A Description of Millenium Hall / And the Country Adjacent Together with the Characters of the Inhabitants and Such Historical Anecdotes and Reflections As May Excite in the Reader Proper Sentiments of Humanity, and Lead the Mind to the Love of Virtue

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26050

Title

A Description of Millenium Hall / And the Country Adjacent Together with the Characters of the Inhabitants and Such Historical Anecdotes and Reflections As May Excite in the Reader Proper Sentiments of Humanity, and Lead the Mind to the Love of Virtue

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A Gentleman on his Travels recounts his visit to Millenium Hall, a utopian community founded by virtuous women who live in retirement to practice charity, industry, and piety, offering a model for moral improvement.

Summary up to 500 words

In Sarah Scott's *A Description of Millenium Hall*, a wealthy merchant recovering from a fever in Jamaica travels north with Mr. Lamont, a vain and skeptical young man. During a storm, they seek shelter at Millenium Hall, a secluded estate inhabited by a community of virtuous women. The narrator is captivated by their harmonious life, which is dedicated to benevolence and Christian duty. The estate's history is revealed through the story of Miss Mancel, whose mother, Mrs. Thornby, raised her after her father died in America and her husband perished in Italy. Upon reuniting with her daughter, Mrs. Thornby secures Miss Mancel's marriage to Sir Edward Lambton, a beloved officer. However, Sir Edward, driven by impatience and despair over his own health and the delay in their union, rashly exposes himself to battle and dies from a mortal wound. His death serves as a tragic lesson on the necessity of patience and submission to Providence, contrasting sharply with Miss Mancel's piety and resignation. The narrative highlights the community's extensive charitable works, most notably a successful carpet manufacture that employs hundreds of people of all ages, providing wages and dignity to the poor. The women manage this enterprise with integrity, prioritizing the welfare of the workers over profit. Through conversations with Miss Trentham and Miss Mancel, the narrator learns that their lifestyle, though austere in appearance, offers profound spiritual satisfaction. They argue that true happiness lies in serving others and obeying God's commands rather than pursuing fleeting worldly pleasures. Mr. Lamont, initially dismissive, is gradually converted by their exemplary conduct. He abandons his infidelity, studies the New Testament, and acknowledges the divine origin of their faith. The story concludes with the narrator resolving to imitate the women's charitable example on a smaller scale, convinced that their lives demonstrate the true power of Christianity and the path to genuine virtue.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Utopias