Confused about the terminology used by the Shakers?
Family: The largest Shaker social, economic, and administrative unit that
described all the individuals living in the same dwelling. Two Elders and
two Eldresses were in charge of the Family, which could be thirty
individuals to one hundred individuals.
Other common terms you should know ...
Believers: Used commonly instead of “Shakers” by members of the community to
refer to each other.
Brother/Sister: The terms used to address members.
Covenant: When a new member joined, to prove his or her commitment to the
community, the covenant was a legal document handing over all of that
individual’s worldly belongs to the Shaker community.
Communal: Exemplifies the lifestyle of the Shakers. There was no individual
ownership within the Shaker Village, but rather all belongings were shared
among the community, and all monetary profits were used to benefit the
entire community, rather than a few people.
Deacon/Deaconess: Appointed to supervise the jobs at the family level. Each
Family would have had a Farm Deacon, and Kitchen Deaconess, etc.
Dwelling: The name for the dormitory-like building that housed a communal
Shaker Family.
Elder/Eldress: Appointed to supervise spiritual affairs or, in a more general
sense, to denote a leader.
Eder Brother/Elder Sister: Specific term used to describe leaders at the Family
level.
Gathering: Used to describe a group of new converts to Shakerism.
Gift: A “gift” was given from God to an individual that benefit God’s kingdom
on earth, and could be anything from prophecy to music. For example, a
“whirling gift” would describe a Shaker’s circular movement during a
service, when the Shaker was moved by God.
Heavenly Father: The Shakers felt that, since man and woman were created in the
image of God, God had a male and a female side. “Heavenly Father” was used
to refer to the masculine side of God.
Holy Mother Wisdom: The term used to refer
to the feminine side of God.
Meeting: Usually applied to the Shaker worship service, which
included hearing words from Brothers or Sisters led by the spirit to
speak, singing, dancing, clapping, and sometimes “shaking”, from which the
Shakers got their name.
Lead Ministry: Two Elders and two Eldresses, who resided in the
Shaker community in Lebanon, New York, and were the spiritual leaders of
all of the Shakers.
Ministry: Two Elders and two Eldresses in charge of a Shaker
community. Order: 1) together with “union”, an important part of the
Shaker life. Believers who kept their order followed by the rules of the
Society and placed the community’s needs above their own. 2) Another word
for “rule” or “law,” as in: “The Gospel orders” 3) with a capital “O”, used
to refer officially to a group of members. For example, a “Gathering
Order” was a group of new converts, and a “Senior Order” was a group of
committed, covenanted members.
Retiring Time: A time after supper, usually about a half an hour,
in which Shakers went to their bedroom to think quietly and to prepare themselves
for the evening meeting.
Testimony: Written account of a member’s faith and experience,
often solicited by Elders or Eldresses
Trustee: A Shaker Trustee is someone who has the responsibility
for the financial well-being of the community. He not only keeps financial
records but is also in charge of marketing products sold by the community.
Office deacons and deaconesses assist the Trustee and usually live in the
Trustee’s Office.
Union: Together with “order,” an important goal of Shaker life. It
describes the spiritual bond between all members of the Shaker society, and
reflects the goal of spiritual and material union within the society.
United Society: Short for the formal title of the Shakers, which
is The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing World/World’s
People: Those who did not belong to the Shaker society lived in the World and
were referred to as World’s People.
Young Believer: A new Shaker convert. “Young” refers to the fact
that new converts were uneducated in the Shaker lifestyle, not necessarily that
they were young in age.
Zion: God’s Kingdom on earth, the home of the Believers in this life.
