DABuckingham - 1873 page 24

11 Nov Butcher 6 beef. Hire 2 butchers to help.


18 Nov 18 inches of snow

20 Nov Temperature -4

25 Nov. H.ad meetng of elders, deacons and brethren and sisters who do milking and agreed that
sisters are to milk untilDecember 1st/ then brethren until March. Any variation must be by
agreement; this to continue each year unti! otherwise agreed upon.

1 Dec. Elders and deacons met with ministry. Photographs/ daguerreotypes and ferrotypes have
been "carried too far and must be checked. None but those taken in scenery are approved;
all personal/ individual or groups of Individuals not attached to scenery must be given up
to Elders or destroyed."
"And then come on the most Important topic of a l l /
Music and Musical Instruments. Various
opinions and feelings concerning itsintroduction among us at present. Families too much
involved/ in consequence of the burning of barns and establishing new ones/ to purchase an
organ at present. So it remains unsettled. "


8 Dec. DAB/ and Stanton cut a hickory tree/ about 2 feet diameter/ from side hill NW of here/
for basket rims and balls.


27 Dec. In large south room of stone shop/ put up blackboard/ and whitewash walls to use as
"Singing Department."

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1874

Jan " "-"Panic thru country "makes business financially very dull."

10 Jan. DAB went to other families about planned singing school to collect funds to pay expenses
of Brother James Russell and Sister Eudora Arnold from Enfield/ N.H. who are expected to
come as instructors.

1 11 Jan. Some from Church Family go to South Family to hear J. M. Spier/ a spiritualistfrom
; Philadelphia/ and a female medium.

= 21 Jan. Have Society meeting in evening/ with J . M. Peebles/ Jacob Harter and Benjamin
* Starbuck/ 3 "very prominent/spiritualists" with them. Peebles and Harter "gave quite lengthy
discourses on spiritualism/ Shakerism/ temperance/ etc./ we exercised inthe march 2 or 3
I songs/ slow march about the same number, and about 6 other songs. Meeting lasted about 3
.. hours "including a short time of social chat."
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j 9 Feb. Elder Giles and C. Miller went to Albany and purchased an organ for the singing school.
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I 10 Feb. Six Canterbury ministry and singers arrive. -* * - - ___
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i 12 Feb. Singing school starts every-night in the "music hall."
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',Sunday/ 15 Feb. Visiting at 8/ regular church meeting at 10, singing drill at 2/ prayer meeting at 7.

18 Feb. South Family bought an organ.