A
REVISION AND CONFIRMATION
OF
THE SOCIAL COMPACT
º OF THE
a UNITED society
sHakans,
º PLEASANT HILL, KENTUGKY,
“Have respect unto the Covenant: for the dark places of
the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.”—DAVID.
FUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE CHURCH,
HARRopSBURG, KY.
PRINTED BY RANDALL AND JONES3
-------- ---
1830.





THANY erroneous opinions have been entertained concern-
ing the Society called Shakers, calculated to mislead the
public mind, in respect to the fundamental principles, rules:
and orders of the institutution, and it is not unfrequent that
those errors are brought into Courts of Justice and there
sanctioned by exparte testimony, the most indubitable evi-
dence of fact to the contrary notwithstanding. Perhaps too
much credit has been given to certain characters who have
been members of the Society, supposing that, from experience
they were capable of stating facts; not considering that
through disaffection they might misrepresent the Society, not
only in the circles of i, wate life but even on the solemn
round of legal testimony. Therefore with a view to correct
erroneous opinions, and as far as possible to remove prejudi-
ces and false impressions, we are induced from a sense of
duty, to lay before the public the following concise statement
of the general articles of agreement solemnly subscribed and
ready to be attested by hundreds whose moral character
stands unimpeached, as far as they are known. Should it con-
tribute to the suppression of falsehood and the promotion of
truth and justice, our object will be answered. Our highest
wish is that the primary principles, rules and mutual a-
greements on which the institution is based be correctly un-
derstood, - - - - - - - - - ---
REVISION AND CONFIRMATION.
Whereas, by an act of the legislature of this State
dated February 11th 1828, the Society of people called
Shakers is represented as living together and holding
their property in common, and as such that it shall and
may be lawful to commence and prosecute suits, obtain
decrees and have execution against them; And where-
as, by virtue of said act, sundry suits have been com-
menced, by persons having no just claims against the So-
ciety, whereby the Society has been involved in various
troubles and aggrievances incompatible with the common
ºrights and privileges of citizens of a free State; And,
whereas, in the prosecution of those suits, founded on
the aforesaid act, attempts have been made to prove
that each and all who are in any way or manner connect-
ed with said Society, hold equal claims to the consecra-
ted interest and property thereof, without regard to a-
ºny rule or agreement of the Church or Society, in con-
sequence of which, apostates from the Society have
made forcible entry on the consecrated premises of the
Church, and in a riotous manner seized and abused con-
secrated property, contrary to all laws human and divine,
and moreover, on the same ground of a common ter-
ancy, contumacious and unruly persons have forcibly
maintained their claims to equal rights of possession as
members, in defiance of all rules, stipulations and authori-
ties of the institution.—Therefore in order to hold
forth, to the civil and judcial authorities of the country,
the proper grounds of our claim as a religious Society,
to equal laws and equal protection: We the undersign-
ed members of the united Society called Shakers at
Pleasant Hill, in the County of Mercer and State of
Kentucky, being associated together in the several or-
ders of a Gospel Church and Society of Believers, E)o
hereby make known to all whom it may concern, our gener-
al principles and terms of association, and the special
( 4 )
and particular articles of agreement solemnly subscri-
bed, observed and maintained, in every branch of our
general community touéhing our social and mutual
rights, privileges and duties in our associated capacity
and the possession, use and improvement of our tempo-
ral interest, property and estate, all which may be sum-
i º up and briefly comprised in the following particu-
ał'S - - - ve
FIRST.-We unitedly agree that all men have a right
to believe according to their own conviction and to act
according to their own faith, being amenable to the laws
of the land, that obedience to our Creator and the ever-
lasting welfare of souls are the leading motives to our em-
bracing and maintaining the present testimony of the
Gospel and adopting our present manner of life; that we
are and everhave been at full liberty to live in a private
family capacity, to acquire property and to use it at our
own discretion, as long as it might be our choice so to do,
without any censure or breach of union on that ac-
count; that no one is compelled by any rule of the Society
to devote to the common benefit of the institution, ei-
ther property, time or service, beyond or contrary to
his or her own faith and free choice; that it is not ac-
cording to the rules, manners and customs of the socie-
ty, for any one to live idly on the property or labor of
others; that no one be allowed to consecrate or bestow
property to the Society, in any manner that would de-
fraud creditors or natural heirs, or to amalgamate his
property and services with the consecrated interest of
the Church, until he has had sufficient time and oppor-
tunity, in a junior order, to become acquainted with the
rules, manners and general orders of the Church; that
in this junior or probationary order the junior members
of the Society may convene together and live in a joint
family relation, holding their property separate and dis-
connected from that of the Church; that each and all
the members of such family shall have the privilege of
( & )
taking an inventory of all the money and property that
each may choose to put into the possession of the Dea-
con or Steward of the family, said property being first
valued by men chosen for that purpose; that any mem-
ber of such family choosing to remove and separate from
said family shall be entitled to all the money and proper-
ty which he or she deposited as aforesaid, of which the
said inventory shall determine the amount; and the said:
Deacon or Steward shall be forthcoming for the same,
in articles of the same kind and value or equivalent
thereto; the said money and property to be delivered
within six months after due notice is given of such remo-
val or sooner if convenient. But the uses and benefits
of all such money and property with all the labor and
service which may be done or rendered in any place or
for any person, and all gifts or donations freely bestowed
for the benefit of the family or Society, during the resi-
dence of the individual in such family, are freely devoted
and consecrated to the benevolent purposes of the insti-
tution, and no member of such family shall ever bring
any charge of debt, damage or demand against the fam-
ily or Society or any member thereof for any money,
property, labor or service, given, rendered or devoted as
aforesaid to the support or convenience of the said family
or Society, nor any reckoning be required otherwise
than according to the aforesaid inventories or other writ-
ten agreements acknowledged by the Deacon or Steward
of the family. That, on the other hand, the family or
Society shall make no account nor hold any demand a-
gainst any individual member for any money, property
or service given, rendered or furnished for his or her
support or convenience, in sickness or in health; that all
the members shall share jointly and equally in all the
privileges and in the use of all things possessed by said
family, according to their several needs, without any
difference being made on account of what any one
brought in: That the memº, unitedly agree to live
( 6 ),
in union with each other and in obedience to the rules.
and regulations of the family, and those who may have
the care and management thereof; and that these arti-
cles be considered valid and of full force in law, as far as
they respect law, and the subscribers to be admitted as
lawful witnessesofthe same: That in this junior order any.
or all are permitted to continue during life, provided it
be their choice so to do, but when it becomes, the faith.
and desire of individuals of the Society to step forward
into Church order and the way is prepared for their ad-
mission they must then settle it in their hearts to make a
full sacrifice to God, once for all, as no ground is or can
be left for any recantation or drawback. - -
SECOND,--All who are admitted into church order
assent, consent and agree, that they have taken sufficient
time and precaution to prove their faith;-that they are
fully persuaded that it is the faith of the only true gos-
pel into which they are called;—that it accords with the
Holy Scriptures and the present call of God to them;--
that it is consistent with the civil and religious rights
guaranteed by the laws of the land to obey it in all things;
that they believe the union and relation of the church
in one interest to be preferable to any other state or order
of society;-That this order, being spiritual, requires.
them to relinquish that which is carnal,—to abandon the
common course and spirit of the world;—to devote them-
selves wholly to the service of God, in a life of piety and
virtue:–to cross and deny their own self will and evil
inclinations, and submit to the rules, manners and cus-
toms of the church, in all things, as heretofore known
and practised. Hence it is the agreement of all who are
acknowledged as church members, that the church is
constituted under the general care of a standing Ministry
whose nomination and appointment is sanctioned and Sup-
ported by the primary or parental authority of the soci-
ety:—That it belongs to the Ministry to teach and sup-
port the rules and orders of the church;--to appoint the
( ; )
several agents or official characters for the care and man,
ageme.si oftire concerns of the church both spiritual and
temperał: that trustees are appointed to receive, hold, use
and appropriate all gifts, grants and donations which are
given and devoted to the joint use,benefit and support of the
institution; that the said trustees are under properlimits &
restrictions in all their official transactions; that they are
required to make a just and equal distribution of the
consecrated property to all the several families of the
Church, according to their needs and circumstances, and
bestow deeds of charity to such as may be considered
proper objects, without the bounds of the church; but
not to alienate any part of said consecrated interest to any
personal end whatever: that the said trustees are author-
ized and empowered, to hold right, title and claim in be-
half of the church to all and singular the lands, tene-
ments and hereditaments, property and estate consecra-
ted as aforesaid to the use and benefit of the church, and
to make all lawful defence for the protection, security
and appropriation of the same to the uses and purposes
stipulated; and that said trusteeship be perpetuated by a
succession of members nominated and appointed to that
office as occasion may require.
THIRD.—It is further understood and agreed, that all
who are received as members of the church, be of lawful
age to choose and act for themselves;—that they be free
from debt or any just demand from those who are without
the bounds of the church: that they dispose of their prop-
erty, if they have.any, in such a manner as to bring noth-
ing into the church to which in future, they can hold
any personal or individual claim: that they may give or
bequeath their property to their heirs, if they choose, or
consecrate, as a free will offering to the church, any part
that they may think proper, and thus become wholly de-
pendent for their support, as church members, on the
consecrated funds of the church, provided for the mutual
and equal benefit of all,that belong to that qrder: that ºf
(, 8 ).
virtue of the mutual agreement of all concerned, all and
every individual of or belonging to the church shall en-
joy equal rights and privileges in the use of all things per-
taining to the church, as every one has need, without any
difference being made on account of what any one may
have contributed or consecrated: and it shall be the duty
of all the members to support and maintain the said con-
secrated interest according to their several abilities.
FURTHERMoRE.—That it shall be the duty of the Trus-
tees to keep or cause to be kept in a Book or Books pro-
vided for that purpose a true copy of this covenant, to-
gether with all other Records or matters of a public na-
ture, that may be necessary for the information and satis-
faction of all concerned and for the security of the tem-
poralities of the church committed to their care: and in
all deeds, wills, grants, &c. which may thereafter be
given or executed to the trustees, in behalf of the church,
express reference shall be had to the same, specifying the
date or time when it was subscribed or began to be sub-
scribed. . -
LASTLY.—As the whole end and design of our thus as-
sociating together as a religious community is to receive
and freely diffuse the manifold gifts of God to the mutu-
al comfort and happiness of each other as brethren and
sisters in the gospel and other charitable purposes: there-
fore according to the faith, manner, rule, order and ex-
ample of the Church and Society aforesaid, we the un-
dersigned having jointly or severally, according to our re-
spective lots, callings, orders, abilities and degrees of
faith, consecrated and contributed more or less to the use,
benefit and upbuilding of the Church or Society at Pleas-
ant Hill aforesaid.
We do, by these presents, for ourselves our heirs and as-
signs exonerate, release, discharge and quitclaim to each
other and also to the Deacons, agents and trustees of the
Church and Society and all and every person or persons
-belonging to our said Church and Soctety of and from
(' 9 };
all charges, costs, suits, debts, damages, incumbrances
and troubles whatever, on account of any property labor
or service that has been or that may be given; rendered,
devoted or consecrated according to the foregoing stipu-
Jātions and for the aforesaid sacred and charitable uses.
* In confirmation whereof, we have hereunto set our
hands and affixed our seals on and after the 20th day of
May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty, In pre-
sence of each other. } . - 1 .
Number of Subscribers 210.
ATTEST, G. R. Runyon, J. R. BRYANT, JAMES RANKIN.
CONCLUDING REMARKs,
Extracted from a pamphlet, lately published by the Society,
at New-Lebanon, W. Y.
- “Having, in the preceding pages, given as concise and
comprehensive account of this Society as our limits will
permit, we shall conclude with a few remarks. Nothing
tends more to promote the improvement of the princi-
ples of light and truth in the mind of man, than a free,
candid and unprejudiced enquiry, and a willingness to
examine into the truth of any principles and practices
which are at variance with his natural inclinations and
prepossessions. Prejudice operates upon the mind like
jaundice upon the eye, which prevents it from seeing
objects, except through a medium discolored by its own
infirmity; and therefore it cannot form any just or cor-
rect ideas of what it does actually see. So with preju-
dice; it sees its object through its own disordered medi-
um, and judges of it accordingly. . . . . . . .
It is an unfortunate circumstance that the great mass
of mankind are swayed by popular opinion, and blindly
follow its current to any extreme, without consideration
or reflection. The operation of popular influence upon
the community, is much like the agitation of a body of
water; which is disturbed and put in motion by any ob.
( fo 3
ject thrown into it; and this agitation is º in pro-
portion to the force and magnitude of the object. So
the senses and feelings of an extensive community are
6ften affected and set in motion by the influence of some
master spirit, whose interested designs are directed to
the passions and prejudices of that community. And
though the public good is generally made the plea to
obtain the gratification of private ambition or malice; yet
whatever may be the ostensible object of the instigator,
whether of a religious, politcal or any other nature, the
medium of excitement is the same.—The passions are
addressed, and prejudices awakened, and the effect is in
proportion to the estimated importance of the object art-
fully held up to view. Popular clamour is raised to
the highest pitch of excitement; and thus the object of
the master spirit is often accomplished. And it often
happens, that the prime movers of such excitments,
like puppet show-men, are artfully concealed behind the
curtain. * , , . . . . . . 4 . . . . . - .
Of all the objects of excitement brought before the
public, none are more calculated to make an impression
on the mind of man than the subject of religion. This
has been the origin of pesecution in all ages. The pub-
lic mind is set in motion by designing and interested
persons, against some person, principle or system of
religion, which stands in the way of their ambitious de-
signs. Such was the excitement raised by Demetrius
and his interested coadjutors, against the apostle Paul,
among the Ephesians, who were persuaded to believe,
that through the preaching of Paul, their religion was
in danger, and “that the temple of the great goddess
Diana wonld be despised, and her magnificence destroy-
ed;” while the real danger apprehended, was the loss of
the lucrative craft of the prime movers of the tumult.
In all ages, those religious persons or sects; however
few or small; who, regardless of popular opinion, have
presumed to think and act for themselves, and to advo-
* 11 )
cate and practice virtue, according to their own unbias-
sed judgment, have always been the objects of popular
odium. And persecution against such has always been
excited in proportion to the contrast of their principles
with the present popular feelings and opinions, and the
self-denial which those principles required against the in-
bred propensities of human nature; because such princi-
ples are viewed as obstacles in the way of the interested.
designs of aspiring ambition. .
The only efficacious remedy against the influence of
such contaminating excitements on the mind, is calm,
and candid consideration, a sincere and impartial enqui-
ry after light and truth, and a dispassionate examina-
tion of every principle presented to the mind which re-
quires important action, The action will then proceed.
from deliberate judgment, and not from the impulse of
excited passion. . In tracing the history of the human
race, we rarely find, a heinous crime committed under,
the influence of calm consideration; but generally, if
not always, under, the influence of some pernicious and
baneful passion; or from some corrupt principle, which,
has been designedly instilled into the mind conformable,
to those passions. Allslanders proceed from this source.
No. wars, no tyranny nor persecution could ever be sup-
ported by any other principle. If ever the civil and re-
ligious liberties of this nation are overthrown, it will be
done through the prevalence of these causes. When
strenuous and unceasing efforts, are continually made to
gain a religious ascendancy, and to obtain the passage
of laws in favor of the opinions and views of some pre-
dominant sect, which lays claim to exclusive orthodoxy,
and when laws are enacted with no other design than
to favor suchschemes, and to operate against an unpopu-
lar sect, then let the lovers of rational liberty beware,
lºst.the consummation of all these designs and exertions
should finally, terminate in the baneful and dreaded.com.
bination of the civil and ecclesiastical powers, to sway.


* *
3. (. 12 ).
the destinies of our country. Should this once be ac-
complished, then adieu, an everlasting adieu to all the
liberties and privileges, both civil and religious, which
have hitherto been the fair and distinguished portion of
this highly favored nation.
The utility of every principle and system must be
tested by its nature and effects. We therefore request
the reader to examine candidly, and without prejudice,
the foregoing exposition of this Society; and see if he
can discover any thing in the principles of its system
incompatible with purity, justice and charity—anything
inconsistent with the social and spiritual happiness, or
any thing which is not compatible with the free agency
of man, or with those civil and religious rights bestowed
upon us by our beneficient Creator, and secured by the
free institutions of our country. . . . .
We are well aware that these principles require great
self-denial against the natural propensities of man.
But surely, if we believe the testimony of our Saviour.
this can be no proof that they are not the principles of
genuine christianity. But whether they are approved
or disapproved, or whether they are agreeable or disa-
greeable to the feelings of human nature, no one can
have any reasonable ground of complaint, nor any cause
of opposition, since all are at their own option to em-
brace them or not. -
The faith and principles of this Society have been
tested more than fifty years in this land. Originating
from means apparently the most contemptible and in-
adequate, and destined to stem all the opposition of na-
ture's passions, and to confront the pride and ambition
of the world, and the persecutions of the bigoted vota-
ries of more popular religions, they have increased and
grown, and been gradually unfolded and extended, and
have been received by many; until they have established
a people in that united order of harmony, peace and
Social happiness, which crºtiues to excite the increas:
ing attention and wonder of mankinds” .