Maine History Online

A sincere belief in universal brotherhood permitted neither racial nor ethnic discrimination among the Shakers. Sister Edith was born in Gloucester, MA, and joined the Canterbury Shaker community in 1895.

Interestingly, Eldress Lizzie's father and uncle, Brothers Josiah (1802-1887) and Thomas E. Noyes (1813-1898), published abolitionist tracts and were associated with William Lloyd Garrison before joining the Sabbathday Lake community in 1863.

Eldress Lizzie was an 1868 graduate of Hebron Academy. After teaching in Missouri for a time, she returned to Maine and joined the Sabbathday lake community in 1873. During her long career, she served as Postmaster, Trustee and Eldress.

This eulogy is from the Church Journal: "She had a most wonderful brain, great executive ability, and was rich in wisdom, and experience. Her greatest virtue was 'Charity' being noted for this everywhere. She was like unto a mighty oak in the forest!"