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

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1936 The Peg Board Mt. Lebanon, March 61 Q1 Leo Tolstoi Dear friend and brother, Your welcomeletter of the 3, ult. duly received. There is much union of sentiment between us, and more union of spirit. You are ministered unto by a Christ Spirit, as Jesus was. It is not for yourself alone, but has reference to thousands of other souls who are ripe for the harvest sickle. The end of the world is coming upon them. Russia is a mighty Empire. It has produced large crops of spiritual men and women, in the past, under the first appearing of Christ, in the male order. They knew God as a heavenly father, but not as a Heavenly Mother. They had a male priesthood Order. They were a John the Baptist people, looking, waiting, praying, for the coming of our Lord. They were sincere and self sacrificing, but knew not how to pray, being blinded by theological ignorance and consequent error. The Mennonites8z Moravians and what a noble people! ! And many other, bearing different names, but all actuated by the same Christ Spirit, down to the Quakers, as Friends. Who came nigh unto the Kingdom of Heaven. These were the Two Witnesses -Male and Female-who prophesied, prayed, and practised Christian virtues, in part. Their persecutions were not in part, but in whole. .And those who brought them to the Holy Inquisition, or killed them by thousands, under the Duke of Alva, or by a Saint Bartholemew massacre, thought they were doing God good service. All the great European nations are Christian. War is a permanent institution among them. They are exhausting their national resources either fighting, or in Peace, preparing to fight. Do they not all pray to the same God to help them kill each other? Could the Devil do any worse by them? You ask, How do you manage to keep Communial, but nevertheless- property. Do you acknowledge the possibility for a Christian to defend property from usurpers? These are important questions. Jesus said, Be ye perfect, even as your father in Heaven is perfect. That is the end of our Christian travail. But is it the beginning? Did Jesus come to it, while yet in the body? Jesus was not yet perfected. This is said of him after his death. If we scrutinize closely the history of Jesus, from birth to death, do we not see growth, from where he was to where he would be? He saw the travail of his soul and was satisfied. Suppose we should have a list of the sins that he con- fessed to John, before he was baptised, and previous to the Christ Spirit descending upon him? And then suppose we make another list of the various transgressions and violations of the abstract principles of Christianity as you and I now see them? What would be the result? Should we not conclude that he was our elder brother, was touched with a feeling of our infirmities, be- cause he had the same nature, and by it was tempted in all respects like those whom the Christ Spirit came to redeem. He was simply the firstborn of many brethren just as Ann Lee was the first born of many sisters. The Mennonites, Moravians, and Quakers, were non resistents, as were most of the true Witnesses. Not until the seperation of Church and State, by the horns - Infidel powers-that grew out of the Beast, in the Am. Revolution, could communial property be held by non resistents. That is the New Earth, and has it becomes more perfect in its righteousness, the New Heavens will be nearer perfect in all of the Christian virtues. It will travail from Faith to Faith, through seven Cycles, unto the perfect day. The light shining brighter and brighter until the light of one day shall be as the light of seven days. We hold and defend our Communial property under the 75

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The Peg Board 1936 Civil Laws of the New Earth. But in no case, or under any circumstances, should we injure a fellow being. You see that our Civil government is the voice of the people-Vox populi, Vox Dei-And the people who are the Rulers, are more progressed than are the Rulers of Russia or of any Church- and-State Government on the face of the Earth, we-the Shakers-under the Am secular Gov't can carry out the abstract principles, taught by revelation of the Christ Spirit, more perfectly than has hitherto ever been done by mortal men and women. just as we do carry out sexual purity, notwithstand- ing the sexes are brought face to face, in every day life, living without bolts or bars, in the same Household of Faith. Come and see what God hath wrought. Dear friend, Come to Lebanon and bind your joining to the Church of Christ's Second Appearing. Then, return and found the Order in Russia, with consent of the Govern- ment, which the Shaker Order can and will obtain for you. Calvin Green, one of our prophets, many years ago, predicted a glorious spiritual work in Russia. A Russian Minister visited Lebanon and was very friendly. He invited the Order to Russia. Has not the time arrived? And are not Thou the Man? In the Church of Christ Sd. Appearing, the Spirit is of God. It is not of the people. Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you - And Revelation of God is the Rock upon which the Church is founded. And the Gates of Hell-religious controversy-will not prevail against it. The letter above is printed from a copy unsigned but in the handwriting of Frederick Evansg the letter below is reproduced from an undated copy signed by Evans. Mt. Lebanon, Columbia Co., N. Y. U. S. A. Leo Tolstoy, Dear friend, A.P.C.' from you was the last we have heard. We often speak of you. And our prayers for your health and safty are unceas- ing. The Shakers are your fast friends. You will be a welcome visitor, if Providentially you are led to our continent to visit the World's Fair. The North Family will be your home. All Societies of Shakers are your fast friends. You are recognized as a servant of God and a friend to your race. As such, the blessing of God rests upon you. The truths that will constitute the Millenium are open to your spiritual vision. There are a few, here and there, who are with you. The fact that the whole Shaker Order live out the principles you advocate, can but be encouraging to you. The Government does not interfere with us. One poet said, Slaves can- not live in England. That moment their feet touch our soil, their shackles fall. Spread it then, until wherever Britain's power is felt her justice shall be as fully inherited. That hope has been wonderfully actualized. It will be so with your aspirations regarding spiritual things. When you can see seventeen Com- munities of people whose every right is secured to them, whose every rational want is supplied, does it not demonstrate that all mankind may be made happy in this world? Our Sisterhood are redeemed. The Rights of woman are theirs, the rights of property we enjoy. Capital and Labor are at peace. Hygiene is religion with us. Love to you again and again. A love that would cheerfully-gladly-give you and yours a life home. n F. W. Evans. 1 This letter il not dated. The letter: A.P.C. in the Brat line may mean a postcard. 76