The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-07

n.
have shocked tie public mind, and led TO inquiry
as to the tendency of religious deusions. II ia hard
to cay whether knavery or folly, whether fansti-
sism or lust, has mere power over the Morpons Of
that are now before the world in reference to both
these communities, are worthy of being studied as
new chapters in the history Of modern iupos.ure
and delusion.
It's hardly known, but it is true that there Ia a
weekly newspaper published in tha immediate
helghborhood, to advocate and propagate the doc
uihes OF the Oneida Observation-Disclosures in the
ohhunity OF those who are led to embrace the
system, al the lava, both human and divine, that
are designed to regulate the married relation,
arc set aside and denounced, while the uurestrained
indulgence OF the human passions ia practsed. not
merely as the means to present enjoyment, but "a
means OF grace or help to holiness The founder
Of this disgusting order OF united aduterers Ia q
graduate of a New England college, a student in
two biological semina-iee, and now the editor Of
the paper we have referred to above The centre Of
this sect is in the town Of Lenox, Madison CO., N.
y, where about $50 men, women and children, live
together in house, with distinction Of proper
ty family, or authority. Each one does what seems
good 10 hia own eyes Tho bible is their nominal con-
sitution and how curiously they follow its teach
irgs is eyde 1T from the fact, tina. they disayow all
separate or individual right in property, wives
children Literally. they have 'all those things
Common " But the sect is by no means contnod
TO Oneida and Madison counties In Now York
and Brooklyn, and in Newark, n. J and in many
other places, there are groups Of practical NOM
bels OF this foul body, who, under the name and
gsise OF seekers after spiritual enjoyment, and
protesting TO be perfectly holy, are living In
such as ia not even thought of among the
Normons Ia btah, tho distinction Of husband
aud wife is igioly MAINTAINED, and non intervention
Insisted Upon eyea 1T tho peril OF life. But in the
Oneida Association, and IN che boarding houses
established on similar principles in this vicinity,
tfese distinctions are utterly abolished, and the
fEeest RIGHTEOUSNESS practised as the highest de-
velopements CT holiness. We have been furnished
wit potha lr hv
females OF this oiGnunity, stating that at frat
they were fearful they were not doing right, but
the longer they have pIacsised on the system here
puriued, the holier they are sure they grow. On
the principle, we suppose that where there is no
law there is no transgrosson, they have aorogatad
all authority bat Inclination, and thoy rever ain be
cause they never do anything but Wh1t they like.
The reader may be amused at the practical opera
tion Of the association ns Lenox, Us We find !. CO.
tailed IN ono OF their reports
The children aIe trained in a general ngrsery,
and {" il is found to be altogether moro comfort
able task to take OF Six in tho new way, than
il had been to wait on one IL ordinary circum-
stances" "Ihe only drawback on the operation
WAS the temporary distress Oh their mothers IN
giving up their little ones to tho caro- OF others,
which made occasion for some melodramatic scenes;
but the wounds were coon healed, and the mothers
learned to value their own freedom and opportunity
oteducation, and the improved condition Of their
childrep more than the luxury OF slckly maternal
tenderness" This Is the language Of tho report
The way they sleep is curious Ono large room
is got apart for dormitery, and each bed ID encom-
passed by sort ofsquare tent 50 that one stove
warns thewhole space, and, "as the principles ana
habits OF the association are more gresariouS than
usual, the sacrifice Of privacy is small affair"
The womenlouaa that much time was spent IN
dressing their hair, 50 they looked into Paul the
cry Ok long hair and, says this report, the disco
very was mace that Pauls language expressly
points out the object for which women should wear
long hair, and that Objects net ornament but
covering In this light it was Immediately mani
fest that tho long hair Of women as 1t is usually
worn, coiled ard combod upward TO the top OF the
head, instead Of answering to Paus object OF cover
ing, actually exposes The back part Of the head
more than tie short hair OF men," This mode Of
reasoning vas carried on till the " holder women
cut of their hair and wore on the necks as girls
DO, and soon the practice became general In the
Ie1t place, the women laid aside the usual dress,
ord substituted short rock and pantaloons, which
wa found to be altogether moro convenient. The
report says So The women say they are far moro
ice and comfortable in this diess than in long
gowns; the men think il improves their looks, and
insist TINT i 10 entirely more modest than the
common diesa" This is plainly the gernl OF Bloom
6TisGi
The religious exercises or this association consist
Of pubic meetings, when each one is called on to
relaie own experience, or TO make such exhor-
tations reiiectIops rs : arc on the mnt waiting
tcr vent" Different evenings are set apart ior DIT
serent purposes; one Tor music, for dancing, one
IN Bible reaeiLg. etc Tho religious influence is said
hc wonderful those who have joined the associ-
atiop. All who come in while in an unconvered state
who was o confirmed lunatic has been entirely cured.
1hs al npal rsport gets forth theory Of proniscu
Gus intsicoursc 81 the sexes, as compatible With tho
hiatest state OF holiness On EARTH ioathsome in
is details Shocking TO all the sensbiitea even Of
The coarsest Of decent people, that we cannot dehle
the columns Of our paper with their recital 1t
must be sufficient 10 say, that the doctrine IS
taught, and the attempt is made, to defend IL from
Scripture TINT unbrided ioentousness is the law Of
Heaven, the perfection Of human happness and tho
realization Of the highest style o. divine virtue.
Thee no shrinking from the boldess and frankest
avowal Of this faith and practice. On this point
these Oneida assocationss are honorably CONTRAST
ed with the Fouren.es Ct this city, who refuse to
BE- held responsible for the consequences to which
such language as this" Variety is, in the nature
OF things. as teautfa and useful in love as in eat
ing ard drinking" Again, it is held that it is all
very veil, ard oftentin.es CT great advantage to
bring about special paifing" that is, marriage
Of convenience but says the report, this should DO
no barrier to the enjoyment OF others. " The tacs
that man loves peaches best, ID no reason why no
should rot, on suitable occasions, eat apples ana
cherries" We are able TO give only the vaguost ana
NEST distant iutinatons Of what is set forth in
these pages, and we arc now fearful that We are
trespassing on decency in these quotations. Inc
Ierversion OF Scripture is often.mes blasphemous
IS to chill the blood while scheme of social wick
edness under the name OF virtueHay, OF religion
is here taught, that the teuieat days and darkest
places or Roman Catholic iniqnity never conceived
The beasts OF the field better N their habits than
these people profess to be. 1.-THE orgies Of the hoa-
then were reenacted in tho city of New York, in
public they could not Eli tne mind With moro
horror than every virtuous person must feel when
contemplating the interior life" Of tnis Oneida
Association.
When we TOW bear in mind tibet the persons thus
living in this beastly manner, were but recently
members OF orthodox, evangelical churches soma
ofthen well educated, and most OF them re5peotc-
bly, connected-we cannot fail to regard their his
ey 40 in high degree instructive, tending to show
the danger of error, and tho infinite necessity Of
holding fast to the truth. Loose teaching from tho
pulpit ard the press s destructive to the principles
The only safety is in steadlast adherence to the
good oldfashioned morality Of our fathers and mo-
Tiers on whose principles the FIRST half OF the ne'
.eenth century has made no improvement.
Naval Intelligence.