Mother Ann Lee

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This definitive biography explores the life of Ann Lee, the founder of the Shaker movement, as depicted in the film The Testament of Ann Lee. It presents a thoroughly researched account of Lee, a controversial religious leader and early feminist figure who established the Shaker movement in 1770 in Manchester, England. The Shakers' radical principles challenged societal norms, advocating for the equality of men and women at a time when wives were seen as possessions. They embraced beliefs in absolute pacifism, gender equality, celibacy, and the cleansing of sin through dancing and chanting. Despite their pursuit of inner peace and harmony, their unconventional practices, including total abstinence from sex and mystical ecstasy, led to the imprisonment of Lee and her followers. While incarcerated, she experienced a profound vision that reaffirmed her commitment to celibacy and identified her as the second coming of Christ. In search of religious freedom, she guided her followers, known as the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, from England to upstate New York. Lee passed away in 1784, but her movement flourished into the nineteenth century, establishing at least eighteen Shaker communities across several states. Today, many of these settlements serve as museums, with the last active Shaker community located at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in Maine.