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William Scales' 1789 "Mystery Of The People Called Shakers": Introduction, David D. Newell

American Communal Societies Quarterly

William Scales is an elusive and intriguing figure in the history of early Shakerism. Scales was not a typical Shaker convert - he was a graduate of Harvard University, had been an itinerant Congregational minister, and had published two works prior to his conversion to Shakerism in 1782 or 1783. It is known that he wrote about Shakerism, both when he lived with Mother Ann Lee "and the elders with her" as well as afterwards, but until recently, it was presumed that none of his works about the Shakers had been published or survived in manuscript form. Scales' "The Mystery …

The Mystery Of The People Called Shakers, Laid Open, And Their Ministration Exploded, For Its Falsities And Impositions, William Scales

American Communal Societies Quarterly

A reprint of an article appearing in the Boston Gazette, and the Country Journal. June 15, 1789. Issue 1810. Page 1.

"THIS piece is design'd for the conviction of the people called SHAKERS, and for the good of all generations; therefore I shall pretty much omit every thing else, and proceed directly to my great design, which I shall effect by a dialogue between the Elder of that people and myself the Author, and A will stand for Author, and E for Elder."