They called themselve the United Society of Believers in Christ.

Second, appearing, but because of their ecstatic dancing, the world called them shakers.

They were ordinary people who gave up everything homes, families and livelihoods to put into daily practice what they called authentic Christianity.

75 years before the emancipation of the slaves, and 150 years before women began voting in America, the shakers were practicing social, economic, and spiritual equality for all members.

They believed in pacifism and feminism.

Freedom from prejudice, natural health and hygiene, and joyful personal worship.

The shakers were celibate.

They did not marry or bear children.

Yet they are one of the most enduring religious experiments in American history.

Their radical views were so challenging, their way of life so appealing, that the world's people, as they called outsiders, flocke to this new American religion.

They ar in many ways the American Dream.

They encompass all of the ideas of America, its individualism as well as its collectivism.

In one area.

And they try that, they experiment with it, and they're very successful.

And yet they are not successful.

In terms of, lasting, they perhap are not successful in terms of what they contribute.

They will continually be successful, in my view.