Shakers are members of a Christian sect officially named the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing. They acquired the name Shakers early in their history because they shook with religious zeal during worship services.
Shaker doctrine rested on refraining from sexual relations and confession of sin. Shakers believed that they should live separate from the outside world, and so they established their own communities where members shared their material goods. No one was born to the Shaker faith. All became members through adult conversion. But Shaker communities included children. Some children accompanied their convert parents; others were adopted by the Shakers or were placed in Shaker communities by parents or guardians unable to care for them. Upon coming of age, young people had the right to decide whether they wanted to remain.
The concept of separation from the world is central to Shaker theology. However, Shakers had extensive involvement with the outside world, trading with their neighbors and opening their religious services to the public. The Shakers became known for the high quality of their products and for their simple design, especially in furniture.
The Shakers first began to worship together in the 1740’s around Manchester, England. In 1758, Ann Lee joined and became the leader. In 1774, she led eight of her followers to the American Colonies to escape religious persecution. At their peak, about 1830, American Shakers may have numbered 6,000 people, living primarily in New England, New York, Ohio, and Kentucky. Today, there is an active Shaker community at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in New Gloucester, Maine.
See also Kentucky (Visitor’s guide).
