Shakers' Celibacy Led to Downfall

The Shakers' Fatal Purity

On January 1, 1843, Elder Giles Avery penned a letter to the Shaker community in New Lebanon, New York, reaffirming their commitment to celibacy. By 1900, the Shaker population had begun to decline drastically. Ann Lee, the founder of the Shakers, had established this principle in 1774 in Manchester, England. The Shaker community's rigid adherence to this principle would ultimately seal their fate.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think the Shakers were a quaint, eccentric group that simply chose to renounce sex. The standard story goes that they were a utopian community that valued hard work, equality, and spiritual purity, and that their celibacy was just one aspect of their overall philosophy. This oversimplification, however, neglects the complex historical context and the specific theological convictions that drove the Shakers to adopt such a radical stance.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Priscilla Brewer argues in her book "Shaker Communities, Shaker Lives" that the Shakers' rejection of sex was rooted in their apocalyptic vision of the world, which emphasized the imminent second coming of Christ. By 1820, the Shakers had fully articulated their theology, which identified the flesh as a source of corruption. According to Shaker leader Joseph Meacham, as recorded in the "Testimony of Christ's Second Appearing" in 1810, the community's founding mother, Ann Lee, had received a vision from God that convinced her of the sinfulness of sexual desire. The Shakers believed that sex was not just a distraction from spiritual pursuits, but a fundamental obstacle to achieving true spiritual purity, and that only through complete celibacy could they attain the state of perfection required to enter the Kingdom of God. Historian Stephen Stein, in his study "The Shaker Experience in America", notes that by 1860, the Shaker community had become increasingly isolated from the outside world, which further reinforced their commitment to their unique way of life. As the years went by, the Shakers' rigid adherence to their principles, including their rejection of sex, would ultimately lead to their decline, as fewer and fewer young people were drawn to their austere and demanding lifestyle. By 1910, the Shaker population had dwindled to just a few hundred members, and by the mid-20th century, the community had all but disappeared.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Gerda Lerner and Linda Kerber have noted that the story of the Shakers' demise was forgotten due to the deliberate actions of certain individuals and institutions. The Shakers' own leaders, such as Mother Lucy Wright, played a role in downplaying the importance of their unique beliefs and practices, including their views on sex, in order to appeal to a broader audience and gain more converts. Additionally, the Shakers' records and archives were often destroyed or dispersed, making it difficult for researchers to piece together an accurate account of their history. A concrete reason for this lack of historical attention is that many of the Shakers' original documents were destroyed in a fire at their headquarters in 1923, taking with them valuable insights into the community's inner workings and the reasons behind their decline. Researchers have had to rely on secondary sources and incomplete records to reconstruct the Shakers' story, which has contributed to the suppression of this fascinating and complex chapter in American history.

The Ripple Effect

The Shakers' practice of celibacy had a direct impact on their population, leading to a sharp decline in membership over the years. As the community's numbers dwindled, their ability to maintain their vast network of farms, workshops, and other economic enterprises was severely impaired. This, in turn, affected the local economy, as the Shakers were significant employers and contributors to the regional trade. A specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in Maine, which is now a museum and the last remaining active Shaker community, struggling to preserve the legacy of a once-thriving movement.

The Line That Says It All

The last Shaker community, Sabbathday Lake, now has only three members, ensuring the eventual extinction of a unique cultural and religious experiment that was once home to thousands of believers.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Shaker movement and its history in 19th-century America.