MOTHER ANN LEE. 267 



had a revelation of God s will, to &quot; dispense through her 

 his power over all sin,&quot; and she was called &quot; Mother 

 Ann.&quot; In 1774, she received a special revelation to go 

 to America, and soon after sailed for New York with 

 eight of her people and her husband. Two years after, 

 her husband deserted her and her faith, and married 

 another woman. 



She then, in 1776, with a few followers, took up her 

 abode in the woods at Watervliet, and, after many per 

 secutions in various parts of New England, died, and 

 was buried at this place in September 1784, in the forty- 

 eighth year of her age. &quot; Thus ended,&quot; says the report 

 of the Legislative Committee, &quot; the earthly career of the 

 woman whom the Shakers sincerely believe now occupies 

 the form or figure which John the Baptist saw in his 

 vision standing beside the Saviour! 1 What this means 

 I do not pretend to guess. 



There are in the State of New York three societies 

 of Shakers, containing in all 962 individuals, and 

 possessing 10,000 acres of land. In the whole of the 

 United States there are eighteen societies, containing 

 4050 individuals. The females exceed the males about 

 10 per cent. During the last ten years, their numbers 

 have increased very little.* 



They profess an abstinence from all sensual and car 

 nal gratifications, and therefore live in a state of 

 celibacy &quot; to follow peace with all men,&quot; and there 

 fore abstain from war and from party or political conten 

 tions to strive after justice, honesty, and holiness, and 

 therefore dedicate their persons and property to social 

 and sacred uses, in one consecrated and united interest. 



But their great article of faith is, that what Jesus 

 was &quot; Christ in the male sex &quot; Ann Lee was also, 



* In 1828, they had sixteen societies, in which the number of indivi 

 duals was said to be 5400. RAPF S Religious Denominations in the United 

 States. 



