Mother Ann Lee

Originally published in 1976 as Anne the Word, this is a popular biography of colorful and controversial Shaker founder Ann Lee.

When she died in America at age forty-eight, having brought her faithful to a new land on the eve of the Revolution, she left behind a religious movement that was to have thousands of followers and become our most important and successful utopian community."--BOOK JACKET.

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A biography of the woman who founded the Shaker religious sect in England, where persecution became so intense that she and her followers migrated to America.

Ann Lee is perhaps one of the most remarkable and mystifying women in the history of Western culture. Few could have imagined that humble beginnings in Manchester, England, would lead to the illiterate daughter of a blacksmith overcoming personal anguish and increasingly Puritanical sentiments in England and rising to become a visionary religious leader, thought by her followers to have been the second incarnation of Christ. After the deaths of her four children, Ann was committed to an insane asylum. While committed she received the revelation that she was Ann the Word, the female embodiment of Christ. Upon her release, she assumed leadership of the Shaking Quakers, or Shakers, a local religious cult known for erratic fits of divine shaking, passionate song and dance, speaking in tongues, and a belief that the millennium heralding the end of the world had come. Escaping persecution, she emigrated with a small band of Shakers to America in 1774. Charges of witchcraft and spying followed Lee wherever she went as she began an ambitious mission of conversion, establishing communities across New England. In the first serious biography about this spirited, captivating leader, Richard Francis provides “the best portrait to date of . . . [a] heroic, indomitable, mesmerizing woman” (Sunday Telegraph), a trail-blazer whose feminizing influence upon Christianity was marked progress for women of her time and long after. He also demonstrates the aura and strangeness of the radical Shakers during their militant years and in so doing, poignantly recreates a “remote prophetic world” (Evening Standard), bursting with mystery and intrigue.

Introduction, birth, parentage, religious exercises and sufferings of Ann Lee; her revelation and testimony; voyage to America -- Mother's experience and sufferings in America, previous to the opening of the gospel -- First interview of the people in this country with Mother and the elders, with some questions and answers that passed between them -- First interview of different individuals with Mother and the elders -- The subject continued -- The subject continued -- Sketches of Mother's experience and sufferings in England, as related by herself, at different times -- Mother's persecution in England, as related by herself, and those who came with her to this country -- Mother converses with Eleazer Grant and others. Some further particulars of her persecution in England-- mission and voyage to America, &c. -- The wicked alarmed at the spreading of the gospel-- Mother and the elders imprisoned at Albany--many stirred up to inquiry, and the work still increases--Mother sent to Poughkeepsie jail, &c. -- The church visited at Watervlist--the gospel increases--Mother sets out on a journey to the eastward--visits Tucconock, Enfield, and Grafton, and arrives at Harvard. The inhabitants alarmed by false reports, &c. -- Mother and the elders visit Petersham. Meeting at David Hammond's disturbed by a mob--Mother shamefully and cruelly abused -- Mother and the elders return to Harvard. They are threatened, and ordered to leave the place. After much affliction, they leave Harvard, and go to Enfield, from whence they are driven by a mob--they go to Ashfield, afterward return to Harvard, &c. -- The believers driven from Harvard, and cruelly abused by a riotous mob -- Mother visits Norton, Rehoboth and Stonington--thence through Preston and Windham to Stafford--thence to Enfield, Cheshire, and Ashfield -- At Ashfield Mother is visited by great multitudes of people--great manifestations of the power of God, and great purging among the people--a mob excited by Daniel Bacon -- Mother and the elders return to Harvard--by the complaints of a deaf and dumb man a mob is raised, and assembled at Shirley. The elders taken from Shirley to Harvard and whipped -- Mother and the elders leave Harvard, and visit Petersham--a mob assembles, the believers abused, and Aaron Wood knocked down--Mother and the elders go to Joseph Bennet's in Cheshire--thence to Richmond -- Great opposition from the wicked instigated by Senior Valentine Rathbun, Mother and the elders taken with a warrant,and tried by a court of justices. Samuel Fitch and brethren committed to jail. Opposition continues--Mother visits the prisoners--returns through West Stockbridge, &c. -- Mother arrives at New Lebanon; meeting at John Bishop's--Mother visits a number of families in and around New Lebanon--goes to Jabez Spencer's in Stephentown; and returns again to New Lebanon -- A persecuting mob is raised--Mother carried before Eleazar Grant; cruelly abused, and driven out of New Lebanon -- Mother and the elders return to Nathan Farrington's--A mob surrounds the house at night--Mother proceeds on her journey--stays at E. Kapp's, and is driven off by a mob, arrives at Niskayuns, &c. -- Great manifestations of God in Mother; Christ her head, Lord and Husband -- Prophecies, visions, and revelations -- The subject continued -- The subject continued -- The gospel preached to departed spirits -- The confession of sin -- Miraculous gifts -- Counsel in temporal things--industry, cleanliness, prudence, economy, giving of alms and charity to the poor -- Promises to the faithful--counsel and instruction to young people. Concerning children--concerning beats -- Reproof and instruction -- Public teaching, doctrinal speeches; exhortations, &c. -- The subject continued -- Speeches to individuals, on various occasions -- The subject continued -- The subject continued -- Sketches of the life and character of Elder William Lee -- Some further sketches of the life and character of Mother Ann Lee -- Sketches of the life, character, and ministry of Father James Whittaker -- The subject continued -- Of the judgments of God.