Mother S First-Born Daughters: Early Shaker Writings on Women and Religion

Jean McMahon Humez stands in all probability as the greatest expert on the fascinating, extinct sect known to the world as The Shakers. Her ability to compile the writings of Rebecca Jackson, one of the most famous converts to Shakerism, in such an effective manner as she did was remarkable. In that work, Humez showed a true mastery of what ought to be seen as a difficult topic. Although a failed postage has meant I have not been able to receive the book, "Mother's First-Born Daughters: Early Shaker Writings on Women and Religion" appears to be as good as Humez' previous work on the topic. Though it meant nothing to me when I first read it, it is fair to say that since that time I have become better able to understand the mysteries that lie at the core of Shaker life. The fact that Shakers had a quite complicated system (as Humez makes us aware) meant that their writings on spiritual topics have not been as available to a reader like me as books dealing with, say, Shaker furniture or cooking. Hence, this collection, when and if I get a chance to read it thoroughly, should be a revelation. The findings I have so far had about it show clearly that Humez is able to "get inside" the lives of Shaker women in a way more general studies of Shakerism never even attempt to do. She seems to be able to show more than just events within communes from 170-210 years ago in a manner that is rare even among the best-researched histories, especially in the early and late parts of the book. This appears to be very well balanced with commentaries that give the general reader some hop of understanding the text, so that in no way can it be as unreadable as I found it several years back. We really see and feel the religious inspiriation of the Shaker mediums, even understanding where they felt it was coming from, when we read Humez' well-edited texts. The feelings and dreams of being possessed by spirits normally seems far removed, yet here it seems totally familiar, as do other aspects of Shaker spirituality discussed in the book. On the whole, these texts cement Jean McMahon-Humez' status as the greatest Shaker historian. Strongly recommended, especially as none of the texts can be found in the equally impressive The Shakers: Two Centuries Of Spiritual Reflection. Together, they give a mountain of writings for a modern reader to reflect upon.