By
Henry Leo Bolduc
The Shakers composed and channeled over 24,000 songs. Channeled songs were called "Gift Songs." Simple Gifts is an all-time favorite and summarizes the Shaker philosophy.
Simple Gifts
'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain'd,
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
'Til by turning, turning we come out right.
To say little and perform much is noble.
It requires no greater effort to speak a kind word, than it does to speak an unkind word.
It is not the outside riches but the inside ones that produce happiness.
Do all your work as though you had a thousand years to live, and as you would if you knew you must die tomorrow.
This is an excerpt from an actual Shaker diary.
"And the mighty power of God flowed and filled the assembly particular the youth and young people who were exercised Wonderfully.
Also the native spirits (the souls of native American Indians) entered many of the young sisters, some of the inspired
(psychic) saw thousands of them enter. It seems to be awakening and an enlightening day for them. They say they have come to
receive the love and blessing of the shiny White folks. They have heard the sounding trumpet calling them to receive and be
united with Mothers children. We also united with them in every simple gift."
