Darrow School - Shaker Post Yearbook (New Lebanon, NY)

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The Peg Board 1936 4 M SISTER EMMA Al the an offorly-lilo 58

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1936 The Peg Board flames which immediately filled the stable. Had the window been let alone, it is likely the two cattle would have been saved. While talking with a young brother in regard to the unsafe condition of the village, etc., such a time as this, he remarked that they had trusted too much in the Lord. If they would trust a little more in a fire engine and not so wholly in the Lord he thought they would have been better of that night? It was a noticeable fact that the Shakers, both men and women, were the least excited of any present. All seemed to be good-natured and to look at the sad sight as if it was an event that they had expected, and were bound to take it coolly and make the best of it. It was thought by some that the younger part of the society had not enjoyed themselves as well in a long time. Just as the world's people were leaving, Elder F. W. Evans thanked them very kindly for their assistance, and hoped that neither would have to call on the other for similar help, in many a day, which sentiment was heartily acquiesced in. Statements in regard to the origin of the fire are conliicting. A member of the Church family was in his office on Tuesday, and stated that it was his belief that the fire originated in a chimney. The hot ash theory is, however, most generally accepted.15 The Shakers feel under deep obligations to Mr. Henry Tilden, for the valuable help he furnished from his manufactory in men and fire extinguishers. He was himself one of the hardest workers, and it was through the services of his machinery and corps of assistants that the infirmary and other buildings were saved. If the infirmary had not been saved, the fire must have swept from it to half a dozen other buildings in the vicinity, and the loss would have been almost double even the great figure it now reaches. The Church family is one of the richest, if not the richest of the Shaker societies, and had about a hundred members. They own a vast tract of land, cultivated and in wood, and if the fire was to happen, it could not have struck a family better able to bear the loss.m The Social Gathering By SISTER A. ROSETTA STEPHENS IN THE remote days of the last century,-in the seventies, eighties and nineties-, there was held by the Novitiate Order of Mt. Lebanon Shakers, a yearly festival called, The Social Gather- ing. It was held in September, and was for the express purpose of bringing the people together to give praise and thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest from farm, field and orchard. The Novitiate Order comprised the North Family, Mt. Lebanon, Upper Family, Canaan, also, and the Lower Family where now is situated the Berkshire Industrial Farm, and numbered about one hundred members. When the idea was first conceived there was a great deal of cogitation about where it should be held. So our mountain climbers, who knew the lay of the land, were sent out to reconnoiter. They soon found a most desirable place on the Lower Family's property. Rising from the shore of Lake Queechy, is a hill the summit of which forms a plateau which gently slopes to the road and is surrounded by pine trees. The natural beauty of the place, the pungent odor of the pines, and the woodsy fragrance of low growing things, combined to make this the ideal spot. This spot having been found, another group was sent out to clear the ground of brush and brambles, for there must be a oneness of spirit. 13. The Shaken trusted not only in the Lord, but also in their great earefulnesa. 15. Cf. Note 2. 16. The Shakers had land, but not much ready cash. The Church Family was certainly not prepared to meet such a Hre. 57

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1936 The Peg Board Order is heaven's first law. This the early Shakers taught. When a group of men and women are gathered together to work out high ideals, a concert of action to make their efforts successful, and this spirit of orderly cooperation entered into all the minutiae of their lives. And now come the carpenters, or, rather, skilled cabinet workersg a New Deal for them to come down to making picnic tables and benches, but, in the true spirit of cooperation they gave their service for the good of all. - Another primal principle of the people is, simplicity of life, the plain sincere Truth expressed in all things, no glitter or false show. Well, living at the Canaan Family was a brother named George Smart, a rugged Scotchman, who had been a surgeon in the Spanish army in Cuba. He possessed great versatility of talent as a poet and artist. Brother George was to be our decorator. He interlaced the evergreen boughs to form bowers, placing a bunch of red berries here, a sprig of blue there and a premature autumn leaf somewhere else, and, mingling them with the feathery ferns, he soon made a bower of beauty, and the traditions of simplicity were not lost. Our good President in one of his economic speeches tells Congress, We must do first things first. The Shakers were always very practical. It would not do to have the people singing psalms in a beautiful bower, without putting First things first, so the physical man must come in for consideration. The cabinet workers had already made nice small chests as smooth and clean as glass, fitted with shelves to carry the pies and cake securely. The outside of the chests was painted a Shaker blueg I think we might call it an Elinor blue in this day. It was arranged for the North Family to provide all the pies, cakes, cookies, preserves, fruit and cheese. The Upper Family prepared all the vegetables, the Lower Family'dairy products, Qminus ice-creamj in that day. It was a feast for the gods, and we would not be honest if we did not admit it was the great part of our festive gathering. The following is one of the songs composed and sung on one of the gatherings: Over the meadows of golden grain, ' The sound of the reaper has passed againg The flush of the summer has faded away, On the silent wing of harvesting day. Beautiful leaves await our feet, Even as we their glory meet. Gifts of the Father and Mother are here, In the bountiful crops that crown the year. There is much we might describe pertaining to those olden times, but, with Our Hands to work and Our Hearts to God, we now turn our eyes to the bright hopes of the future, wishing God-speed to the Lebanon School. The Oflice Building By DoUG1,As Wissr, ,37 HE OFFICE Building, as we call it, or the Trustees' OHice Building, as it was known to the Shakers is a large brick edifice across the road from the Meeting House. It was built in 1827. The bricks with which it was constructed were manufactured by the Shakers at the East Family about half a mile from the Lebanon School. According to Sister Emma they were not burned enough and were consequently too soft. That, she says, is why they used to let water through and make the building damp. The dampness was done away with when the structure was faced with weather boarding on two sides and painted on the other two. In this building lived a number of the brethren and sisters who had charge of the business affairs of the Church Family. In it also guests were entertained. The Shakers' store was situ- 59