We hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend and is enjoying the advent of spring! The Manifesto, the Shakers’ monthly magazine, contained a “Home Notes” section where communities could send news to keep all the villages in touch. Here are a few selections from Enfield from 1894, 1898 and 1899. These three entries, despite their specific and varied content, all employ metaphor to discuss literal and spiritual rebirth and its meaning for the followers’ “awakened souls’” purpose: to labor in spiritually imbued daily work. What do you think? (How about those maple syrup harvests!)
May 1894, p. 119 Enfield, N. H. April, 1894. "Spring-time and robins have come." The season is about a month earlier than usual, and unless the spring is cold and backward, there is prospect of an early harvest. The maple harvest is finished, and we have had about five hundred gallons of syrup from our two orchards. Our contract for corn-planters is about completed, and we have orders for twenty-five extra machines. The next large job of work is a yard full of lumber to be sawn and stacked. In our Saturday evening service, many of us were surprised by the announcement of Elder Abraham's resignation from the Eldership of the Church. It was also announced that, of choice, he would spend the remainder of his days at the Society in Canterbury. To many who have been blest with his care and ministration since childhood, the change seems but one degree short of a visit from the "Angel Reaper." However, we find a great source of consolation in the fact that he is still spared to us; and though we may not be blessed by the benediction of his presence, still we feel assured that his love and interest for the people in this part of the Lord's vineyard will never wane. He leaves us loved by those who know him; respected by acquaintances, and honored by all. We know that he goes among those who in years gone by have been cared for and loved by him, and we feel assured that his declining years will be spent in the peacefulness and quietude his long term of service so well merits. Our service on the 8th inst. was an ovation of love and kind remembrance, both old and young presenting many tributes of love and respect. Elder William Wilson succeeds Elder Abraham as first Elder in the Church. Sister Julia Russell, who is first in charge at our Infirmary, met with an accident a few days since, by falling and breaking her wrist. We hope for a speedy recovery for her. G. H. Kirkley.
North Family. April, 1894. In attending Easter service with our Church kindred, the many recitations bearing on the subject of the bodily ascension of Jesus, brought to mind the text, "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness." Qualities of nature achieved by doing good works that resurrect from the soil of sin into an atmosphere of active goodness, - these unite souls to Christ and to their fellow beings by principles of holiness, and become to awakened souls as the voice of the risen Christ, asking for greater activity and for "patient continuance in the way of well doing." Since writing our last Notes heralding the news of excellent health, almost every member in the family has been stricken with a hard cold and in some cases quite severely hit. If a vegetarian diet will aid in fortifying the physical structure against colds as well as against other distressing afflictions which flesh is heir to, would it not be well to heed the injunction, Be temperate in all things? and thus help to bring about the full resurrection of our being from all things that bring disease to mind, soul and body. Our sugar harvest is small compared with former years. We tapped but five hundred trees, preferring not to hire extra help. May we all, like the budding foliage and the merry summer birds, be filled with renewed life unto God, and sing songs of praise to both divine and human powers of good. George II. Baxter.
June 1898, p. 92-93 Enfield, N. H. May, 1898. Easter-day will long remain indelible on memory's page. Our chapel was well decorated with evergreens, vines, plants and flowers, while the varied exercises given, afforded invited friends and ourselves, a feast of good things. Making Easter, A day bright with music, emblematic of tho't, Sacred mementos of Christ, whose life bro'f The glad tidings of love, purity and sweet peace, Fruits of a kingdom that e'er will increase In that sphere where truth rules and blest justice bears sway, Where night is eclipst with brightness of day; Where the ensign of freedom e'er floats o'er the land, Where service to God, means service to man, Thus resurrecting from the darkened tombs of sin, Souls bright with hope, all glorious within, Christ's mission on earth as his teachings portray, Was to raise a standard and pave a way, Whereby to resurrect from error's dark night, A gospel of love, liberty and light, Of industry, equality, justice and truth, Heaven's high estate for aged and youth. Our maple harvest fell below last year's record, yielding but one hundred and ninety gallons of syrup. While in operation companies of three to thirty of our young people, spent a few hours at the camp, indulging in the much prized "chopsticks," (maple candy cooled on snow) swinging and having a good time. As I write the word camp, thought contrasts the peaceful significance of ours to the turbulent ones of the brave, liberty aspiring Cubans and our own American army. There opens to my vision the horrors on sea and land and already occurred and must happen before the red, white and blue with one star can float in freedom. I turn from our dark National war scene and cast upon the banner of Society news, the bright picture revealing the appointment of Elder William Briggs to our ministerial order and whose Enfield kindred give the salute,It is well and could not be bettered. Elder Henry whose long period of service to East Canterbury and Enfield, should be untaxt with extra Society weight as he enamels the closing records of his earth life with the gold of eternal faithfulness. Unnecessary taxation of one's mental and physical structure when nearing the immortal sphere is not conducive to a cheery entrance where joy and sweet rest are as luxuriant in growth as seeds in peculiarly rich soil. George H. Baxter.
May 1899, p. 76-77 Enfield, N. H. April, 1899. Easter day with its annual incentives to work for full resurrection from the tomb of earthly entanglements and pass into the light of God and partake of soul energies that embellish life with Christly attributes, was appropriately observed by our Church with a morning service full of short sermons and inspiring songs, and in the evening held a service of music, songs and recitations referring to the arisen Christ, and the immortal work of his followers. In reviewing some of the events of the past year our hearts waft notes of gratitude to the powers that have levelled the unrighteous forces that enslaved the Cuban and Philipino people; never again, we hope, to pass into the state of barbarity. The world wide resurrection movement seeks egress from the dust of material desolation into a sphere of better order and life, thus enlarging the silver lining of Christian affinity fringing the clouds of human grief and turmoil, and making it possible for the white dove of peace to fly from heart to heart, from home to home, and nation to nation with its spotless love, caroling notes of resurrection's truths, joys and works. The few days that Brother A. G. Hollister sojourned with us last month, and his visit was one of profit and pleasure. What tine testimonials in favor of mortal resurrection from error and evil are souls like our brother, who devotes his all to resurrecting laws, that raise the whole organism above earth's corruptions and pleasures. We also entertained our friend Rev. T. Rosco, of Rochester, Vt., who has lately accepted a call to preside over the Universalist church of Enfield. The bond of union made will be conducive to reciprocal associations that work for greater righteousness. George H. Baxter.
