THE SHAKERS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 316, 19 March 1875, Page 3

THE SHAKERS.

Mr. Auberon Elerbert, with much candor, sends to- the ' Times' a statement of facts which he has, he thinks, " no right to withhold from that part of the public who are interested in the Shakers." Some months ago Mr. Herbert, in the course of a lung conversation with Mrs. Girling, vvhiclifora time turned on the relations of the sexes in the community, asked if there was any truth in the statement that _th? men and womon bathed together in the sea. Mrs. liirling assured him that there was none, and as far as her own knowledge went Mr. Herbert beiieves she spoke truthfully, while from other opportunities

which fell in his way i f learning something about theCimmun.ty he was led to think the life " pleasant in its virtues and harmless in its delusions." He has since learn ;d, however, that the delusion is not altogether harmless. A. person, in the substantial truth of whose statements he believes, and who is himself an ex—member of the community, has deposed that " several occasions he has been witness of naked dances, in which both the men and women took aart. One would begin to throw off his clothes and others would follow his exam le " Soaie, it is said, were unconscious what they were doing, but others, we regret to say, were described as '• conscious" On learning this Mr. Herbert informed the Shakers assembled in his barn that if these charges are true it will " make no difference as regards the temporary shelter which they possess here," but that he " would do nothing to j assist the community'ln making a fresh I start or acquiring, a new home." Theyii may dance naked, in short, in Mr. Her- | .bert's barn-, but he will not assist them to dance naked any where else. Hehasheadds, ! "no very strong prejudices cn the sub- i ject of clothes; but if . ever the experi- | ment of living decently without clothes is i to be tried, he wouldwish it to be done I by those who know exactly what they are j doing, and not those who are-in a state of religious delirium." In this view of the conditions appopriate to the trial of so hazardous an experiment every prudent person must concur.