United Society of Shakers

Description

This picture was taken on the occasion of the 70th birthday of Sister Aurelia G. Mace (1835-1910). The cake and flowers were gifts of Edward and Amelia Ricker, proprietors of the Poland Spring Hotel.

One of the outstanding Believers of the era. Aurelia came with her parents to Sabbathday Lake from Strong, in 1836.

For nearly a quarter of a century beginning in 1856 she taught school for Shaker children. Thereafter, as a Trustee of the Society, Sr. Aurelia turned her attention to developing the nascent fancy goods industry. She introduced new products such as Shaker Lemon Syrup and revived the traditional fir balsam pillow and horse-hair sieve and brush industries.

All the while, Sr. Aurelia found time to promote her religion through her literary gift. Among those with whom she corresponded was Leo Tolstoi. In 1899 a collection of her letters and essays entitled The Aletheia: Spirit of Truth" was published in Farmington. It remains one of the clearest expositions on the Shaker faith.

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