 
 
 JESUS AN IDOL. 
 
 That Jesus was the Christ, was born the Christ ; that 
 (after the immaculate conception) he was perfect, from birth 
 to death, is what Antichrist has always taught. 
 
 The practical result has been that his professed followers 
 style themselves " miserable sinners," with no hope and 
 " no health in them." The atonement is their only remedy 
 — the blood of Jesus. If there had been no persons wicked 
 enough to kill him, there would have been no blood, and 
 they would all have gone to hell. According to this theol- 
 ogy, Jesus was not a normal being ; knew nothing, per- 
 sonally, of human sins and imperfections ; had no *' travail 
 from faith to faith ;" was not a ?nan, or " the son of man." 
 
Gleanings. 107 
 
 Is not this position untenable, unphilosophical, unscrip- 
 tural and unchristian ? Were this doctrine true there would 
 be no ground for, nor any need of a Second Appearing of 
 Christ to redeem a human female — a woman — as the First 
 Appearing was to redeem a man. For, as yet, there has 
 been no /frj-/ appearing — noJirsfma.n redeemed ; and there- 
 fore it is out of order for the Shakers to assume that Ann 
 Lee, a woman — a normal human being, possessed of all the 
 constituent principles and elements of fallen mankind ; a 
 miserable sinner, living in generation, with all the lusts of 
 self-indulgences, in which there is no use — no good ; — that 
 she was the embodiment of the second Christ. And more- 
 over, this including private property principles, with war, 
 might, regardless of right ; taking possession of the primary 
 element of human existence — the land ; all wars being set- 
 tled by " material guarantees " — that is, by more land to 
 the victors. And this land is held by Government and 
 landholders, in unHmited quantities ; it is held from the 
 possession of thousands, who are dependent upon its 
 products, to sustain life, from day to day. Those products 
 are yielded only by labor; which labor the landholder 
 extorts from the rightful owner — the dispossessed, land- 
 less person, whether male or female. Slavery is the inevit- 
 able result ; all persons possessing no land, are slaves of 
 those who have the land in possession, and have robbed 
 them legally, of their inalienable rights of " an inheritance 
 in the earth." " Blessed are the meek " (those who have 
 abjured war) "for they shall inherit the earth" — land — 
 and hold it as community property : these will " do unto 
 others as they would have others do unto them ;" and hav- 
 ing crucified self, will each one " seek another's wealth and 
 not their own." 
 
1 08 Gleanings. 
 
 To the antichristian, is not Jesus as much an idol, 
 clothed with a character that he had no hand in forming, 
 than the idol had in making the garments with which it is 
 covered, or the costly jewels with which it is adorned ? In 
 what respect was he our pattern ? How did he set us an 
 example, and require us to follow in his footsteps, and bear 
 a daily cross, as he bore it ? How can we say, " As he was, 
 so are we, in this world ?" Why, after his death, is it said, 
 "Jesus was not yet perfected," " Jesus learned obedience 
 by the things that he suffered; " "Jesus saw the travail of 
 his soul, and was satisfied ?" All of these, and many sim- 
 ilar expressions imply, and are only consistent upon the 
 hypothesis that Jesus was a man like the rest of us, just as 
 much as Ann Lee was a woman ; that he was the " first- 
 born among many brethren" in the Resurrection order; 
 " was tempted in all points, like those whom he came to 
 redeem," because he was one of them, and himself needed 
 redemption just as his brethren needed redemption. There- 
 fore he could say to his struggling companions, " Be of 
 good cheer, for I have overcome the world ;" and you can 
 overcome as I have done. *' Ye are gods unto whom the 
 word of God came," and therefore I am not a blasphemer 
 in caUing myself a son of God. 
 
 All genuine Shakers are Christians, sons and daughters 
 of God who is their spiritual Father and Mother. The 
 Christ spirit, having by its first appearance succeeded in 
 redeeming a 7nan^ has now made its second appearance to 
 redeem a woman^ thus making of twain one new spiritual 
 man. In the Lord the man is not without the woman or 
 the woman without the man. The children are children of 
 the resurrection order who neither marry nor are given in 
 marriage. And now we have a Priest and a Priestess who 
 
Gleanings. 109 
 
 " can be touched with a feeUng of our infirmities," because 
 they have been tempted and tried, just as we and our suc- 
 cessors in office are tempted and tried. Ann Lee is no 
 more the direct head in our society or the Shaker Order, 
 than George Washington is the President of these United 
 States. F. W. Evans. 
 
 Mt. Lebanon, N. Y. 
 
 SPIRITUALISM. 
 
 The advent of modern spirituahsm was in the fall of 
 1837, many years before the "Rochester Rappings." It took 
 place in the Shaker Order, which at that time was com- 
 posed of eighteen societies ; these again, being subdivided 
 into nearly seventy families. 
 
 The '' manifestations," as we termed them, commenced 
 in the Watervliet society, N. Y., seven miles from Albany. 
 Two young girls began to see spirits, who, through them 
 delivered messages to the leading authorities of the society, 
 of so wonderful a nature, and with such power and demon- 
 stration of occult knowledge — so far exceeding the capacity 
 of the girls — as commanded impHcit credence, from all who 
 witnessed them. 
 
 From WatervHet, it spread throughout all the societies 
 and famihes. Spiritual intelligences directed and controlled 
 the movement from its commencement to its final close at 
 the end of seven years, when the ruhng spirits announced 
 the entire withdrawal of the spirits from the whole Shaker 
 Order at a given time and simultaneously. They also 
 stated, that they were going out into the whole world, and 
 that there was not a palace or hamlet on the earth which 
 they would not visit. At the time appointed, meetings 
 
110 Gleanings. 
 
 were held with the ministering spirits, and a most affection- 
 ate farewell was taken of them, many tears were shed at 
 this parting ; it was very affecting, as all parties had become 
 much attached to one another. Then the manifestations 
 ceased. 
 
 The spirits predicted that, when they had done their 
 work in the earth outside, they would return to Zion — the 
 Shaker Order, and that then there would be a great exten- 
 sion of Shakerism, as being " the New Heavens," wherein 
 the resurrection of human souls out of and above the gen- 
 erative life — involving private property, and war in all its 
 phases — would be effected. Contemporary with its rise, 
 would be a " New Earthly Order," in which would '' dwell 
 righteousness " in generation and in private property ; all 
 " wars would cease, to the ends of the earth." And animals 
 should no longer be killed for human food. Hygiene would 
 prevent any rational being from saying, " I am sick." "He 
 who killed an ox would be accounted as one who slew a 
 man." 
 
 Thus, in and through spirituahsm, are coming up " New 
 Heavens and a New Earth ;" and the present heavens and 
 earth — church and state — will " pass away with a great 
 noise," and amid " battles of shaking." Truth will triumph. 
 Shakerism and Republicanism will exist amongst all peo- 
 ples, as the waters cover the sea. 
 
 Spiritualism went through three distinct phases, in the 
 Shaker Order ; it will do the same in the world, but the 
 three phases will all be in operation among different peo- 
 ples at the same time — just as spring, summer, autumn, 
 winter, are all in existence and operation at one and the 
 same time on the earth. The first phase was phenomenal; 
 
Gleanings. Ill 
 
 the second, conviction ; the third, salvation from physical 
 and spiritual evil. 
 
 Are not a large class of Spiritualists at the end of the 
 phenomenal phase, and asking themselves and the spirits, 
 what amount of good it has done ? As we were, 
 so we are — subject to all the lusts of the flesh and the 
 mind. The mountain has brought forth a mouse — the 
 spirits have given us wind. Now we want sustenance — we 
 want to become better men and women. " Lord, send by 
 whom thou wilt send," even if be by the Shakers. Tell us 
 what, and how, we shall do to be saved from our abnormal 
 appetites, passions and propensities that make earth-life a 
 hell, and heaven unendurable. F. W, Evans. 
 
 SECOND CYCLE OF SHAKERISM. 
 
 ELDER EVANS CONFIDENT OF THE SHAKER's FUTURE THEY 
 
 HAVE THE TRUE CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 " Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a 
 vain thing?" 
 
 I notice in the Banner of Light of May 3 a question 
 about Shakerism, viz : " What is to be the ultimate of 
 Shaker societies ? The old laborers are passing on to their 
 final home, and no responsible young people are coming in 
 to fill their places. Is this faith to be retained in its pres- 
 ent relationship, or is the second advent or cycle to take on 
 a different phase which will meet the coming necessities of 
 mankind ?" 
 
 Many, both within and without, are much exercised in 
 their minds over those important queries. Much of the 
 difl[iculty arises from the premises that some of the old 
 
112 Gleanings. 
 
 Believers assumed as foundational to the system ; or, in 
 other words, they did not change enough to become entirely 
 " new creatures " when they entered the new order. They 
 put the new wine into old bottles, and there has been 
 bursting all along the line. With them the God of Israel 
 was, as he had been heretofoie, a male Deity; Jesus was 
 the Christ ; and the Bible virtually the Word of God. The 
 Gospel cycle, as established, was perfect ; it was only for 
 people to come to it. It was only one cycle. Consequently, 
 when some BeHevers talk about a " second cycle" they are 
 held up to be illogical ; they are stealing somebody's thun- 
 der. Again, the founders of the societies were not chil- 
 dren ; they were the ripened fruit of the tree of humanity ; 
 "men and women to be wondered at." They formed no 
 creed. Father James Whittaker prophetically saw and 
 declared that " the Church would pass through seven trav- 
 ails." That, of itself, is a most remarkable statement : 
 it shows that some of the founders were, like John the Bap- 
 tist, capable of seeing beyond themselves, an 1 that was 
 dearer than self to their hearts. 
 
 The first cycle or travail has lasted lOO years. It opened 
 with the revelation of God as a dual, not a trinitarian being 
 but as a father and mother ; God is spirit. Its first doctrine 
 was to be saved ; to be imbued with power from on high^ 
 individually ; to do no wrong, but to possess a conscience 
 void of offences, both toward God and man. Past wrongs 
 were all to be righted ; past sins against God or man to be 
 confessed and forsaken. The first practical step in the new 
 life was to rise out of generation into the resurrection ; that 
 is, to become pure in heart, thought, and imagination, 
 instead of having eyes full of adultery ; to think no evil, but 
 to die to the generative life of the first Adam, so that there 
 
Gleanings. 113 
 
 should be neither male nor female, but all should be one in 
 Christ Jesus, living a pure, celibate life. 
 
 The next doctrine was death to the private property prin- 
 ciple — mine and thine ; no one said of aught that they had, 
 that it was their own. Then followed the peace, non- 
 resistance principle ; death to the war element in humanity; 
 neither to give nor to take offence ; to love one another, to 
 love their neighbor as they loved themselves, and to prove 
 that love by working for each other ; eating together, dress- 
 ing plainly and alike — having a community of interests. 
 
 If in New York city a hundred capitalists, worth their 
 thousands, should say to a hundred poor men and women, 
 we love you as we love ourselves, and will take you into 
 our families as members thereof, to eat and drink, to work 
 and recreate, just as we do," would the citizens believe 
 them ? This is what Shakers have done for the last hun- 
 dred years, and are doing, beHeving it to be the kingdom 
 of heaven so long prayed for. Are they mistaken ? 
 
 Neither is the statement about the decline true in the 
 broad manner in which it is made. It would apply exter- 
 nally to some societies and families, not to all. Supposing 
 that there were not a society in existence but Lebanon^ 
 nor a family in Lebanon but the North Family, what differ- 
 ence would it make to the men and women who are com- 
 ing from the east, west, north, and south, to sit down in 
 the kingdom of heaven order, of whose increase, to order 
 and establish it in justice and righteousness, there will be 
 no end ? What of it ? Many republics were attempted 
 in past ages ; and they succeeded partially, and then failed, 
 because they were not perfect in their organization as repub- 
 lics, and would not increase with the increase of God and 
 humanity. They assumed to be republics, but were not, 
 
114 Gleanings. 
 
 even as ours is not a true republic, one-half of the popula- 
 tion being deprived of their inalienable rights of citizenship 
 in not being allowed what the other half claim. Therefore, 
 as the new States are progressing beyond the old, so will 
 new Shaker societies progress far beyond the old, and it 
 will only be a question whether the old will come into the 
 new increase or become extinct. 
 
 What sensible women will stay in Massachusetts or New 
 York to be treated as idiots or slaves, when in a week they 
 can be domiciled in Wyoming ? If they do stay, it will 
 be to progress Massachusetts and New York up to where 
 Wyoming is, as a republic. 
 
 F. W. Evans. 
 
 Mt. Lebanon, N. Y. 
 
 THE SISTERHOOD. 
 
 North Family, Healing Department, April i8, 1891. 
 To Mabel Lane and Sarah Bodine, as representing the company 
 
 of young Sisters in the North Family, 
 Dear Sisters: — 
 
 Your beautiful letters of the 5th inst. came into my hands together ; 
 and I was much pleased and comforted in spirit by their Gospel con- 
 tents. 
 
 I rejoice continually, that the North Family is blessed by such a 
 noble sisterhood ; with good, true and capable Elder sisters, who but a 
 few years ago were where the nice company of young sisters now are ; 
 and these are well supported by a goodly number of mothers in Israel. 
 The family is as well off in respect to numbers and ability on the sisters' 
 side, as it was when I came into it on the 3rd of June, 1830. From 
 various general and local causes, operating in all families and societies, 
 both in and out of Zion, the numbers on the brethren's side are fewer. 
 The same law is operative in religious organizations in the world ; the 
 females predominate. 
 
Gleanings, 115 
 
 For eighteen hundred years, God was known only as '* Our Father," 
 even Jesus did not reach " our Mother who art in heaven," and all 
 civil and religious organizations on the earth were and are founded 
 upon that half truth respecting Deity. There has been, and there is 
 increasing, a universal dissatisfaction with existing systems, and also a 
 general and universal expectation of something better that is coming in 
 the not distant future ; — a " Second Appearing of Christ "; a "Utopia"i 
 " Looking Backward"; a "Millennium"; a prayer, " Let thy kingdom 
 come, and let the Second Messiah appear," — extending even to the 
 Indians. It did not come, and a female messiah appeared a century 
 ago ; and what a change has been wrought already, in governments, in 
 systems and in individuals. Only the historian can realize it. 
 
 It is woman'' s day. If woman is to be redeemed through spiritual 
 resurrection, there is no fear but that man will, in due time, stand 
 beside her, and "the council of peace will be betwixt them both"; 
 " the man will not be without the woman, nor the woman without the 
 man, in the Lord," any more than they are or will be without each 
 other in nature. But in England, there are a million more women than 
 men ; and in Massachusetts something like half that number. In the 
 New Creation, woman is the glory of the man as in the Old Creation 
 she is the shame of the man — *' a necessary evil "; and the cry raised, 
 " Marriage is a failure !" will never more cease, " I have heard from 
 the Lord of hosts, a desolation even determined upon the whole land 
 and people." 
 
 Dear young sisters, when you wish to sec the crown of glory and 
 blessedness that it will be yours to wear when the race is run, the bat- 
 tle fought, and the victory which is to the overcomer, you have only to 
 look at living witnesses of your own sex, still in our midst. " By their 
 fruits ye shall know them." You will be women "to be wondered at" 
 even as they are. Knowing the Scriptures aright, and "the power of 
 the resurrection," you will be first-fruits unto God, a part of the elect, 
 who are called to stand upon Mount Zion ofi the earth, as did Jesus in 
 a partial imperfect and masculine dispensation. And when you enter 
 the spirit spheres, it will be with joy and rejoicing on the part of the 
 Christ -angels who will hail you as earth-sinners who have repented and 
 forsaken the sin of earth, who have washed themselves free from all 
 filthiness of flesh and spirit. You will be saviors to human souls, each 
 one saying to them *' Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world, 
 
116 Gleanings. 
 
 the flesh, and the devil of selfishness. " "You also can conquer by per- 
 severance and endurance, and with faces set like flints towards the 
 right, can become members one of another in households of faith, each 
 one seeking another's wealth and not their own ; in honor preferring 
 one another, loving your brother or sister as you love yourselves ; thus 
 fulfilling the law, the prophets, and the Gospel of a heavenly Father 
 and Mother." 
 
 In the history of Jesus, we see the child and boy, instead of accept- 
 ing the indulgences common to his age, or absorbing the weaknesses 
 and frailties of his parents, leaving them prematurely, going beyond 
 them among the wise men of the age asking questions. When his par- 
 ents rebuked him, his reply was, "Wist ye not that I must be about 
 my Father's business ?" Yet, he returned and was subject to them 
 until legally fr^e. In our day many children are disobedient to their 
 natural parents, and rebellious against their spiritual teachers ; if raised 
 in, or gathered into the " household of faith," they want all the indul- 
 gence that the church will allow. There is no element of reform or 
 progress in them, " they are seed of Cain," and will leave the world 
 the worse for having lived in it. All children come into the ' ' valley of 
 decision " where it is decided which order they belong to ; if to the 
 spiritual, they will not "measure themselves among themselves," but 
 by the faith with which they are blessed. They will look ahead, fore- 
 seeing the evils of life, and forestalling them. When I was a boy, I 
 noticed some very respectable men who drank, smoked, and ran into 
 debt. I resolved to do none of these things and under all temptations, 
 in travelling round the world and mingling with all kinds of people, I 
 have kept my resolve. The natural children ''goout from amongst 
 us because they are not of us," and do not belong to the Order. If 
 young people will reverence and bless the good in their predecessors as 
 you young sisters do, in turn, they also will inherit a blessing. 
 YoUr aged brother, in love, 
 
 F. W. Evans. 
 
 Mt. Lebanon, Col. Co., N. Y. 
 Leo Tolstol 
 
 Dear Friend and Brother : — Your welcome letter is received. There 
 is much union of sentiment between us and more union of spirit. Wis- 
 dom says, " I love those, who love me ; and we love those who are in 
 
Gleanings. 117 
 
 the same degree of light and truth that we ourselves are in. It is won- 
 derful what clear ideas you have in relation to the definition of the 
 words Christian and Christianity. You are ministered unto by a Christ 
 spirit as Jesus was. It is not for yourself alone, but is for thousands of 
 other souls with whom you are connected who are ripe for the harvest 
 sickle. The end of the world is coming upon them. 
 
 Russia is a mighty Empire, it has produced large numbers of spirit- 
 ual men and women in the past under the first appearing of Christ in 
 the male order. They knew God as a Heavenly Father, but not as a 
 Heavenly Mother. They had a male Priesthood order. They were a 
 John the Baptist people, who looked, waited and prayed for the " com 
 ing of our Lord. " They were sincere and self-sacrificing, but knew 
 not how to pray aright, having been blinded by theological ignorance 
 and consequent error. 
 
 The Mennonites and Moravians, what a noble people ! And many 
 others bearing different names, but all actuated by the same Christ 
 spirit, down to the Quakers or Friends who came nigh unto the King- 
 dom of Heaven. 
 
 These were the •' Two Witnesses" — male and female — who prophe- 
 sied and prayed and practiced christian virtues **in part." Religious 
 persecutions have not been "in part," but in whole, and those who 
 brought their opposers to the " Holy Inquisition" or killed them by the 
 thousands under the Duke of Alva or by a "Saint Bartholomew Mass- 
 acre," thought they were doing God good service. 
 
 All the great European nations are Christian. War is a permanent 
 institution among them. They are exhausting their national resources, 
 fighting or "in peace preparing to fight." Do they not pray to the 
 same God to help them to kill each other ? Could the devil do worse 
 by them ? 
 
 You ask : *' How do you manage to keep communial, bat never- 
 theless, property. Do you think it possible for a Christian to defend 
 property from usurpers?" These are important questions. Jesus said: 
 "Be ye perfect, even as your father in heaven is perfect," That is the 
 end of our christian travel, but is it the beginning? Did Jesus come to 
 it while yet in the body? " Jesus was not yet perfected," this was 
 said of him after his death. 
 
 If we scrutinize closely the history of Jesus, from birth to death, do 
 we not see a growth from where he was to where he would be? "He 
 
118 Gleanings. 
 
 saw the travel of his soul and was satisfied. '^ Suppose we had a list of 
 the sins he confessed to John before he was baptized and previous to 
 the time when the Christ Spirit descended upon him, and then suppose 
 we make another list of the various transgressions and violations of the 
 abstract principles of Christianity as you and I now see them, what 
 would be the result ? Should we not conclude that he was an '* elder 
 brother" and '* was touched with the feeling of our infirmities?" He 
 had the same nature, and by it •' was tempted in all respects like those 
 whom the Christ spirit came to redeem." He was simply *' the first 
 born of many brethren," just as Ann Lee was the first born of many 
 sisters. 
 
 Of course Antichrist has reversed all this. Those calling themselves 
 Christians have taken the sword and have perished by it. Peter had a 
 sword and a sheath to put it into after he had cut off a man's ear. That 
 was not "non-resistance." What were the Apostles doing with "two 
 swords, " and why did Jesus tell his followers to sell their garments and 
 to buy swords ? 
 
 The Mennonites, Moravians and Quakers were non-resistants. Not 
 until the separation of Church and State by "the Horns" Infidel pow- 
 ers — that grew out of the Beast " in the American Revolution, could 
 *' communial property " be held by non-resistants. That is the "New 
 Earth," and as it becomes more perfect in its righteousness, the " New 
 Heavens " will be nearer perfect in all the christian virtues. It will 
 travel from faith to faith through seven cycles, unto the perfect day, 
 the light shining brighter and brighter until the light of " one day 
 shall be as the light of seven days, " 
 
 We hold and defend our communial property under the Civil laws 
 of the " New Earth," but in no case, nor under any circumstances 
 should we injure a fellow being. You see that our Civil government is 
 the voice of the people — vox populi vox Dei —and the people who are 
 the rulers are more progressed than are the rulers of Russia, or of any 
 Church -and-State government on the face of the earth. 
 
 We, the Shakers, under the American secular government, can carry 
 out the abstract principles, taught by the revelation of the Christ spirit, 
 more perfectly than has hitherto been done by mortal men and women, 
 just as we carry out sexual purity, notwithstanding the sexes are brought 
 face to face in every day life, being without bolts and bars, in the same 
 household of faith. 
 
Gleanings. 119 
 
 You are "pained" at our ideas concerning Ann Lee, and spirit 
 intercourse " between parties in and out of mortal bodies. I suppose 
 it to be caused by misconceptions of what our views have been and what 
 they are at //-^j.f«/. What they were when the " Millennial Church " 
 was written leave to the people of those times. Paul said : " When I 
 was a child, I thought and spake as a child, but when I became a man, 
 I put away childish things and thought and spake as a man." 
 
 Should that uot be the case with those who are in the •' kingdom of 
 heaven " of whose increase and government, to order and establish it in 
 justice and judgment, " there should be no end ?" The little stone cut 
 out of the mountain, without hands — by revelation — grezu and became 
 a great mountain, and filled the earth. 
 
 At one time, the God of Israel told Moses that he would not lead 
 the people of Israel hereafter, but that he would appoint an angel in his 
 place, as leader. Israel, instead of increasing with the increase of God, 
 retrograded. 
 
 I propose to send you some of my writings and shall be much 
 obliged if you will spare the time to read and criticise them. Why 
 should not theological problems be subject to the same rigid logic that 
 mathematical problems are subject to? And why should not theolo- 
 gians be as cool and self-possessed as are mathematicians? If possible, 
 they should be far more so; they should love one another, and that 
 would be like oil in all parts of a complicated piece of machinery. 
 
 Dear friend : Come to Lebanon and see what God hath wrought, 
 then, return and establish the Order in Russia, with consent of the 
 Government, which the Shaker Order can and will obtain for you. 
 
 Calvin Green, one of our prophets, many years ago, predicted a glo- 
 rious spiritual work in Russia, and he was very enthusiastic upon the 
 subject. A Russian minister visited Lebanon and was very friendly* 
 Has not the time arrived ? And art not " thou the man ?" 
 
 In our Church, the government is of God. It is not of the people. 
 "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen jt?/^, " and Revelation of 
 God is the Rock upon which the Church is founded, and the • ' gates 
 of Hell" — religious controversy — ** will not prevail against it." 
 
 We repeat, come and see us, it will do you good. A poor, unedu- 
 cated factory woman has confounded the wisdom of all men, reformers, 
 legislators and scholars who have come to nothing as promoters of 
 human happiness. Their systems have ended, in Christendom, as you 
 
120 Gleanings. 
 
 now see it, and as Booth and those who inspired him, saw it. The 
 end is coming. 
 
 With love to yourself and family I remain your friend, 
 
 F. W. Evans. 
 
 Mt. Lebanon, N. Y., U. S. A., Dec. 31st, 1890. 
 H. N. Terry, Y.dMox Harbinger of Light, Australia. 
 
 Dear Friend : — In turning over my old letters, I was so fortunate as 
 to find your letter of the i8th of March, 1889 > ^^^ I thereby obtained 
 your address. 
 
 I have always entertained a kindly feeling tor you that I can hardly 
 account for. Perhaps the visit of my near and dear old friend and 
 brother, Dr. J. M. Peebles, has something to do with it : he was your 
 guest. I wish yourself and all the Australian Spiritualists a happy 
 1 89 1. May the heavens come down upon you, and fructify the good 
 seed sown by the Harbinger of Light. 
 
 I enclose to you an obituary of Elder Giles B. Avery, (lately de- 
 ceased) ; who was the central man of our Order. We expect to hear 
 from him. And this letter will introduce him to you, as a specimen of 
 utilized spiritualism. Receive him kindly if he materializes in some of 
 your circles. He will show you how to organize spiritualists, and how 
 to establish a Pentecostal Church on the old foundation of true Chris- 
 tianity ; — the confession and repentance of sin ; celibacy of male and 
 female, each having their own confessor, and each helping the other to 
 be pure in thought — in heart ; with a community of goods, that will 
 abolish "mine" and "thine," will do away with rich and poor, and 
 will put an end to priests, doctors and all forms of idleness by which a 
 few live upon the labors of the many. All will work ; those who will 
 not work shall not eat — will be starved to death ; that will be the only 
 form of capital punishment known in the Millennium. The victim can 
 always avoid death by repenting and going to work. Mother Ann — 
 the second Messiah — said : ' * Put your hands to work, and your hearts 
 to God." 
 
 Bellamy's "Looking Backward" is a reflection from Shakerism ; as 
 the moon reflects the light of the sun, so is Shakerism throwing light 
 upon the sin-darkened earthly order of church and state. 
 
Gleanings. 121 
 
 I enclose a tract entitled "Two Orders." And I think I shall send 
 you a small package of Shaker reading-matter. If we are mad, there 
 is some system and method in our madness. "Two Orders" will 
 solve many problems that have hitherto confounded the wise and pru- 
 dent, and will redeem humanity from many forms of evil. 
 
 A hundred years of practical demonstration, such as the Shakers 
 have shown the world, is of inestimable value. When mankind over- 
 come the prejudice that orthodoxy has created, and look the facts in 
 the face, they will see that some fundamental, new ideas have originated 
 with Shakerism ; and that men and women have been redeemed from 
 the evils innate in humanity, to a degree not attained, even by Jesus, 
 his disciples, or the Pentecostal Church, 
 
 Shakerism is, emphatically, the corner-stone which the builders of 
 the temple of a true, universal church and a true universal republic 
 have, hitherto rejected. F. W. Evans. 
 
 Mt. Lebanon, N. Y. U. S. A., March 23RD, 1891. 
 Alexander R. Webb, Manilla, Philippine Islands. 
 
 Dear Friend : — Your welcome letter of the 30th of January came to 
 hand on the i6th inst ; and I was very glad to hear from you again. 
 
 We are both busy men, although in somewhat different lines — I find 
 that I am writing without glasses — forgot them ; have never used any 
 but young glasses. Health pretty good ; am in my 83rd year and hope 
 to reach 100 years. I should much like to see your family circle. The 
 mother is no common woman, and the daughters inherit her good qual- 
 ities, and are blessed by her virtuous, self-denying example ; and with 
 such a father, all must be comparatively happy. You bless the good, 
 and those who bless God in their fellows, are blessed of God. 
 
 I shall send you some more reading matter, being anxious that you 
 should know the Shakers aright. All the world over the Order is mis- 
 understood, as respects our theological system. I expect we have been 
 hidden for a purpose by the over-ruling Spirit who has charge of the 
 Resurrection Order. " If our gospel be hid, it is hid to those who are 
 lost, in whom the god of this world hath blinded their eyes." 
 
 I have just received a long letter from a preacher who states that he 
 has been studying the Old and New Testament for 25 years ; and he 
 
122 Gleanings. 
 
 wonders that such a man as I am cannot see the absurdity of celibacy, 
 seeing that it would inevitably exterminate the race. This idea was 
 held by Shakers themselves, until I came forward as a theologian. I 
 soon saw that there were to be two orders — the natural and the spirit- 
 ual ; that clears away obstructions — " New Heavens and a New Earth, 
 wherein should dwell righteousness." All reform among the nations 
 have reference to one or the other of these two orders. Hitherto, when 
 men like Leo Tolstoi began to see what genuine Christianity called for, 
 they applied it to mankind en masse. It " made confusion worse con- 
 founded." The infidel cried, " Superstition ;" the priesthood, 
 ** Heresy," and all saw that it was "impracticable." Ann Lee <^^^a« 
 the process of unravelling " the mystery of godliness and of iniquity ;" 
 but she saw only in the light of one cycle. Now we see — begin to see 
 in the light of the second cycle, and two orders are recognized, where, 
 heretofore, only one was admissable, and instead of being accused of 
 designing to " run the world out," the literati, who go to the encyclo- 
 pedias in the libraries for information, will learn that they have been 
 misled by authentic Shaker works, and that all cyclopedias need to be 
 revised on this point. 
 
 "What you say of the difficulty of '' serving two masters," who are the 
 antipodes of one another in their requirements and exactions, is as true 
 to-day as it was in the days of Jesus and Ann Lee. ' ' Come out of her 
 my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and receive not of her 
 plagues " — was their remedy. 
 
 We read Bellamy's Work, when it first came out. He lives in Mass- 
 achusetts and he has been well acquainted with the Shaker system all 
 his days. He knew of its successful, economic results in settling all 
 disputes about capital and labor ; he knew, too, that thousands of 
 human beings had ignored private property for a hundred years ; and 
 had taken the ground, that whoso would not work, should not eat ; 
 thus making work honorable and aristocratic idleness — made possible 
 by robbery — was shameful, and in a Shaker village , unfashionable. 
 Unfashionable, too, were all the unhealthy, silly modes of disfiguring 
 the well-made, beautiful human form. He saw a people so independ- 
 ently rich, without speculation, that they originated their own modes 
 and manner of living in all respects. Their hygienic habits created 
 healthy bodies, that needed no paints to hide the diseases that lust cre- 
 ates — "the ills that flesh is heir to," a community, where the two 
 
Gleanings. 123 
 
 sexes live together in sexual purity, while caring for and ministering to 
 one another's daily needs and comforts. Bellamy in his Utopian book 
 ignored the Shakers and their achievements, while he appropriated the 
 main facts of their wonderful lives and system, to make himself the 
 observed of all observers, for the time being. When Shakerism comes 
 to be read as Bellamy's book is being read — and it will be — it will 
 reveal the source of his plagiarism. He takes occasion to cast a sneer 
 at celibacy. But smoking tobacco is one of his enjoyments, and what 
 form of evil would not chime in with that ? At the same time, see what 
 God hath wrought through consecrated souls like Daniel Frazer and 
 Antoinette Doolittle, Jane Knight, and their associates, in spreading 
 truthful ideas that are agitating the world of humanity. Even the con- 
 suls and the preachers are set to thinking whether God is not able to 
 make all human beings happy, on this earth, either in the New Earth 
 or the New Heavens. 
 
 All peace is taken from the world, and hereafter there will be "no 
 peace for the wicked." Sickness will be held to be a sin, as poverty 
 and want are now ; slavery, in all its degrees and forms, will be tangi- 
 ble evidence of wrongs that can be righted ; of evils that can be reme- 
 died. "The wrath of the Lamb," (not of the Lion), will be upon 
 Babylon; "and the kings of the earth, who have lived deliciously in 
 Babylon, and with her, shall see the smoke of her burning. And the 
 merchants of the earth who were made rich by her, and every ship- 
 master, and all the company in ships and sailors, as many as trade by 
 sea — these cast dust upon their heads and cried, weeping and wailing." 
 
 Are we not in those very times now? Which king would iv'// like to 
 take the place of? Let us be glad and rejoice that truth triumphs. 
 With love to you, 
 
 F. W. Evans. 
 
 Mt. Lebanon, Col. Co. N. Y., U. S. A., Jan. 1893. 
 James McNish, Glasgow, Scotland. 
 
 Dear and often thought of friend :—\ have nothing of particular 
 moment to communicate, except love and good will, desiring for you a 
 happy 1893. We of the North Family are moving on in the even tenor 
 of our ways, as usual. Having in this world food and raiment and good 
 houses in which to live, we are therewith content, believing that we 
 
124 Gleanings. 
 
 shall be as well provided for in the next world as we are in this rudi- 
 mental sphere. Having also the knowledge that our treasures will be 
 the result of the exercise of our own faculties. 
 
 The Millennium must be brought about by continual effort and by suc- 
 cessful achievement of right, as well as by victory over wrong; the race 
 as a race must learn by what it suffers. Scotland instead of increasing 
 the noblest of all people— Scotch Highlanders— has exterminated them, 
 and in their stead, raised game, sheep and disinterested hirelings. 
 China, while claiming to be the oldest civilization, makes millions of 
 her women cripples, what for ? For the prevention of the increase of 
 population. America's customs make cripples by compressing waists, 
 for the same reason ; her women are spoiled for motherhood ; the greater 
 evil of the two is perpetrated here. To finish the work of national 
 degradation and destruction, the food instead of being composed of oat- 
 meal, unbolted wheat and like nutritious articles, is artificial and un- 
 hygienic from childhood to old age, if any ever reach that period. 
 Health is unpopular — imfashionable. 
 
 Is there one country whose inhabitants live like rational human 
 beings, physically ? To carry out the idea of national suicide, every 
 Christian nation lets a minority of that people claim to own all the land^ 
 consequently the majority are slaves or dependents upon the few obliged 
 to "Beg a brother of the earth to give them leave to toil." Yea, and 
 leave to live also, more than that, as Spain raises bulls to fight and kill 
 each other for the amusement of her idiotic people, so all Christian 
 nations train and decorate those slaves to kill each other, giving them 
 music and other externals to turn their minds from the horrors that 
 await them, and stimulating enthusiasm until with banners flying, the 
 slaughter and burial go swiftly, gloriously on, on to a splendid victory, 
 leaving the widows and orphans unprovided with food and shelter to 
 die of starvation and cold. Proud England with her wisdom confounded, 
 passes a law to compel those war orphans to attend public schools where 
 the intellect may be fed, though the poor creatures are without break- 
 fast, and their dinner pails are filled with waste paper. 
 
 Your sou Thomas writes me interesting letters from Africa. I think 
 he is doing very well under a villainously bad system. If he should be 
 one of the minority your parental pride will be gratified, while the 
 unjust, murderous system is continued and perpetuated. 
 
 But the day of the Lord is near, it is near^ *' wherein all the proud 
 
Gleanings. 125 
 
 and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble, the day of the Lord shall 
 burn them up " and ''man to man sha'l brothers be" living for and not 
 upon each other. They need not all become Shakers, but they should 
 not be like De Lesseps and thousands, yea millions of other g'ranc^ men 
 who have been plunderers ; producing conditions that increase crim- 
 inals. 
 
 Gladstone is working in the right direction, but he will need to use 
 the Axe of Reform on the root of the tree — the system. Remove the 
 members of the House of Lords and fill their places with women who 
 have not been crippled in their feet nor crushed in their waists, women 
 who can think and reason aright, beginning where Thomas Paine began 
 with the inalienable rights of man to the earth, which is the source of 
 his material supplies. When such women insure such measures, chil- 
 dren will not be sent to school without breakfast nor yet with dinners 
 in their baskets composed of waste paper. 
 
 It is no longer Elder Frederic, but Elder Daniel Offord ; he and his 
 associates, brother Walter Shepherd, Eldress Anna White and sister 
 Martha J. Anderson, now lead the family in paths of righteousness and 
 peace. I am now the least of the ** little flock." But Jesus said, " he 
 who is least in the kingdom is greater than John," who was the last 
 and greatest of Jewish prophets ; but not a Christian, not in the king- 
 dom. 
 
 It is now rainijtg ; but you can scarcely know what a national bless- 
 ing this rain is to these United States. We have passed through, thus 
 far, one of the hardest winters for bad weather ^hat I have ever expe- 
 rienced. Suffering for the want of water is the universal cry in this 
 section o' country. We had just come to the end of our supply, and 
 now comes the rain — the blessed rain ! 
 
 If you wish to use or circulate this letter among the friends in whom 
 I and we take great interest, bp free to do so, for they should know as 
 you know, that Shaker societies are oasis in the great desert of Chris- 
 tendom, standards of right principles, homes of brotherly and sisterly 
 love, yea heavens in this sin-cursed earth. 
 
 Write to me when you have time and feel like so doing. Love to 
 yourself and Margaret, to George and all. 
 
 F. W. Evans. 
 
126 Gleanings. 
 
 North Family, Mt. Lebanon, N. Y., Feb. ioth 1891. 
 Emma J. Neal. 
 
 Beloved Sister : — I am interested in you, because you are interested 
 in doctrine. 
 
 *' Those who erred in spirit, came to understanding, and those who 
 murmured learned doctrine." When I was a young Believer, I gave 
 my mind to study theology, which is as the plan to a house. The 
 scriptures of different people were my text-books. I searched for the 
 principle upon which the particular text rested, tracing it from begin- 
 ning to end in cognate texts ; and sometimes, one principle would 
 furnish thought and employment for days and even weeks together, 
 Shakespeare says, "Jealousy is a green-eyed monster \v\\o makes the 
 meat he feeds upon. " Jesus said, "To him that hath, shall be given, 
 and he shall have the more abundantly ;" is not the principle identical 
 in both cases? That was a period of sowing, and I sowed plentifully ; 
 now I reap what I then sowed, and I have a fruitful harvest. I dis- 
 covered the springs from which have flowed currents of thought that 
 are enriching the world ; '* Agitation of thought being the beginning of 
 wisdom." 
 
 In those times, I came to think that I was alone in the spirit of fore- 
 cast — prophecy — that I was exercised in and by ; but in a vision, I was 
 enlightened and reproved. I heard a voice call my name, and then say, 
 "you are only one of many who are being exercised in the same way;" 
 and I afterwards found that to be the case ; " think it not strange con- 
 cerning the fiery trial that is to try you, as though some strange thing 
 had happened unto you ; there has nothing befallen you but what is 
 common to humanity." 
 
 Now those pregnant texts, and sayings of wise men and woaien are 
 continually, by day and in the night, recurring to my memory, together 
 with the lines of thought to which they gave rise. So, I have "a green 
 old age." "Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths 
 can corrupt and where thieves break through and steal ; but lay up the 
 treasures of mental and spiritual labor ; of these, no one may rob you." 
 I confirm the wisdom of that scripture. I see that a late writer enumer- 
 ates some six or seven cases of millionaires who are now in various 
 insane asylums. Why not ? Is it not irrational for a mortal, who may 
 die any day, to put all his or her thoughts into property, accumulated 
 
Gleanings. 127 
 
 away beyond their necessities, so that they are interested in nothing 
 else, and can think of nothing but financial matters? "This day thy soul 
 shall be required of thee ! Then, whose shall those things be ?" Is it 
 not probable, as is represented, that a disembodied millionaire may be 
 seen in the spirit land, counting their imaginary money over and over ? 
 What else have they to think about ? " As a man thinketh, so is he." 
 •' A man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things that he 
 possesses ;" but in the rational use of what he possesses. 
 
 I am glad to say that I enjoy life. My simple food and drink satisfy 
 my appetite ; like a boy, I sleep sweetly ; my friends rise before me in 
 the morning, milk the cows, feed the horses, clean the walks, put the 
 house in order, prepare breakfast, and call me to eat with them. I ask 
 myself, where is the justice of it ; is that equality ? How do I pay for 
 the care and burden that I bring ? In addition to these good things that 
 I enjoy, is my clothing, clean, warm and neat, adapted to every change 
 of weather, and to all the varying conditions of health, comfort, and, 
 last but not least, is the pleasant smile and the cheerful looks of my 
 brethren and sisters. Is it any wonder that to myself I often say, 
 * ' This is heaven ?" If in the other world I find as much good as I am 
 blessed with in this, I shall be satisfied with the goodness of God. 
 
 To all this, my sister Emma will say, *' Well, sure enough, Elder 
 Frederic has really come to his second childhood." And pray why 
 should not second childhood be better than the first, if not, what have 
 we lived for ? Where are the objects of our longings, the fruition of 
 our hopes and glorious anticipations ? and where are the realizations of 
 the visions and prophecies — " the substance of things hoped for " — the 
 beatitudes of angels, of Christ, of God, the actualizations of a spiritual 
 heaven ? Should these all end in helpless, hopeless apathy, a dreary 
 monotony of old age ? I have always felt as Father James felt when in 
 ecstasy he exclaimed, '* It is glory, and glory beyond glory, and glory 
 beyond that !" 
 
 Is not our Father and Mother — God — happy ? If so, is it not their 
 will that man and woman should be happy ? If they " Wash their hands 
 in innocency," and thus compass their gospel duties — "be perfect as 
 God is perfect," why should they not be happy, as God is happy. 
 
 In love, your gospel brother, 
 
 F. W. Evans. 
 
128 Gleanings. 
 
 North Family, May ist, 1891. 
 Beloved Elder Daniel Boler : — 
 
 I understand that this is your birthday, and that you have completed 
 your 87 th year. 
 
 I congratulate you upon the occasion of having passed so many years 
 of your earth -life in being and in doing good, "Let not him boast 
 who putteth on the harness, but he who taketh it ofif." Happy the lot. 
 You have fought the battle of life successfully, ; have gained the vic- 
 tory, and stand as an overcomer. As such, you will enter the higher 
 spheres of the spirit-world, where a glorious place is prepared for you. 
 You have earned it. 
 
 Who would have thought that Elder Giles would have passed on 
 before you ? It does not seem real ; yet it is real. That our Order has 
 raised two such men, is beyond words of praise. 
 
 A tree is judged by the fruit that it bears and by that fruit we not only 
 judge the tree in the past, but we are certain of its capacity for the 
 future ; by judicious cultivation it will improve. "Greater works than 
 these shall ye do," because I shall assist you. 
 
 This is the glory of the gospel, that it increases with the increase of 
 God, both within and without the fold. * ' Other sheep have I who are 
 not of this fold ; they also must be gathered. " It meaneth all man- 
 kind; — what a grand thought ! 
 
 I take this occasion to thank you Elder Daniel for your unvaried 
 friendship to me. To my knowledge, there has been no break in the 
 golden chain of love and union existing between us. I owe you much 
 gratitude ; you have been kind to me as father and friend. Peaceful 
 be the end of your earth-pilgrimage ! 
 
 Please accept my love and thanks for yourself and the Order of Min- 
 istry. Your gospel brother, 
 
 F. W. Evans. 
 
 PROPHETS. 
 
 By whom were the Prophets inspired, 
 Or whence came their rythmical song 
 
 That Avatars played on their lyres 
 While marching with ages along ? 
 
 It was by the angelic host, 
 
Gleanings. 129 
 
 That dwell on Eternity's strand, 
 Or Christ's of the innermost sphere 
 
 Who await the Deific command. 
 The heaven of heavens their home 
 
 Where primeval cells were first lermed, 
 From these all creation hath come, 
 
 They never by evil were stormed. 
 From thence were the Prophets inspired, 
 
 Mid races and nations of earth, 
 Each Prophetess felt her soul fired 
 
 To sing of the heavenly birth. 
 Pure glory on glory I see, 
 
 Forever and ever advancing, 
 That rolls like the billowy sea. 
 
 With music its grandeur wihancing. 
 Perhaps to the sun we ascend. 
 
 If from it our beings evolved, 
 As planets rolled out to the end 
 
 In oceans of fire dissolved. 
 
 F. W. Evans. 
 
KRRATA. 
 
 The fly leaf introducing "Tokens of Friendship" should follow 
 " Home Offerings. " 
 
 The ftrst line of poetry on page 58 should read : 
 
 Honor in life to whom is honor due. 
 

 DATE DUE 
 
 
 •^^^jKS*yf 
 
 
 
 
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 ^SHS®> 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 CAYLORD 
 
 
 
 P^INTKO INUS A.