On this day 224 years ago, Mother Ann Lee died. Ann Lee was one of the founders of the Shakers sect, an offshoot of the Quakers. The name “Shakers” came about as a result of the forms of worship used by the group, which included trembling, singing, speaking in tongues, shouting, dancing and shaking. The shaking and trembling were said to be caused by the Holy Spirit when purging sin from the body of the worshipper.
In 1774, Ann Lee emigrated with a small group of followers from England to New York, where they settled and started a small community. Her teaching focused on celibacy, the equality of men and women, the importance of confessing sins, the imminence of the second coming, and the pursuit of perfection in every facet of life. Shakers became known for their work ethic, the unique style of their furniture, their distinctive architecture, and their music.
While much of Ann Lee’s religious beliefs were not in conflict with orthodox Christianity, some of them definitely were. She considered herself to be Christ’s female counterpart, and her followers came to believe that she embodied all the perfections of God in female form. She claimed to have visions and messages from God, revealing that the only way on which the Kingdom of God could be established on earth was through celibacy and the confession of sins. She died at the age of 48, in the year 1784.