Shaker communities

Other members The Shakers are a sect of Christianity which practices celibacy, communal living, confession of sin, egalitarianism, and pacifism.

By 1836 eighteen major, long-term societies were founded, comprising some sixty families, along with a failed commune in Indiana.

In the turmoil of the American Civil War and subsequent Industrial Revolution, Shakerism went into severe decline.

The first Shaker community was established north of Albany, and was first called "Niskayuna", a rendering of the Indian name for the land.

[3] Strict believers in celibacy, Shakers acquired their members through conversion, indenturing children, and adoption of orphans.

Some children, such as Isaac N. Youngs, came to the Shakers when their parents joined, then grew up to become faithful members as adults.

Thriving on the religious enthusiasm of the first and second Great Awakenings, the Shakers declared their messianic, communitarian message with significant response.

One early convert observed: "The wisdom of their instructions, the purity of their doctrine, their Christ-like deportment, and the simplicity of their manners, all appeared truly apostolical."

They sat on opposite sides of the room in worship, at meals, and in "union meetings" held to provide supervised socialization between the sexes.

However, the daily business of a Shaker village required the brethren and sisters to interact, as did the dancing and other vigorous activity of their worship services.

Though there was a division of labor between men and women, they also cooperated in carrying out many tasks, such as harvesting apples, food production, laundry, and gathering firewood.

These included: In the 19th century, hundreds of tourists visited Shaker villages, and many of them later wrote about their experiences there.