I wonder if acceptance of birth control and abortion did them in. Less orphans?
Freegards
The Shakers were a pretty significant social and economic force in the time of their flourishing. I’m a little surprised that they’re not gaining some members, given the great interest these days in simple living, a small carbon footprint, being “spiritual but not churchgoing,” and so on.
Perhaps one reason they’re not gaining members - even temporary, “give it a try a couple of years” members - is their location in freezing Maine. If one of their communities in, say, Tennessee had endured ...