Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1853-10-07
BY c. I. CLARKSON.
From The Forcs, CITY.


The editor of the Canton Transcript
copies our announcement of the decease
Of the Patriarch of the Zoarites, and
writes thus of that singular people
The sketch is graphical and truthful:
"The Patriarch ef Zoar now sleeps in
the tomb. The history of this commu-
nity is OF interest, as exhibiting the NOR
al force Of single individuals we'll
as practical demonstration of socie ism
ave have always been impressed
with the idea that this colony, Original
" consisting OF about two hundred ind-
viduals,) left Wurtemburg, in Germany,
on account of religious persecution
They are in religion what is termed Sep
nratists, because they separate from Luz
ther and others; or rather, they are dis
ciplcs of Jacob Behman, who flourished
some two hundred years since.
"They embarked for the New World
from Germany in the spring of 1917,
and landed in Philadelphia in August OF
the same year. When they landed on
our shores they were poor in purse and
ignorant OF the manners aud customs OF
the Americans. The QuLkers OF Phila-
delphia rendered them assistance, aud
one Quaker sold them $500 acres ol
land, which formerly had been military
land, at a very moderate price and upon
a long credit. This land was situated
In the vicinity OF what was known as
Fort Lawrence, IN Tusearawas Co.,
Ohio.
"Subiect to all manner OF privations
and toll incident To settling in u new
country, yet undismayed and with cheer.
iul hearts did this community toll on,
surmounting ditlicuiities and obstacles
which wohld have appalled, less hardy
pioneers. For all their toll, privalions,
and ndinconveniences, they ieIt themselves
repaid in the privilege OF worshipping
God according TO the dictates oil their
conscience, without any meddling priest
TO persecute, or tyrant To oPpress.
"This community or association pre-
sent to US the corroboration OF some
great truths. They commenced in alb
ject poverty stepped in indebtedness,
with no guarantee TO pay their indebted
ness, except their own proyerbial econo-
my, and their own bTawny Ind Muscular
arms. In little more than quarter OF
a century, by rigid application of max
inns learned in Fatherland, they have by
their industry accumulated property
which is worth more than half million
OF dollars.
They have adhered to certain fixed
principles, and have ever held them sa-
credly in view, and now in the evening
oi their life. they are enjoying the abun-
dant harvest of their early labor.
But their Patriarch is with them no
mose. He has fulfilled his destiny, and
his mission is apparent to every one
who has arrived at that point in philoso-
phy which furnishes Us with an insight
into the motives of mankind. The
problem has been solved that commu-
nifty can exist in peace, quietness, har-
mony aud love, where a manifestation
Of the baser passions, ja,ils, judges, jurors,
and all the endless paraphernalia attend
ant upon the administration o. Statute
Law are strangers. The problem has
been solved, that the doctrine of the
Nazarene, "Love thy neighbor as thy
SELF" and the new commandment which
he give his disciples, "Love one anoth.
err" are fundamental principles OF socie-
tys u peTNcTslOu VI tncsc uoCtIthcS are
fraught with all the evils we daily wit
ness in society. Yet the Zoarits believe
not in the mission OF the Nazarene.
Many entertain fears that the commu-
nifty will now be dissolved. We ven-
ture TO predict that so long as any Of
those hardy pioneers, who have borne
the burden Of the heat and labor for one
third Of a century, exist, the community
will not be dissolved. II it were dis
solved, ere twelve months it would again
be formed. The ties, the trials, the as
sociations, the labors, the sufferings Of
a lifetime are not dissolved in a moment.
The Pioneers are too old to learn the
ways Of the world in the evening of their
life. The prisoner who after thirty
years confinement was liberated, after
enjoying his liberty two days, required to
be sent back to prison-it was his home
- and he desired no ether.
The Zoar community is not monar-
chy, but an elective system in which fe-
males enjoyed an equal right with the
males.