DAY 109 (04-19-13)

Day 109 of SP… The Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village apple orchards… We were traveling through Maine on our way back from North Conway when we decided to stop at a Shaker Village, to my surprise we ran across the only Shaker village that still practices the Shaker religion…..
The Shakers trace their beginnings to Manchester, England, in 1747. They called themselves The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing. They soon became known as Shakers because of the trembling, whirling, and shaking that affected them during their spiritually ecstatic worship services. As Millennialists, they believed that Christ’s second coming was realized in their leader, Ann Lee, whom they called Mother Ann. In 1774, Mother Ann Lee made the monumental decision to lead eight Shaker converts on a journey to America. Mother Anne passed away in 1784. The Shaker population reached its peak in the mid-19th century, with an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 Shakers. Today, the Shaker community remains active at Sabbathday Lake in Maine (since 1783). Shaker Sunday meeting is open to the public-all are invited to the traditional service that begins at 10 AM.. The Anthropologist in me would like to go back someday and go to the service, also during apple picking season; gotta try a Shaker-grown apple.. I watched a PBS series on the Shakers and find them to be very interesting.. Shake on Shakers.. The rising sun is to the right of me with clouds blocking my view.